Tag Archives: Plein Air

Over 200 year old Jesuit or Joshuah Pear Tree

26 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by in Art, Landscape, Moleskine, Plein Air, Watercolour

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, , , ,

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.

www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Folklore/english/legende…

35th International Sketch Crawl – Brrrrr!

21 Saturday Apr 2012

Posted by in Art, cityscape, Landscape, Moleskine, Plein Air, Sketch, Watercolour

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

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!

Battle Scarred

06 Friday Apr 2012

Posted by in Art, Landscape, Plein Air, Watercolour

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

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.

Three Bumps on a Log

02 Monday Apr 2012

Posted by in Art, Landscape, Plein Air, Watercolour

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

I’ve got to catch up on my posting! So, Ojibway is the place I’ve been hanging out at lately. It was a gorgeous day this Monday. It was great to be painting with the group again. Margaret, Mary and Patrick all made it out. We are hoping for more next week. These three turtles had a lovely day basking in the sun on this log.

Birdhouse in a Hail Storm

30 Friday Mar 2012

Posted by in Art, Plein Air, Watercolour

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

Mary and I by photographerpainterprintmaker
, a photo by photographerpainterprintmaker on Flickr.

Mary and I,  suffer for our art at Ojibway Park.

Mary and I were chomping at the bit to get back to Plein Air painting, so we braved the bad weather forecast and headed to Ojibway Park. It was cold when we got there so we opted to hide out on the porch at the bird feeding station. It did block the wind, and it wasn’t long before it started to rain and hail! But, what surprised us the most was the number of different birds at the feeder in spite of, or maybe because of, the bad weather. I could have kicked myself because I forgot my camera. A partial list of birds at the feeder that day were: Blue Jays, Cardinals, Juncos, Black Capped Chickadee’s, White Breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpeckers, Red bellied woodpeckers, and common sparrows. They were all there that day and I forgot my camera!! *cry*

March Break

19 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by in Art, Landscape, Plein Air, Watercolour

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , ,

With the wonderful early spring break in March many Windsorites are flocking to the riverfront parks to witness nature’s awakening. Three of our group managed to visit the beautiful river front Coventry gardens located at the foot of Pillette Road. .

However, the weather didn’t seem to know what to do. It was foggy all morning, but by noon it had warmed up, so we headed to the park. While we were in the midst of our painting, a sudden chill swept fog rolling into the Detroit river from Lake St. Clair. It was amaizing to watch this dark cloud roll towards us. It didn’t last long, but the gentleman that I was painting got a chill and moved to sit in front of this lovely tree. I think he was hoping it would block the chilly breeze. But, the cold and damp weather persisted, and chilled the bones.

This crazy early spring has everything all mixed up. The plants are not quite sure if they are supposed to bloom or not. I was hard pressed to find anything but crocus to paint. I do have a painting of crocus that I did yesterday, and I will post it soon.

By 3:00 we were cold enough to call it quits. But, getting into the car I found it sweltering. After the paint out I met up with 3 of my granddaughters and we headed for a walk along the river on the west end. By this time the chill had left, and we were peeling off our jackets, or wishing we were in shorts.

Reflection overload! Fruit en Plein Air

16 Friday Mar 2012

Posted by in Art, Plein Air, Still Life, Still Life, Watercolour

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

Spring has sprung, but the colours are just not out yet. So Margaret and I opted to bring some colour outside and paint fruit on a cake plate on the glass patio table. Reflection overload!

34th World Wide Sketch Crawl

21 Saturday Jan 2012

Posted by in Art, Moleskine, Plein Air, Watercolour

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , ,

Well, winter put a bit of a damper on my painting until today, that is. I signed up our Plein Air group to participate in the 34th World Wide Sketch Crawl. I’ve been wanting to get out and do some snow scenes. Finally the weather co-operated!  I was the only one of the Windsor & Essex County Plein Air Society to make it out to sketch today.  We were all to meet at the Tim Horton’s on Walker Road, by the Chrysler plant. But, it seems life threw the rest a curve ball.  No worries, I’m sure they will make it out to the next event.  If they don’t well I will definitely be sketching, even if I have to do it from the shelter of my van.

You would think living in Canada would guarantee snow. Well, trust me it doesn’t, especially when you live in the most southern point in the country.  But today it was cold as heck. However, I did have my van to keep me warm while I painted the coach house at Willestead Manor, in Windsor, On. Canada. The thermometer in the van read 17°F or -8.33333333°C (to infinity and beyond). I do so like Fahrenheit so much better then Celsius. 17°F sounds so much warmer then -8.3333 °C (to infinity and beyond) ever will. I digress…

Even the van could not totally keep the cold away from my toes forever. So, I warmed up with a Tim Horton’s black coffee, and also celebrated what would have been my Dad’s 100th birthday.  He was here in spirit. How do I know? He saved the last Oooey gooey good Boston Creme Doughnut for me, that’s why!  You see, Boston Cream was his favorite. Sorry, the doughnut didn’t make it into the photo.

Now for a wee bit of a clarification on the image above. No, the roof is not falling off the Northern addition to the coach house. I think by the time I got to that side of the painting my brain was frozen. Also, (lame excuse for bad drawing number two) sitting in a van is not conducive to backing away from your work to check your progress. I usually stand when I paint, so this really sucketh rotten eggs. But, I show my mistakes as well as my successes, because I’m masochistic that way. Now, now please don’t tell me how wonderful this is. I know, when it sucks, K! Why is it you never notice these goof ups until AFTER you take the photo? Blarg! Oh.. I still had fun, and I will go out and do better next time!