I Thought Mushrooms Would Be Easy ...

A photo I took while out walking recently

Working sketch

First [and scrapped] wash

Second time better

MANY more glazes on the shroomers


Initially, I was going to do a soft tree-ish background, but decided it would be too overwhelming for the simplicity of the mushrooms.  I did a very w/w wash of phthalo green mixed with quin. burnt orange, and added drops of aureolin. It was a bit hard to "control", but I think it turned out. The rest of the painting is, and will continue to be,  very thin glazes softened to almost nothing.  I lost all track of time this evening, so this is it for tonight. As ALWAYS, please leave a note if you have a question or comment.

A Great Day All Round ...

Finished vignette
The Grande Dame   11 x 15 in. / 28 x 39 cm.

Looking NE from the lower levels of High Point

Wonderful walking/riding trail on perimeter

Looking NW

Ditto

Looking NE from far side of H.P.

Same

One of my favorite views form H.P.


Great day! Took 4 paintings over to High Point [a large "equestrian estate" around the corner].  They have a large community building, overlooking the huge indoor arena, that is used by members and others who wish to rent the facility. Apparently there is a lot of "traffic", and the manager was keen to display the paintings. I hope someone falls madly in love with them, and can't imagine a life without them! [Hahaha]
I did a few hours of painting after that, and managed to get the car finished - I think. Then my friend [and landlady] invited the Boxer Girls and I out for an hour and three-quarters hike around the perimeter of High Point. The entire development is enclosed by a very well-maintained pedestrian/riding trail. And it was a glorious day [clear and 18*C - felt like a summer morning].
I got back, changed into riding gear, groomed the lad, and had a short and sweet ride. I am keeping the rides short, so I allow his muscles to come back easily, and to keep the ride positive. He is learning to carry himself [as we say in the horse world]. He is developing the awareness and the balance and musculature to shift  his weight and propulsion system to his hind end. Left to their own, horses tend to use their front end - awkward, unbalanced, and tending to break down more quickly. In Nature, I suppose it doesn't matter as much, as horses do not live as long as they do when cared for in a domestic setting [THAT sounds awkward!]
Anyway, I must remember today when it is pouring rain or snowing outside. And as ever, please feel free to leave comments.

The Goose Hunt

Where I get my real farm-fresh fruits and veggies.
You can just make out the North Shore mountains in the distance.

First stop ... ducks

Some attractive [ie. paintable] peppers

Another paintable, gourdish plant

Geese and goslings

My favorites, so big and handsome and low-slung

This should make an interesting painting

All in a row


I set out to get some greens this afternoon, and, as always, passed a small farm I have been meaning to visit for years.  They have poultry, most importantly - geese. So I pulled in and tried to find the owner. A Chinese woman eventually appeared, speaking almost no English [and me, no Cantonese]. I think she gave me an OK to take photos of the geese, so  off I went. I waded through muck and soft soil to find a way into their pens, and it was worth it! Of course, they weren't into posing, so I had to be very quiet and still, down on my knees, to get some shots, and then quietly and unobtrusively follow them around. But I have my goose photos. I find them so handsome and awkward at the same time - love them.

My shoes, after the great goose hunt.

ALMOST There ...

I left it here last night ...

Here now ... just a lot of diddly small things to touch up


At the expense of leaving the lad to find his own amusement today [I didn't ride], I've made fair headway on this painting. I'm feeling somewhat shcrumfly [at odds with myself - I have tons of things that need doing, and I can't seem to get to any of them - GRRRR] Best to leave the painting before I do something wrong.

Going Cross-eyed, but Pleased with the Results ...

As she is now

I've been working mostly on the front end

I was very excited with how the "grande dame" was coming along, so I HAD to post a progress report.  We had a heavy frost last night; I think it's gone now, so I can go out and play with Bruno!
To be continued ...  [by the way, I love dots ... ...]

Update ... or I Need a Break ...

I think I left off here ...

Added some background, to give myself an idea of how dark to go with the car, and to give it a ground

More car color [brown madder]

Some "grass" in front [which looks like it will need some shape change] and a lot of fussy detail work on the car, most of which I can't even see on this screen!


The Boxer Girls have been taken home for the weekend, but they'll be back. Their mom misses them so much; she picks them up Friday night, and then brings them back Sunday evening. So now I have time for my things - Bruno and painting, and some gardening, too.
I still like the old car, but it has reached the fussy detail stage. I needed a break, so I thought I would post what I have so far. I must admit, it has been much more interesting/challenging to paint without a photo propped beside me. I find myself having to think and plan more.
I had a small inner debate earlier - painting or watching an end-of-the-world movie. I LOVE apocalyptic movies. It must be a carry-over from my younger years. I still remember my dad pointing out the satellite "Sputnik" to me, as it sailed overhead. And it was the time of the Cold War, when anyone who had a nuclear or hydrogen bomb to blow up was doing so. I really did have dreams [nightmares?] about trying to run away from some inescapable doom. Sorry, sometimes I get a bit grim!
Back to NOW. If any of you would like to comment, you are more than welcome to leave a note. I love them.  

An Unexpected Day Off

Smoke from my fire

Lucy, one of my barn "helpers"

Pumpkin, not much of a helper, but here she is

My aunt, who drove 50 miles to "play with fire"

Bruno, self-designated Fire Marshall, and me

Not too interested in having his picture taken

Ahhh ... that's better



I was expecting to work today, but the receptionist called yesterday to let me know I was only booked on Friday. So I decided to take advantage of the good weather, and burn off all the old and moldy hay, blackberry bush cuttings and other garden- type waste. Out here, you are still able to burn outdoors in October and April, if you purchase a burning permit from the township. I KNOW it's environmentally a big NO-NO [and I'm so good in most other environmental aspects], but there is something atavistically appealing in burning a large pile of stuff outside. When I was a child, home owners in Vancouver were permitted to burn all the leaves raked from their property. I loved raking and playing in the leaves, and then burning the piles early in the evening in the gloaming.
I started collecting and piling garden clippings, then got to work inside the barn. I had so much hay I hadn't had a chance to get rid of, from previous years. And this last winter there was so much that His Imperial Self refused to eat, though I did manage to give away 30 bales to my farrier [who also owns a boarding barn, and can always use extra hay].
Anyway, there we all were in the relatively warm sunshine, having a good time. My aunt and I worked for 5 fun-filled hours
 I just realized, you probably have never seen me before this. Please do not let yourselves be overwhelmed by my chic attire! I am a high-fashion "barn grunt", and proud of it!!  :)