In the Footsteps of the Voyageurs

Last week we paddled the French River from end to end in seven days.  They were, for me, long days.  We were up with the sun and landed on our campsite with about two or less hours of sunlight left.  This meant that there was little time for painting however I did manage a few mediocre paintings. I will post more about the paintings later but for now here are some quick sketches that I did in my journal along the way.  All are 5" X 8" watercolour wash and ink in a Moleskine book.

This is our first day on Lake Nippissing.  We ended up turning back because the waves were breaking over the bow of one of the canoes.

This was painted during a lunch break on the Lower French River.

 This is a cabin on Girondine Point which is in Georgian Bay between the French River and Killarney.  The cabin is open to anyone who needs shelter.  We didn't at the time but we checked it out anyway.  A very cool building.

 This was painted during lunch on Hen Island in Georgian Bay.  The small islands in the picture are called the Chicken Islands.  It is one of the most breathtaking views that I have ever seen.

 This was painted from our campsite in Collins Inlet.  Apparently the channel is full of yachts in the summer but in October we had it to ourselves.

These last three were painted at our take out point at Chikanishing.  I had a three hour wait while the other guys went to retrieve our vehicles.

Is it watercolour?

While I was painting this a passerby asked how I could use watercolour on a paper palette.  I wasn't.  I am playing around trying to find a system that will work for me on the French River trip. I wondered if I could use acrylic paint like watercolour and I think that with practice I could.  I have read that there will be adhesion issues if I dilute the acrylic paint this much so we will see.

It was a perfect day to paint.  It was about 24 C but I was in the shade and there was a cool breeze coming off the lake.  This is small (9 X 12) but a comfortable canoe trip size and gessoed watercolour paper so very light.  It was painted in about an hour and a half with many disruptions which can be troublesome when working with acrylic paint on a warm breezy day.

I had fun painting this which is a first with acrylic paint but that is probably because I was using my very comfortable watercolour techniques.  I have some issues with the finished painting but it was fun, I learned a lot and I think this method may work.  Now up to my studio to work on a portrait commission.  Now that is work.

What a Great Day

Painting today was fantastic for so many reasons.  We were at Sam Lawrence Park overlooking Hamilton.  It didn't look inviting because it was very hot in the sun and the city below us was engulfed in haze.  I found a spot in the shade and marvelled at the dappled sun shining on some very large sycamore trees with the very distant escarpment and a couple of large buildings as a backdrop.

Nathan, one of my sons, has invited me to paddle the French River with him and some of his friends in October.  The deal is that I am exempt from chores provided I paint.  Acrylic paint is much more practical than oils on a canoe trip so my goal is to become proficient in them in three weeks. Right!  I have only painted a handful of acrylic paintings, all disasters, and that was enough to teach me the learning curve is very steep.

This painting is an acrylic painting and I am excited about it.  It isn't one of my best paintings but it is by far my best acrylic painting.  I learned a lot about working with plastic paint today but I also learned that I may become very fond of them with time.  The techniques are very different than either oils or watercolours but they are very flexible and correctable. I now feel that the learning curve may not be as steep or as high as I previously thought.

Bring on the French River.  I am almost ready.

Why Is It So Dark

Because I need to get an umbrella?

This painting like many others looked bright and light when I painted it however as soon as I brought it indoors it died.  I know better than to paint with my board and my palette in full sunlight.  Painting in the shade helps drop the intensity of the light on my work making it closer to what would be found indoors.  Some locations, such as this one, require that I stand in full sunlight when I work so an umbrella would help.

In reality the clouds were big and fluffy and not nearly so menacing looking.  As usual there are some things that I like about this piece and some not so much but I did learn a lot while painting it so all is good.

Susans

The Monday Painters were at Fieldcote Musuem in Ancaster yesterday.  I have painted here many times but never successfully.  It is visually very busy with a Tudor home surrounded by trees and gardens.  I didn't much feel like painting however it was a coolish (25 C) day with a light breeze and I was here so I dug in.

These Black Eyed Susans' brilliant yellow petals glowed against the dark shadows under the shrubs.  I rarely paint florals however this seemed to be the less complicated of the subjects or so I thought until I started painting the petals.  The very distinct odour of skunk wafting by every once in a while did not help my concentration.  I rushed this painting so that I could get packed up and gone and all things considered I am very happy with it.

I definitely didn't over think this one.  I didn't think much at all.

Moon River

Moon Bay to be more precise.  We are just back from six very hot days living out of our canoe in Moon Bay which is the mouth of the Moon River leading into Georgian Bay. It was a fantastic trip with family and friends but after paddling, in the heat, to a new site each day I was too exhausted to paint much.

This first painting is the only acrylic that I painted.  I need a lot more practice with acrylic paint.  The heat had the painting drying very quickly on my palette and forming thick globs on my painting. I am happy with parts of this and not so happy with most of it.  I need to learn to paint with acrylic paint instead of trying to use them as if I am using oils.


These next images are of watercolour sketches done in my journal. These are never meant to be great paintings but rather sketches forming a pictorial record of our trip.  When I sit and sketch a scene or activity I see much more than if I quickly look through a viewfinder and snap a picture.  These are done quickly and are a lot of fun to do.

Easy Never Works

Why is it easy never works for me?  Yesterday was a great day to be out painting.  It wasn't too hot but the sun was shining so the lighting was perfect.  It was an absolutely perfect day to be outside painting.  No stresses whatsoever.  What happens?

This painting is mediocre at best.  I see a lot of issues with it.  It seems that I need to be distracted to paint well.  If there are no bugs, or wind, or hot sun, or snow I tend to overthink what I am doing and try for perfection and that always ends in disaster.

We leave Thursday on a canoe trip and I am going to try acrylics again.  That should be distracting enough.