THE ICELANDER - STUDY

 

This smaller study was for me unusually problematic inasmuch that it almost didn’t even get started. Almost all of my paintings begin with a detailed drawing, sometimes in my sketchbook, at other times on a separate sheet of watercolor paper. This I have found to be the best way for me when painting in watercolors or acrylics. Anyway, I had met this gentleman some time ago in Iceland and although we didn’t share a common language, I felt some deeper sense of affinity with him. His features and character made a great impact on me almost from the first time I met him and I asked if he would pose for me. Fortunately he said yes so I began to gather reference right there and then. My sketchbook studies done in pencil back then were a great disappointment and nothing seemed to work the way that I had hoped. So his portrait idea was shelved but over the years, I re-examined my drawings that I had done and more recently tried again. Unfortunately, it seemed that I still couldn’t get what I wanted although I used a better quality paper this time and tried drawing him from a few different angles. Eventually after becoming very frustrated, I decided that it just wasn’t going to work as a drawing and what I really needed to do was something in color! I grabbed a small sheet of paper that was lying around and after once again drawing out the head, began laying in washes and thin glazes. For some reason, I decided to use acrylic this time, perhaps because I felt that if there were any mistakes, I could mix up some opaque paint and cover them – something I hate doing! Fortunately I didn’t need to do that and after working on and off for a few days, I was eventually quite pleased with the results. Since I didn’t stretch the paper beforehand, the many thin washes buckled the paper quite severely which didn’t make my job any easier. And while I didn’t bring this painting to the level of finish I usually do, I still think it works well as a study and I certainly learnt a lot while doing it. Hopefully this and all my pencil studies will lead to a larger and slightly more refined work. Size is 9 x 12 in (23 x 30 cm), acrylic on paper.

LAKE REFLECTIONS

 

I started this northern lake painting with the idea of capturing the reflections of the sky in the water. I remember it was a warm day with passing clouds that continued to break up as the day went on so I had to work quickly with my initial color sketch putting down the basics of the scene and deciding how I would manage all the different areas. I liked the way that the cloud reflections were broken up in places by the lake plants and was glad that I decided to include them too. I just lightly indicated the sky above the horizon as I wanted this one to be more about the lake and the surrounding trees, most of which acted as a backdrop to the scene. I think the size of this one was 16 x 20 in (41 x 51 cm), oil on canvas.

AFTERNOON SKY, BLACKWATER

 

This is one of my older paintings so I'm not sure if I have posted it here before. Anyway, it was getting later in the day during an extended painting session at Blackwater when I saw these clouds drifting in over the water so I did a quick study there and then. Later back in the studio, I created this smallish painting working on the sky first since that was the whole reason for the painting. I tried to capture the effect of a still bright but lowering sun and its effects on the clouds. I especially liked how this created a highlight all around the edges of the upper clouds and since I was looking into the light, I kept the landscape relatively subdued. Size is 9 x 12 in (23 x 30 cm), oil on canvas.

EVENING SUNDOWN SERIES

 

This was probably the fist evening sundown scene I painted many years ago. I wanted to try and capture the light and feel of a particular day just as the light was fading from the sky. I set the scene nearby above a somewhat distant horizon along with the streaked clouds seen at that time. Surprisingly there was a little mist which I included in this study. This further helped create a little more depth. The foreground was a mass of young white pine trees and I kept the details there simplified so as not to detract from the sky. Surprisingly, I am still working on this series and currently have a few new ones on the go at the moment. Size is 9 x 12 in (23 x 30 cm), oil on canvas.

HARRIERS AT BLACKWATER

 

Whenever out in the field, I am always open to whatever sights, sounds or opportunities I experience. In this case I was painting a study looking across the water when two Northern Harriers appeared. Usually they are seen singly on migration or in winter so I was happy to see them flying in front of me. Later I decided to incorporate them into a painting. This oil is one of my medium-sized paintings and out of this, and the study I was working on at the time, came a much larger work. I think the size of this one was 18 x 24 in (46 x 61 cm), oil on canvas.

LAUGHING GULL STUDY

 

A few weeks ago there was a strong passage of adult Laughing Gulls through the area. Some of them were attracted to the nearby wetlands where I have been spending quite a bit of time gathering reference and observing the wildlife found there.  Amongst other studies, I managed to do this painting while one bird rested briefly before continuing on its journey. I have also been writing a weekly report on the things I see there which is now up to almost 14,000 words! Some days there is a lot to write about, others not so much and the place seems almost empty - especially during the hot summer months. It is always a rewarding experience visiting there though and I'm sure that later in the year, it will be a lot more exciting as migration starts up in earnest. Size of this one is 12 x 9 in (30 x 23 cm), watercolor on Grumbacher paper.

COUNTRY FARM

 

This farm was quite close to where we used to live so I often went there to paint. Over the years, I must have done a lot of paintings of the buildings, the silos and the landscape all around the farm. This one was completed from a study done when sitting in my car one cold winter morning. Here, after snow had fallen, the slightly warmer temperatures aided by the sun has caused it to begin to melt allowing winter grasses to show through. The scene is back-lit which often brings about an interesting composition challenge. It was worth the struggle I went through to complete it though as I learned a lot during that time. I painted this one so long ago that I can't quite remember the size, I think it was done in oil on an 18 x 24 inch canvas (46 x 61 cm). The slide that this picture was scanned from is the only pictorial record I have of it and is not of a great quality but it will have to do.