5.5″X7″ Marker on paper

I love drawing winter trees, they are both a challenging and a forgiving study. It is easy to get lost in the detail, but it doesn’t really matter too much if you do.

Today is Groundhog Day, a quaint North American tradition that holds that if the groundhog sees his shadow when he comes [...]]]>

5.5″X7″ Marker on paper

I love drawing winter trees, they are both a challenging and a forgiving study. It is easy to get lost in the detail, but it doesn’t really matter too much if you do.

Today is Groundhog Day, a quaint North American tradition that holds that if the groundhog sees his shadow when he comes out of his hole on Groundhog Day we are in for 6 more weeks of winter. There are actually official groundhogs all over the continent with names like Wiareton Willy and Punxsutawney Phil. I think it is all a bit of a moot point in Ontario where Spring is unlikely to show itself until the end of March no matter what Willy does.

This day is also Candlemas in the Christan calender and Imbolc in the pagan Celtic calendar. Whichever way you cut it we are at the very midpoint of winter, halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Things have to get better from here.

8″X5″ Pen on paper

Sitting up in the donors’ lounge again at lunch time, I watched these starlings as they flocked to the narrow strip of bare ground along the edge of the building. I don’t know what they were finding to eat there but there were hundreds of them. Of course they weren’t still for [...]]]>  

8″X5″ Pen on paper

Sitting up in the donors’ lounge again at lunch time, I watched these starlings as they flocked to the narrow strip of bare ground along the edge of the building. I don’t know what they were finding to eat there but there were hundreds of them. Of course they weren’t still for a second, so they didn’t exactly pose for me, but I tried to capture their busy flurry as they came in and out of my view.

7″X5″ WC pencil on paper

The high temperature today was -14C at noon. Going to work this morning and coming home, it was a lot colder than that, especially with the “wind-chill factor”.

I have had this photograph since around this time last year, but I drove past them today and the light looked much the [...]]]>

7″X5″ WC pencil on paper

The high temperature today was -14C at noon. Going to work this morning and coming home, it was a lot colder than that, especially with the “wind-chill factor”.

I have had this photograph since around this time last year, but I drove past them today and the light looked much the same so I thought I would give them a shot. I really must give up trying to do anything in colour at night though, the light is just too bad.

It was one of my ambitions for this year to take one a month from last years posts and develop it into a larger painting. I find that looking at the thumbnails actually helps decide whether the composition really works. However, here I am halfway through January and still haven’t started. I wonder how much longer I can continue to use my computer breakdown as an excuse?

8″X10″ Pastel on paper

Part of my new regime includes allowing myself to post some older pieces. I chose this one because I don’t think I have posted any pastels here yet, and because the weather looks about right for the time of year. I did it about four or five years ago and it was actually [...]]]>

8″X10″ Pastel on paper

Part of my new regime includes allowing myself to post some older pieces. I chose this one because I don’t think I have posted any pastels here yet, and because the weather looks about right for the time of year. I did it about four or five years ago and it was actually a composite of a couple of pictures, both taken down by the old Welland Canal, which is a lovely place to walk at this time of year.

I probably should try more pastels, I don’t find it a very easy medium. It is incredibly messy and hard to store the finished peices.

8″X5.5″ Pen on paper

I have lost track of how many “Noon on the Common” drawings and paintings I have done. I realized that I have this great view from the lounge at the theatre, so I may do this same view a few times over the winter and spring, before the season starts. I took a [...]]]>

8″X5.5″ Pen on paper

I have lost track of how many “Noon on the Common” drawings and paintings I have done. I realized that I have this great view from the lounge at the theatre, so I may do this same view a few times over the winter and spring, before the season starts. I took a photo too, so I might even try this in oils on the weekend.