20 Saturday Oct 2012
Posted in Art, Landscape, Plein Air, Watercolour, Workshops
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It’s always a great time with the Chatham, Ontario Arts Council group. Thanks for having me back once again.
17 Monday Sep 2012
Posted in Art, Landscape, Plein Air, Watercolour
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Labour Day is two weeks gone, kids are in school, the beach is deserted, and the air is crisp. I walked down the beach to get closer to the Canadian Geese. I wanted to get photographs of them in flight. White caps crashed on the shore as the wind played havoc with the lake. I slowly approached the geese… camera ready. Wary of me they waddled down the beach a few honking their displeasure. They finally decided I was too close and took flight out into the lake a few yards away. The waves violently tossed them around, and I became concerned for their safety. What if one drowned because of my desire of a perfect photo? I gave them their space, and they safely returned to shore. I will think twice about disturbing wild life for the perfect shot.
A good part of the morning is always spent discovering the perfect composition. I was very fortunate to find a sheltered area. It was a lovely spot at the edge of the road looking through some trees. Wind and Plein Air painting quite often yields disaster. Many a painter has found hand prints in their work, broken easel’s, or had to chase their paper down the road or even into the lake! Winter is fast approaching. I hope the beautiful fall weather holds out. I love painting in the fall. However, I do hope we have some snow this winter. Winter painting needs snow and in Essex County, the most southern part of Canada, we had very little last year.
19 Tuesday Jun 2012
Tags
Art, botanical, Botony, flower, Flowers, Italy, journal, Landscape, Plein Air, Plein Air Painting, Watercolor, Watercolour, Workshop
Hosted by Toscana Americana Workshops
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I am very excited to offer a workshop in Tuscany next spring 2013.
In this workshop I will be focusing on sketching and watercolour en Plein Air. The day will begin with a short discussion, demo and question period. Throughout the day, each student will receive individual instruction. We will Alternate between quick sketches in a journal, and larger paintings. As an urban and a landscape painter I am at home painting in any environment. The focus will be on capturing the rapidly changing light and contrasting values as the day progresses. You will also learn how to interpret colour using a limited palette. I will teach you how to edit what you see en Plein Air to create your cherished memory of Tuscany. As an added bonus I will show you how to use photography as a tool to plan your composition,photograph your work for the web or to make art cards from your paintings. These keepsakes can be shared with friends and family. You will learn how to work Plein Air painting into your daily life. I will be only demonstrating watercolour, but if you are an experienced painter who wishes to do your own thing you are more than welcome to participate at the same cost. You may bring any mediums you like with you. However, if you bring oils do not bring thinners, as they are prohibited from flights. You may purchase thinners at the local art store.
This workshop is suitable for the beginner or the experienced painter. Click these links for frequently asked questions, workshop information and registration rates.
I wish to introduce you to the joy of painting in the largest studio in the world, the great outdoors. When I paint en Plein Air I experience nature and the world in an intimate way not experienced by the casual observer. The experience exhilarates me. I am also a photographer. When I capture nature and life through a camera lens I feel more like a voyeur, stealing a moment in time. However, when I paint I become immersed in my surroundings with all my senses. I am alert, and the scene becomes a part of my existence. My heart yearns to interpret what is before me. By painting en Plein Air I go beyond copying that stolen moment in a photograph in the studio. I live the moment. I live the painting. The experience becomes a memory not soon forgotten. When people see my work, I’d like them to experience a bit of what it was like to be there. There is no greater joy for me then when I introduce others to painting en Plein Air.
Ciao!
Recommended supplies, partial list.
26 Thursday Apr 2012
Posted in Art, Landscape, Moleskine, Plein Air, Watercolour
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There is quite a history behind this very old tree. It has proudly stood on the Iler family farm for over 200 years.
I found a lovely story about these trees, the story also has a link to two Detroit News newspaper articles.
21 Saturday Apr 2012
Tags
Art, cityscape, Landscape, Plein Air, Watercolor, Watercolour
The sketch crawl started out cold, (-1 C or 30 F) cloudy, and breezy (26 km/h or 16m/h out of the north). Brrrr. When I left it was partly cloudy, a balmy 7 C or 44 F with winds at 30 Km/h or 18 Mp/h out of the NE. It’s no wonder everyone left early. I managed to find a cozy spot though… in my car! I actually think I got a lovely sketch out of what would have been a lost day.
YAY!! Post #100!
06 Friday Apr 2012
Posted in Art, Landscape, Plein Air, Watercolour
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Back to Ojibway Park again. There is so much going on there. This old Willow has been hit by lightning definitely more than once, and maybe its even weathered a tornado or two. Although, it maybe ravaged by storms but it will not give up. There’s still life in the old limbs.
10 Saturday Dec 2011
Posted in Art, Landscape, Plein Air, Still Life, Watercolour
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Artspeak Holiday Show & Sale 2011, a set on Flickr.
Our local arts council opened their doors to their annual member’s Christmas Show and Sale. Each artist was allowed to hang 5 pieces that had not been shown in previous members show. Seeing that I’ve been a very busy beaver this summer it was no problem at all to find 5 pieces. These works were all created at special events from the summer. The trip we made up north to Wilberforce, Ontario. Our group was invited to two events at the John R. Park Homestead, and two of these pieces are from that event.
Read more about this event here.
27 Thursday Oct 2011
Posted in Art, Landscape, Plein Air, Sketch, Watercolour
Tags
Art, cityscape, Landscape, Plein Air, Watercolor, Watercolour
What an incredible summer, and fall looks like it’s going to be great as well. I’ve been painting every week, and I tell you it feels very good. Invitations to demonstrate Plein Air Painting have come to us all summer. We were invited to participate in Explore the Shore, The Lost Arts, and the Migration Festival. We were rained out for Canada Culture Days which was a disappointment. Hopefully next year the weather will co-operate. Next week our city is having an all day cultural think tank for the arts. I’m going to post a few of my works from the summer, so you can catch up with my whirlwind life.
27 Thursday Oct 2011
Posted in Art, Landscape, Plein Air, Watercolour
Tags
Art, cityscape, Drawing, Landscape, Opinions, Plein Air, Watercolor, Watercolour
An ominous red-brown cloud hovered over the area this day. Zug Island in Detroit, Michigan was spewing toxins into the air without care. The factories in that area send an incredible amount of pollution across the river into Windsor Ontario Canada. No-one seems to be able to stop this. I can find stats on almost all of the US and Canada on Cancer rates, but not Ontario. Why? On the maps that I did find, Michigan is among the worst for cancer rates. We are down wind of them, so if a conclusion can be drawn, I would think we would at least equal Detroit in environmentally induced cancers. We went to paint a lovely picture that day. I could not.
08 Monday Aug 2011
Posted in Art, Landscape, Landscape, Plein Air, Watercolour
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The civic holiday weekend saw four members of the “Windsor & Essex County Plein Air Society” making a 9 hour trek (7 1/2 if you’ve a lead foot, and don’t stop to pee) to Wilberforce, Ontario for the third anniversary of the “Brush with the Highlands Plein Air Festival.”
What an incredible journey! This tiny town opened its arms wide to 47 wonderful Plein Air Artists. Tracey Lee Green, a young woman with vision, masterminded this brilliant festival.
Tracey worked tirelessly finding sponsors for prizes that totaled $1,500. She offered the grounds of her beautiful rolling wooded estate to campers. She also provided a list of accommodations for those who were not campers.
Margaret, Mary and I stayed at the Bostonian Motel. This quaint motel was a bit older, but the units had full kitchens, which suited our needs perfectly. We especially liked the fact that the price fit into our budget, and it was very close to town. The owner, Roberta, was a lovely lady, who’s kindness and generosity won our hearts. We’ve already booked this motel for our return next year.
On Thursday they had workshops for children and adults. We arrived just in time to register and hand in our paintings for the Dry competition.
I’m told by Patrick, the fourth member of our team, that we missed a great evening. The campers brought their guitars, and voices together for a fun time. We plan on arriving at least day earlier next year. In fact we may just come a week early, or stay an extra week so we can take advantage of more painting days.
Friday night, we had a great time getting acquainted with our fellow artists, at Tracey’s home. One of her friends provided her P.A. system, and extensive Karaoke collection. It’s been a long time since I sang, but I braved it and took up the mic. Luckily no one had any rotten tomatoes to toss my way!
Saturday night was the grand finale. Tracey’s friends cooked us the best bar-b-q ever, and they even had Portobello mushrooms, and a whole salmon for the vegetarians among us.
The evening finished up with the best bonfire ever! The judge and his wife were also very talented folk singers. Their jaunty ditties had our feet a tapping. I almost ran my battery out taking photo’s of the bonfire.
Sunday morning we had to be up early to hand in our wet paintings, to be judged. After we dropped them off we went to “The Algonquin Cookhouse” for breakfast. Many people we met highly recommended the place so we had to check it out. What a pleasant surprise. They offered high quality food, and drink at very reasonable prices. We dined here twice during our stay.
All in all, we had a wonderful time. The painting that accompanies this article was my first painting of the weekend, and I think it is one of my best ever. I will be posting more photo’s of the event soon, so keep an eye on this site for updates.
Via Flickr:
Marsh on the Barnes Farm, Wiberforce, On. First painting I did during the festival, Brush With The Highlands.
Elizabeth Gaye MacDonald, Plein Air Artist 