Weekend Studies, Painting Play

I am at my cottage for the weekend - a 'long' holiday weekend (Victoria Day) and though the weather has been mostly sunny and pleasant, it has not been conducive to outdoor pursuits because that kind of weather in this part of the world brings out the dreaded, biting, black fly.  So - I have spent some time indoors playing with images and visual ideas using some markers and a limited palette of gouache paints (it's all I have with me).  In no particular order, here are the resulting studies that may become larger, acrylic paintings on canvas. Time will tell.

Haliburton Marshland, Evening'

Haliburton Marshland, Evening
24" x 48"  - acrylic on canvas  - $700

It's funny how some images stay with you. The inspiration for this landscape was a photo I took many years ago from the window of my car as we sped along a two lane road towards our cottage in the Haliburton Highlands of Ontario. I have used this landscape as a starting point for several paintings, basically varying the format (canvas shape) and palette. What I really like about this work is how I painted the lower foreground 'land' forms - with very deliberate strokes of colour that suggest long grasses, but are much more interesting and dynamic. 

We are heading to our cottage in Haliburton this weekend for what we Canadians call the'Victoria Day' holiday weekend (celebrating the birthday of Queen Victoria), and the unofficial start of cottage life and summer!!!!  Be safe and enjoy it wherever you are.

A Dog Called Freddie

Freddie
12" x 12"   acrylic on canvas   sold

This is Freddie, a lovely 3 year old golden retriever whose portrait was commissioned as a birthday gift.  

He was a very photogenic fellow and I like to think his retriever exuberance is evident in the pose and intensified palette. 

Happy Mother's Day!

In honour of Mother's Day - two paintings I did many years ago of our daughter Caroline  -  my favourite model and the best kid ever1 Have a wonderful day.