Spring on the Farm - 12 x 12 landscape painting

Spring on the Farm - 12 x 12" oil on cradled panel

This barn appeals to me because of the angles of the split rail fence, barn and field. Many colours make for an interesting painting in my opinion. I'm a fan of subtle colour differences in paintings, which challenges my thinking and painting style.

Sheep - 6 x 6" Oil Painting

Sheep - 6 x 6 oil painting

I decided that I wanted to paint some farm animals, this is the 2nd in the series of farm animals. A black faced sheep. It's hard to see the eyes in a black faced sheep. 6 x 6" on 3/4" panel.

Spring on Manitoulin - Landscape Oil Painting

Spring on Manitoulin - 24 x 24" Landscape Oil Painting on Panel

I've attempted to use a more colours than I normally do to create more interest in this painting. The painting technique I'm using for trees is evolving and I'm quite pleased with the result.

Green is a hard colour to work with because if there is too much, it's often too intense, so the trick it to use less, tone it down and still have it read as grass.

Spring Grasslands - Landscape Oil Painting

Spring Grasslands - 6x6" Oil on panel

The result of a recent drive around rural Ontario. Barns of all shapes intrigue me. They are disappearing. Some of my favourite painting subjects have fallen down, which makes me sad.

Wintergreen 12x12 Landscape Oil Painting

Trees reaching towards the sky on a bright winter day. The shadows on the snow is made up of many colours. Thick paint and texture create interest in this 12 x12" painting on gallery depth panel.

Red Roofs - Landscape Oil Painting

Red Roofs 12 x 12 Oil on Canvas

Cold days with dark snow filled clouds appeal to me, especially if the colour red is involved. These barns have stood the test of time through a century of all weather conditions and farmers working in and around them.


My goal right now is to create small paintings for galleries in the area that are carrying my work. In the summer and fall, I'll be in more art shows than last year.

In Berkley 6x6" Landscape Oil Painting

In Berkley 6x6" Landscape Oil Painting on panel

SOLD

This barn fascinates me. Every time I drive by it, it looks different. This is the second time I've painted it. In each season and time of day, it changes. Unfortunately it's roof has holes in it and the foundation is probably giving way. So I'll paint it while I can, until it gets taken down or it falls down.

I'm getting ready for a show in Owen Sound this weekend. It's a three day show which starts on Friday. The Fine Craft Christmas Show & Sale at the Harmony Centre.

Black Barn 12 x 12 Landscape Oil Painting

Black Barn 12 x 12 oil on canvas

SOLD

While driving around from place to place, I often see barns that I would like to paint. This one caught my eye. It's simple classic lines were irresistible. I was quite surprised and delighted that it sold so quickly.

Barn in Autumn - Landscape Oil Painting

Barn in Autumn 6x6" Landscape Oil Painting

SOLD

This barn is in the Beaver Valley and has a unique roof. I like the colouring of the trees and the asters growing in the field. I'm working on some paintings for fall shows that are coming up.

Barn in August - Landscape Oil Painting

Barn in August - 6x6" Landscape Oil Painting on cradled panel.

This is a barn that I pass by often. It's located on Hwy 10 south of Markdale. On the right side of the barn is a view of hills and trees that stretches for miles. I love the layers and different colours that appear at certain times of the year. This view looks different again since I painted it. The golden field is now grown back very green.

I will be at the Thornbury Farmers' Market on Sunday September 11 for their Art & Authors day.

Village Barn - Landscape Oil Painting

Village Barn - 6 x 6" Landscape Oil Painting

This is a painting of a small barn near a village close to where I live. I love barns, especially small barns. This one turned out well. I'm quite happy with it.

Almost Home - Landscape Oil Painting

Almost Home 12 x 10" oil on wood panel

On the way home from Collingwood on a sunny day, I noticed the cloud formations and fall colours. I love texture and bold strokes of colour. I primed the panel, then painted with two coats of gesso and a coat of raw sienna. Then roughly draw the image on the panel then paint it.

Autumn Clouds - Landscape Oil Painting

Autumn Clouds - 10 x 8" Landscape oil painting on panel

Clouds are fascinating to me, especially the big clouds with dark billowy sections. They really add to the overall composition of the painting. Clouds are a challenge to paint, and I keep being drawn to paint them.

The sides of this panel are painted raw sienna, and look like unpainted wood. It looks like a block of wood on the sides. It gives the painting an interesting unique look. 

This is a view from the road from Scenic Caves Road to Ravenna, in Grey County. This is a road that I've travelled on often in recent times. There's always wonderful views to see. 

I'm enjoying my time on this road.

Floating Overhead - Landscape Oil Painting

Floating Overhead - 12x12 oil on canvas

I'm fascinated with clouds. Especially the swirly, billowy, storm clouds with dark shadows which are floating past with great speed. These clouds were floating close to my home and I couldn't resist taking a photograph and painting them.

Along Country Roads - Landscape Oil Painting

Along Country Roads 12 x 12" Oil on gallery wrapped canvas.

SOLD

I was drawn to this image by the clouds and shadows. It's raining in the background. The clouds are moving across the sky, casting shadows on the ground. The sun is shining on the trees at the back of the fields.

The more I look at this painting the more I like it. It has been sold to an appreciative art lover.

Late Afternoon on the Farm - Landscape Oil Painting

Late Afternoon on the Farm  60" x 30" Oil on Canvas

People have been asking if I do larger paintings and here is one. This is the largest painting that I've done to date. I wanted to make sure that the composition was good, the cropping of the image was good and the drawing was good. It was a lot of work and when you do a large painting you want to get it right. I'm happy with the result.

This is a farm that I pass by often. I had to stop and take a picture, when the sun was shining and the clouds in the sky were casting a large shadow on the ground. I love the way the fences criss cross the fields.

This painting is included in The Art Map 2014 Bruce, Grey and Southern Georgian Bay Landscape Calendar.

This painting is at the Matilda Swanson Gallery in Clarksburg.

Here's one photo of this painting in progress.

In progress

Storm Clouds - Landscape Oil Painting

Storm Clouds, 10 x 8" Oil on Cradled Board 

SOLD 

I enjoy painting clouds and like the texture that they add to a landscape painting. This is rural Ontario in August. I enjoy painting small landscapes where I can finish a painting and then learn from the experience quickly. Large landscapes take time to create so the lesson it provides is a long time coming.  My hope is that each painting gets better with experience.

On this painting I toned down the greens which I seem to have trouble with each time. They tend to look too intense. I think I've got the green looking more natural here.

This painting is now at the Saugeen Artists' Store in Hanover.

Under the Sympathetic Sky - Landscape Oil Painting

Under the Sympathetic Sky Oil on Canvas 12 x 12"

SOLD

I'm getting ready for an Open Studio Event Oct 6 & 7 (Thanksgiving weekend) at my home studio in Eugenia. I painted this 12 x 12 oil for the occasion. I'm looking forward to being open and meeting everyone. If you are in the area please drop by and say hello.

This painting is of a local field in the country side, I was drawn to the lighting and long shadows that were created when the sun was lower in the horizon. I hope you enjoy it as well.

Tangle - Landscape Oil Painting

Tangle 30 x 40" Oil on Canvas

I am grateful to have two paintings accepted in the juried show "Canadian Spirit: People, Places and Icons", taking place at the Owen Sound Artists' Co-op. The show runs until September 30, 2012. The co-op is at 279 - 10th Street East, in Owen Sound.

Tangle and Cypress Lake are both landscapes of local subjects in oil. I find myself fascinated by light appearing through the branches of trees. The interplay of light and colour is very interesting to me.

Update: this painting is currently at the Matilda Swanson Gallery in Clarksburg, Ontario.

Cloud Illusions - Landscape Oil Painting

Cloud Illusions  6x6" oil on panel

SOLD

I'm fascinated by clouds.

I will be in Thornbury at the Cottage Country Show, at the arena, with quite a few of my paintings this weekend April 14 & 15th. Maybe I'll see you there. I'm bringing this cloud painting along too.

My goal with this painting was to lay on the paint thick with lots of texture and not to overwork the painting. I'm happy with the result. Although the photograph doesn't show the greens as they really are.