"Fall's Coming" -plein air oil painting

"Fall's Coming" -plein air oil painting, 10 x 8"
This was the painting warm up for the day that I painted the 16x20" on location. I love the early morning light, but the dead bushes were a bit of a struggle, as was negative painting those tree trunks 'alla prima' (wet into wet). I think it turned out alright in the end.
Enjoy!

"Summer's Afternoon Special" -oil painting

"Summer's Afternoon Special", oil painting, 20 x 16"
This is the finished painting that I go 80% of the way through on location. There is only about a 2 hour maximum window for painting outside, if you want to capture a specific condition of light. It is best to get all the big shapes in, in their base colours, and then go back in and add the lighting condition. If you begin with the light, it won't be the same after two hours and you will need to change things anyway. I am looking forward to doing more large canvases outside soon.
Enjoy!

large plein air oil painting -step one

16 x 20" plein air oil painting
This is the largest piece I have ever done as a plein air piece. I brought it home to finish it and I will post it tomorrow. The scene is a little creek we happened to stumble upon last year, so we thought we would tackle something we had tried before for the 'large' challenge.
Enjoy!

"On The Hillside" -plein air oil painting

"On The Hillside", plein air oil painting, 8 x 10"
This is the second painting I did on my bike hike/painting trip to the Weaslehead. The wildflowers this year have been absolutely amazing.
Enjoy!

"On the Reserve" -plein air oil painting

"On the Reserve", plein air oil painting, 10 x 8"
My friend Dianne and I took our painting gear on our backs and pedalled our bikes down to the Weaslehead nature area on the Elbow River. This scene was one along the way that caught our attention. Cycling to a painting spot is a great idea, excercise the body as well as the creative mind.
Enjoy!

"Aspens at Quarry Lake" -plein air oil painting

"Aspens at Quarry Lake", plein air oil painting, 9 x 12"

This is the third and last painting done on the ASA paintout. I just couldn't believe the colour that was there. For this one there was harp music accompanying the wedding held above me.

Thought I had died and gone to heaven.

Enjoy!

"Quarry Lake" -plein air oil painting

"Quarry Lake", plein air oil painting, 12 x 9"

This is the second painting done from Quarry Lake on our ASA (Alberta Society of Artists) paintout. It was done early in the morning before the hoards of people showed up to enjoy the sun and beach. Hard to believe from this painting, but by the time we left there must have been hundreds of people there.
Enjoy!

"First Sister" -plein air oil painting

"First Sister", plein air oil painting, 12 x 8"

This was painted from Quarry Lake in Canmore. This charming lake must be an 'insider secret' for the people of Canmore as there are no signs from the road and it seems that only the locals know about it. It was a very hot day and there were tons of people swimming and sunbathing. Weddings take place just above where I was sitting. For this one, it was accompanied by flamingo guitar. What a treat.

Enjoy!

"From the Sawmill" -plein air oil painting

"From the Sawmill", plein air oil painting, 8 x 6"

This is my final painting from our Kananaskis adventure, and I think it is my favorite of the trip. We had gone into this site to look for something to paint, and when we turned around, we noticed this great site. All in all this trip is one that I will always remember. Life doesn't get much better than this!
Enjoy!

"Mist Mountain" -plein air oil painting

"Mist Mountain", plein air oil painting, 12 x 9"
This is the fouth of five paintings done on our Kananaskis adventure. Actually I just realized I got the order wrong! This painting was done just before "Along Mist Creek", which is the view you get if you turn 180 degrees around from this spot.
Enjoy!

Early Morning -Kananaskis -plein air oil painting

"Early Morning -Kananaskis" -plein air oil painting, 12 x 9"
This is the third painting from our Kananaskis trip. It was wonderful to be in the mountains early in the morning before the Calgary tourists got there. This lake was just along the side of the road, I don't know what it is called. The water was extrememly calm and the reflections were wonderful. This painting was done on a board that had linen canvas adhered to it, a texture that I don't really like. I will have to try to find some smoother oil primed linen and try it again. Having said that, I like the plain boards best of all.
Enjoy!

"Along Mist Creek" -plein air oil painting

"Along Mist Creek", plein air oil painting, 10 x 8"
This is the second of five paintings done on our Kananaskis adventure. It was about 8pm and the shadows were getting long, the warm evening sun lighting up the willow bush on the island. It was so peaceful and quiet, truly refreshing for the soul.
Enjoy!

"Near Longview" -plein air oil painting

"Near Longview", plein air oil painting, 14 x 11"
This is the first of five paintings that I did this week on a two day painting trip to Kananaskis Country with my plein air buddy Lorna. I haven't tgone back into this one-yet! I am not sure why the farmer made two different kinds of hay bales, but as I was sitting in this field painting, he came along in his special machine that picked up the little bales, put them in a neat line of four bales and then flipped them over to stack them onto the bed at the back of the truck. I have never had someone come along and remove the things I was painting before!
Enjoy!

"The Island" plein air oil painting

"The Island" plein air oil paintings, 10 x 8"

This is the last painting from my cottage vacation. I really missed that cool, clean water while baking in the heat today. Strange weather we are having isn't it? I did this one from my 'mobile painting studio' on the paddle boat. Sure wish I had a picture of that scene, I must have looked ridiculous. Anyway...

Enjoy!

Lilies and Delphiniums

Lilies and Delphiniums, plein air oil painting, 8 x 10"
I did this yesterday in my garden, which is so lovely at this time of year. All the work planting flowers with contrasting colours is really paying off. I haven't painted my garden 'en plein aire' very often, but everytime I have, it has been a real joy. Usually I see work to do, but sometimes I just sit amazed at the beauty and feel the urge to get out my paints and express it.
Enjoy!

"Indian Paintbrush" -plein air oil painting

"Indian Paintbrush", plein air oil painting, 12 x 9"

This is a second painting that I did while at my cottage. It was a scene that just peeked out from the trees along the river that leads out of our lake. It was truly a communion with nature as I sat alone beneath the trees in the shade on that hot sunny day.

Enjoy!

On Mowbray's Point -plein air oil painting

plein air oil painting, 12 x 9"

Well I am back from holidays. We had a wonderful time at our family cottage on Big Hawk Lake in central Ontario. The weather was as unsettled there as it was here at home, but it only ever rained for an entire day once, and even on that day the evening was magnificent. I did this painting while sitting in our paddle boat in the lake, an anchor thown overboard, sort of a mobile studio. Too bad I don't have a picture of that! It is one view of Mr Mowbray's point which is the point that marks the entrance to our bay, so our cottage is just behind this point but well out of the prevailing winds -other cottagers on the lake would be sitting on their docks with fleece jackets on while we were baking in the sun on our dock. It was good to get away and spend two weeks with my grown kids, most of whom live in Ontario now. I did 2 other paintings which I will post in the next couple of days.
Enjoy!