Subtle Shades of Early Spring

There wasn't a cloud in the sky when I started painting and it was raining fairly hard when I finished.  Oh the joy of oil painting.


I managed two paintings.  This is the second much quicker and in my mind much better painting.  The changes in texture and colour were very subtle and the quickly changing light combined with the rain made for a very challenging afternoon.

Two Days at Christie Lake

We have had a three year old guest for a couple of weeks now so my painting and posting time is restricted a bit.  Grandchildren trump art any day of the week.


This painting was painted this week at the back end of Christie Lake.  It was just below freezing and the wind was gusting to 50 kph.  At one point it was snowing so hard that I could hardly see my easel.  It is days like this that I am glad that I decided to try oils.  Watercolours would not have worked.  The wind kept bouncing my easel and rolling brushes across my palette which got a bit messy but at least the paint didn't freeze.

This painting was painted last week at the same place.  The sunlight and shadows on the snow reminded me of Tom Thomson's painting "Path Behind Mowat Lodge so I had to try my version of it.  It was about 5 degrees and sunny so it was a joy to be out painting.

Early Spring in Paradise

Life is full of contrasts.  I have discovered that when there is way too much sadness in my life a few hours in the sun with a paint brush in my hand can be absolute bliss.


Debbie and I both lost family members yesterday.  She headed out of town early this morning to be with her family and I headed to Coote's Paradise with my paints.


I am excited about this.  It isn't perfect but no painting ever is.

Spring is in the Air

It was a fantastic day to paint.   There were just enough clouds to make the sky interesting but not enough to block out the very warm sun.   It was about -2 C but with the sun and very little wind it was quite comfortable.  We were on Paddy Green Road just outside Dundas.


I am pleased with this.  I think that I caught the lazy early spring feeling.  Lots of snow but with an obvious warmth.

Okay Maybe This Isn't So Easy

I am still having fun with oils,  Except for the horrendous messes that I am making.  I just finished cleaning all my brushes and then dropped them on my palette.  What a mess.

I love that with oils I can continue to make changes until I am happy with a painting.  This painting requires a lot more work but I am happy with the start.

Alex after two sessions

I still have a ways to go with this but it is getting closer.  I now have oil paint on one of my ski gloves, seat belt, coat and jeans.  I am having a blast but it sure is messy.  I spend as much time cleaning up as painting but it is worth it.

Copetown Marsh 11" X 14" Oil on canvas board

Today was my first time painting outdoors with oils.  It was -2 C and alternating between snow and sleet and I was grinning from ear to ear the whole time.  The winter marsh was alive with colour.  The cool greys in the background, the yellows of the willows, the brilliant red of the dogwoods and here and there patches of glowing white snow.

I started out painting as I would with watercolours, and struggled a bit, but once I realized how easy it was to go back in and punch up the highlights or make a tree skinnier I started having a blast.  This may not be a great painting but I am really excited about it.  I was told twice today that I have found my medium.  I am certainly enjoying working with it.

Oopsie!  I had to do some repairs.  It seems I thinned some of my paint too much and it all started to run down the canvas.  It is now laying flat until it dries.