Saturday, November 30, 2013

Becoming Winterized

Yesterday...



"Pulling In Winter... Point Traverse, Prince Edward County" - oil on canvas 12x24 inches

A skein of migrating Canada Geese always symbolizes the transition from fall towards winter for me. Their noisy departure strikes a chord of melancholy and loss as the seasons pass.


"Pulling In Winter, Woods Side Road, Oro-Medonte Hills" - oil on canvas 24x30 inches

The loss of virbrant autumn colour in October... replaced by brooding skies... drab earthy colours of meadows and pasturelands...the more sombre and muted russets of oaks and golds of tamarack firs and other softwoods such as aspen and birch are another inland symbol of seasonal change. Gathering rookeries of crows add action and their own musical accompiment to this November novella.

Today...

Winter.. it would seem has fully staked his claim in The Thousand Islands region. Bays up and down the St Lawrence are skimmed over with their first ice, driving Canada Geese and mallards from their usual resting and plant-rich feeding areas. A full foot snowfall currently grips the land and the projected weather forecasts strongly suggest that it is here to stay... and with more to follow. Winter's icy reign has begun.

Fortunately, we were ahead of the game in our winter preparations around "Isleview." All garden clean up was out of the way, the car had its winter snows installed and our winter supply of firewood... a huge full face cord lies slit and neatly piled in our now empty Gallery - a strange and somewhat disconcerting, but necessary contrast from the summer scene there. Winter is a game changer... like it or not!

Yesterday was my first winter plein air outing. One's body is never really prepared for those first trips out into the full cold. In spite of all prior preparations and clothing adjustments... the body takes its time to adjust to prolonged work in sub zero conditions. Yesterday was no exception to that rule. However, in spite of the -10C temperature... the sun hung up there all afternoon and there was very little wind to deal with. The snowy cleanness of the landscape... the rich light and shadow at play and the River backdrop made my picture making pleasantly uplifting.

I chose to go out directly to a scenic overlook on the Thousand Islands Parkway just five minutes west of Rockport. That decision meant no walk in was necessary. To the west, the Thousand Islands International Bridge arched across the St Lawrence. Directly below me laid the Canadian Middle Channel and a pair of small islands. The 2:00 pm sun was warm... but definitely rapidly declining. Its rich light and shadow would soon disappear, so I decided on a "tail gate' painting party approach. That means tail gate of my van is open and one leg of my metal easel is stuck (unextended) into the back of my van trunk. The van serves as both a wind break with its lid an overhead roof in snowy weather. The sun was directly at my back and provided both warmth and constant light on my easel and my 10x12 inch toned panel.

My palette had been made ready prior to leaving the house, so within a couple of minutes I was right into my painting. I decided upon a colour block approach using light turpentine staining at first to lay in the basic structure of the scene.I then worked forward from that adding more pigment, paying more attention to values and hues. I finished up with a very small amount of rigger work to fill in some fine line work and called it a day an hour and a bit later. The sketch I feel, does indeed capture the elements of the interplay of a late winter afternoon. It is expressive... of the joy I feel in winter. It also marks a successful beginning for my winter plein air painting season.


"First Snowfall of 2013" - oil on toned panel 10x12 inches

My Friends, if nothing else makes sense to you on the subject of winter... its cold... and my crazy obsession with plein air painting in it, then perhaps these lovely and comforting words from "The Story Girl" written by Elizabeth Maude Montgomery are a high note to end on for today's post.

"The beauty of winter is that it makes you appreciate spring." May the Hope of Spring with her renewal add  warmth to your Soul and lives during the long winter months ahead!

Good Painting ... to ALL! Inside ... or out! HA HA!!

Post Script:

Today... November 30th is St Andrew's Day. In my Scottish heritage it is the celebrated birthday of the Patron Saint of Scotland, St. Andrew. Andrew was the name of my beloved Gramp Birrell and was passed to me... and then to my own son Andrew. Coincidently... I wonder... it is also the birthday of my first born child Lisa. So... Happy Birthday Dolly-Dolly-Dumpkins-My-Queen-of-the-Pumpkins.
"I" am with "You" today in love and deep pride... Today and Always!!!

Dad
XXXXXOOOOOXXXXX

10 comments:

  1. Such a beautiful painting of your first snowfall! You can't deny that it is really pretty. I'm afraid though that you'd only find me outside long enough to snap a picture... You are such a hardy soul....much like your ancesters and mine...who roamed the hills In their kilts in all kinds of weather!

    Happy St Andrews Day! Happy painting!

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  2. Hi there Wendy (Lass)!... Thank you for your visit and for the enthusiastic and encouraging comments!

    Wasn't kilt weather for sure... but it was such a wonderfully uplifting and cheery outing for me. Well worth the going!

    Happy St Andrew's Day back to you!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  3. Ah Bruce...I so love the winter months. A time of drawing in and pulling all the comforts of home. I think it is my second favorite season after the autumn. That said, I don't think I could brave the elements as you do to paint en plein aire. No, extremes of heat or cold just do not set well in these old bones. But as always, your paintings are just beautiful!!

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  4. Good Frosty Morning to you Sherry!... Winter is here for certain... and it is great to hear that we again share a common affinity for the "good" things in life - like Winter! We are strange ducks indeed... "You" and "I"... HA HA!!!

    Glad that you enjoyed the painting and the post contents! Stay tuned.... more "flurries"...on the way! HA HA!!!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  5. It is wonderful to see how productive you are with the painting Bruce, these paintings are very lovely and capture this time of the year perfectly. We also have the long line of geese calling out as they fly across the sky morning and evening. Time to get the home fires burning. Belated Happy St Andrew's day to you laddie!

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  6. High there Lass!... And a belated Happy St Andrew's Day back to you!

    Thank you for visiting... and for your ever positive and encouraging comments about the paintings and posts! Much appreciated Lass!

    The home fire is ablaze here ...as we speak! Love the "shin warmers" that a fireplace offers one on these cold... dark... damp winter nights!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  7. Hi Bruce, I'm always fascinated by your preparations for winter. It sounds so cosy and comforting. With the milder and unpredictable winters we have here, I don't think people have quite such a sense of "hibernation".

    I'm glad to see that you have made a good start on the winter plein air season. As usual your painting is full of sparkling light. That first outing in sub-zero temperatures must be a good one to get under your belt. It would be all too easy to choose instead to stay in warmer surroundings. I suppose you could say that you've broken the ice! Ha, ha.

    Happy painting,
    Keith

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  8. Good morning Keith!... Thanks for stopping by and for adding your input about your own winter conditions and preparations.

    Winter in any part of the world involves a period of transition... not only to weather conditions alone... but also adjustment to the internal emotional changes which accompany and hinge greatly upon the weather changes like cold and loss of daylight.

    "Hibernation" is certainly an appropriate word to describe winter life in Rockport. All of the usual hustle and bustle... even the presence of many local residents disapppears quite literally on the turn of a dime... coinciding with mid-October Thanksgiving Weekend celebrations.

    I have certainly kick-started the winter plein air season. But, I still have a ways to go before that transition to winter conditions begins to feel comfortable. It takes some getting used to... but I do still enjoy my chosen days working out in the winter landscape. It has its own beauty... and rewards!

    I like that "cheeky"phrase you have used... and I must say as well... that Ihave "broken the ice"! Good one! HA HA!!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  9. How wonderful for you Bruce, what a beautiful painting of your first outing. Great tips to follow. We will be getting our first snow on Long Island. Looking forward to getting out there.

    All the best to you,
    Joan

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  10. Hi Joan!... Thank you for the visit and your encouraging remarks!

    Somehow... despite the obvious cold... the world seems cleaner and more serene to me personally. I know that this is not everyone's take on winter... cold is not my enemy... but rather the dampness is.

    Do have fun in your own backyard snowy landscapes Joan! I will look forward to seeing your results! Stay warm!

    Remember... a comfortable pochade box set up in the car... radio a-blaring... coffee at hand... heater on... is still in my books working en plein air! Just a thought!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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