Sarah's Painting Journal » niagara

Solstice

Sarah Lynch — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 02:48:56 +0000

5.5"X3.5" Watercolour & ink in Moleskine

Not a very good photograph but I was too lazy to scan it (I have to take my laptop into the other room). This is really "Noon on the Common 158" or something, but I thought I would take advantage of the date to call it something else. I found a great spot with my back to the wall of RH1 (the main rehearsal studio, otherwise known as the Studio Theatre for a few weeks of the year). I think that this tree has figured in a few paintings and drawings over the past few years too.

Noon on the Common Again

Sarah Lynch — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 02:17:35 +0000

11"X3.5" Watercolour pencil in moleskine

Another view that gets somewhat overdone due to the location of a strategically placed bench.
I remember having a conversation with a friend, someone that I had thought was fairly enlightened, who couldn't understand why the Common was so jealously guarded by the town. It seemed to him that, in a community surrounded by farmland, it was quite unnecessary and should be made available for development. I remarked at the time that people may once have felt that way about High Park in Toronto or Central Park in NY City, and that in a hundred years the people of Niagara-on-the-Lake would be glad that the Common had been protected.

That was about twenty years ago and suburban sprawl is already hemming in the town on the West. There is water to North and East so this pastoral haven to the South is a very precious thing. Long may it remain protected!

Youngstown NY

Sarah Lynch — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:47:35 +0000

8"X5.5" Pen & Ink
An interesting day. I must have walked through half a dozen climate zones on my lunchtime walk. It went from cool and overcast to gale-force wind to blazing-hot sunshine to storm-laden clouds and back to sirocco-like hot wind again.

I have drawn and painted this scene several times already. That's what happens when there is a strategically placed, comfortable bench by the river on the Niagara Parkway.

By the time I had walked down here I only had about half an hour but I provided entertainment for some passing cyclists and helped them to avoid an extensive detour by pointing out that they were in fact on the right track to get back into Niagara-on-the-Lake. They were ready to go back the way they came, which might have taken them to Niagara Falls, about 10 miles!

12 Mile Creek 2

Sarah Lynch — Mon, 31 May 2010 21:13:19 +0000

7"X5" Acrylic on board

I apologize for my lack of posts recently. My problem is partly that I have been coping with all sorts of "stuff" in my life and partly that my muse has deserted me, perhaps the two are related.

This one is rather a poor excuse for a paintng but at least I managed to achieve something. Actually I have been doing a fair amount of sketching but my scanner is in an awkward place and not as easy to use as it was, so I haven't bothered posting any of my sketches. I will try to get back into my routine soon but I think that it is time for a change, so it might be a new medium, format or subject. we shall see.

Blossom 2

Sarah Lynch — Sun, 09 May 2010 00:28:27 +0000

7"X5" Oil on board

More blossom, this time caught against the backdrop of Lake Ontario, glistening in the noonday sun.

Blossom

Sarah Lynch — Sat, 01 May 2010 23:00:45 +0000

7"X5" Oil on board

I spent most of the day painting doors and digging dandelions. It isn't nearly as much fun as painting blossom but the weather was good and we have to strike while the iron is hot, make hay while the sun shines etc.

This image of the tractor almost obscured by the fruit trees caught my eye. The blossom is early this year I think, we had some unseasonably warm weather a couple of weeks ago and everything was excelerated. It did get cold again but at least there was no frost

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

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.