Spring

There is nothing like a bouquet of cut flowers, especially at this time of year, when garden blooms are still a far off promise!   Thank you, Tessa, for something colourful to paint!                                                                                                               

Purple Tulips

 

Early Spring

Behind the Stores

 

Early Spring

                                 

 

   

Thinking of Spring

  

Waiting for the bees

 

New Cuttings    

Anticipating Spring --- Late Season Snowfall

 

Winter --- Indoor Practice --- Same Teapot Sketched Twice

 

Winter: Indoor Sketches - Geraniums

Making it through Winter

 

 

Winter - Cottage Road - Two views

Snow Banks

Cottage Road

 

Winter --- Two Sketches, Same View

Across The Ice

 

Summer's End --- Three sketches of the marsh in late season

Wetlands, with their ongoing seasonal changes, are among my favorite sketching sites.                               In spring, when melting snow turns low lying woods and pasture into mini lakes, they vibrate with the high pitched cries of peepers and birds.            In summer, as the water recedes, ferns and moss covered  tree roots emerge; frog song gives way to the buzzing of insects.                             By autumn, vegetation has overtaken the seasonal pools.  When I waded into this sea of marsh grass, I was able to sketch from a vantage point that was submerged only a few months before.   A brief moment in the life of a wetland...           

Broken Saplings and Marsh Grass

 

Painting Outdoors - Three Quick Sketches of Early Summer:

Where Wild Apples Grow

 When weather permits, I love heading outdoors for a session of "speed painting".     In contrast to the controlled environment of the studio, painting outside is a mercurial affair, with light and atmospheric conditions continually changing the way things appear.

Upon starting to paint a particular site, there is always a pressing awareness at the back of my mind: The scene before me will soon to morph into something different, and I have only a brief window of time --- an hour at most --- to capture it, before it is gone.. 

With this in mind I focus on putting down the big shapes and values.  Small details and touches can be added later, but the aim for now is to quickly portray the scene in its "essence".   Dally too long, and before you know it, the shifting light has transformed colours, shadows and shapes, turning the scene into something else entirely.  I find that with watercolours, it is futile trying to keep up with and adjust to these changes; the painting quickly loses direction, colours become muddy and the composition confused.

Recently, voracious hordes of mosquitoes, deer flies and horse flies have done a wonderful job of hurrying me along!   While doing these sketches, the most I could stand under the free-for-all attacks of these beasts was thirty to forty minutes!    As it turns out, the timing was just about right!

Sketches of Early Summer

Overlooking the Marsh

 

Sketches of Early Summer

Fence Line

 

Late day Pasture in Spring

 

Back yard sketch

 

 

Spent flowers

 

Another Kind of Winter

 

Winter Leisure

 

 

Beauty Queen - At the Fair

 Unlike last summer's "Five Minute Cows",  this girl rested quietly in her stall while I painted her.  What a luxury to have a model who stayed put!

Looking Back at Summer

Waterside Sketch

Looking back at Summer

I enjoyed playing with this little scene.  The water was high this year, and from my position on the hill, there were times when our small dock appeared to float in the sky.   I was intrigued by the reflecting light and colour, and never having sketched the folding chairs, wanted to try this as well.  I didn't entirely figure out the chair legs before the rain moved in, (see the reflection of incoming clouds, upper right).  Still, I think the sketch works, overall.

Two Chairs with Clouds Moving in

Two Chairs and a Moment of Sun

The next day the sun shone brightly, and I returned to sketch the same scene again.  I solved the issue of the chair legs, but think I prefer the first piece, where the darkening sky creates a greater contrast of tones in the water.   

Speed Painting Between Rain Showers

The "moody" weather this summer certainly added an extra challenge to outdoor painting!  I can't count the number of times the rain washed away my attempts only moments after I started!

But the fickle conditions also offered an opportunity to practise "speed" painting --- a valuable exercise in its own right!  And the soft, misty, lighting was actually much easier to work in than the glare of bright sunlight.

Here are a few "speed sketches" completed between showers.   The 3rd one, "Just Past the Gate" and the 5th, "Morning Water Sketch", were cut short by rain, but looking at them now, I think it was time to stop anyway.  Enforced simplicity.

Clouds

Silver jewel

Just Past the Gate

Sumac Path

Morning Water Sketch

Five Minute Cows

Five Minute Cows

Some images are so fleeting they're probably more suited to photography than painting.  When these cows began assembling along the fence line, I knew they'd be fun to paint, but would likely be gone before I even set up.  Still, I had to try!  Scrambling to gather watercolours, brushes and a folding chair, I was "in position" within seconds, and miracle of miracles, my visitors were still there!  For the next three, perhaps five minutes, they gazed solemnly through the tangle of vegetation and fence wires, while I rapidly splashed down my impressions.  Then, just like that, they turned and moved away.

Oh, where did our summer go!  I hope everyone has enjoyed this short, sweet season!

 Art Tracks studio received a fresh coat of paint this week, and classes are now set to resume.  Our first after school class of the season will take place Wednesday, Sept. 13th, and run weekly throughout the school year from 3:20 - 4:35.  If your daughter or son would like to join us, please drop me a line.  Enrolment is on a first come, first serve basis, but if interest surpasses class capacity and numbers suffice, we'll open another  class.  Potential time slots are Wednesday, 4:45 - 6:00 p.m. and/or Tuesday, from 3:20 - 4:35.

Art Tracks weekly adult art class will also resume on Tuesday, Sept. 12, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.  This is an open studio program offering techniques and feedback as you work in the media of your choice.  All levels are welcome, so feel free to drop me a line at: fhallmanchong@gmail.com.

Once again, I look forward to meeting with our marvelously creative artists.  Being surrounded by so much talent and enthusiasm is always inspiring!  

Winter

The Marsh in Winter

View from Above

Waiting

Flowers for Sale

Behind the School

Bloor Storm

December Night

The Way to School

Late Afternoon Street Light

Eye on the Neighbours

Backview

Autumn

November Walk - Mid-Afternoon

November Walk - Late Afternoon