Sarah's Painting Journal » Niagara Postcards

The Birds

Sarah Lynch — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:03:25 +0000

7"X5" Oil on board As the lakers pass through the canal they are followed by a flock of hungry gulls. The trees are at that point where they look just as if they have had a dry brush of yellow green dragged across them, only a few more days and they will be in full leaf. I switched back to oils for this one. No particular reason really, just wanted a change. It would probably have been easier with acrylics as there was no blending required to speak of, and quite a lot of light over dark and dark over light. It might be a good idea to use a little more logic in my decision making

Lakeshore Bridge

Sarah Lynch — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:48:44 +0000

7"X5" Acrylic on board A familiar sight to anyone who tries to cross the canal on the Lakeshore Road at about 5:30 on a late winter evening. One of those situations where the visor really doesn't help. You have to drive one-handed while using the other one to try to block the sun without actually blocking your view of the road completely.

Dawn on the River

Sarah Lynch — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 11:48:44 +0000

7"X5" Oil on board I found myself at work very early a couple of times this week so I went for a walk. Dawn looks a lot like dusk (except looking the other way of course) at this time of year. This spot is right at the junction of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario.

Winter Sunset 2

Sarah Lynch — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 11:48:44 +0000

7"X5" Oil on board At last the days are getting a little longer. This is a sight that often greets me as I get out of work and start for home

Winter Sunset

Sarah Lynch — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 04:45:28 +0000

8"X6" Oil on board I am not getting very good reproductions, one of the problems with using oil on these short winter days. I can't scan them and by the time I am ready to photograph them there is so little light the results aren't good. The days are starting to get a little longer but it is hard to tell. We have been getting some real Canadian winter weather, overcast and snowing all day with temperatures around -9C. I go back to work tomorrow and am not looking forward to the drive, it is around 20 kilometres (12 miles) on rural roads, white knuckles all the way.

Midwinter River

Sarah Lynch — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 23:28:00 +0000

8"X6" Oil on board

Looking northeast to the New York shore. The season is about right but I didn't take this reference shot this year. Right now we have a couple of inches of snow and the temperature is -11C (about 12F).

White Barn

Sarah Lynch — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 12:41:30 +0000

7"X5" Oil on board

Happy Christmas everyone!

Cold

Sarah Lynch — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:25:54 +0000

7"X5" Oil on board

Yes it is starting to look quite Christmassy out there and it has been quite cold (well not by Winnipeg standards) around -7 C. I am not sure how much painting I am going to be able to get done over the next few days but you will probably be seeing a few more of these winter scenes.

Against Another Day

Sarah Lynch — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 23:23:16 +0000

7"X5" Acrylic on board

I am still having some difficulty finding my muse. This is from a photo I took a month ago at the same time that I did a sketch. I tried to use the photo, which was a very low-res cellphone picture, just as a starting point. I didn't refer to the sketch either. I am trying to work less literally and to use my memory and imagination more.

I am still struggling with my commission which is a pet portrait, not one of my strengths. It is made especially difficult because I don't have a good reference photo of the two animals together, just a bunch of snapshots, some of which I took myself and some taken by the client. I am trying to come up with a montage that works but I still have deep misgivings.

Niagara Central Hobbies

Sarah Lynch — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:56:41 +0000

7"X5" Acrylic on board

All artists in the Region are probably familiar with this building on St. Paul Street, St. Catharines. This is almost the only source of art supplies in the whole peninsula. There is now a Michaels, a store which I find deeply depressing and prefer to ignore, and WalMart sells some basic stuff. Even NCH is not a dedicated art-supply store and their selection is limited but it is what we have. The next best thing is a trip to Currys in Hamilton.

What Niagara Central Hobbies does have is one of the best supplies of model train paraphernalia in Southern Ontario. More than Half the store is dedicated to model railroad supplies and there always seem to be at least two elderly male shop assistants for every customer. They are very knowledgeable and sometimes I wonder if they are actually volunteers.

I cheated a little with this picture. There is actually an ugly apartment building behind the store which ruined the composition so I left it out.