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June 21, 2007
Little Donkey
I didn't notice the little donkey standing just inside the barn entrance, even though I took several pictures of the barn. He was kind of lost in the shadows and standing quite still. When I looked at my pictures later I was surprised and happy to discover him. I made him a little more visible in my painting than he was in my photos. That was the same day I took pictures of the hens, roosters and geese.
I'll be on my summer holiday as of Saturday, June 24 and I'll be painting but probably not posting quite as much as I have been in the last few months. Larry and I will be spending some time at our cottage, so posting will have to wait till we come home for a few days. I'm always ready to do a commission, especially during summer when I have lots of time.
June 18, 2007
Free Range Chicken
I've taken a lot of pictures at this farm. We stop there every time we go to the cottage because they have the best butter tarts anywhere. I've painted their horse, Chester, and some of their ducks. Last weekend I took lots of pictures of the chickens, and the geese that were strutting around near the barn. I started working on a goose picture but I wasn't pleased with the goose or the background. Then I looked at some of the chicken pictures I'd taken and the background of this one was just right without any changes. Sometimes all the elements in a picture seem to come together in a pleasing way, and this was one of those times. I have never painted dandelion fluff but it was there so I put it in. While observing these birds, I noticed that they are very efficient weed eaters. This particular one didn't mind me getting close to it. It was too busy eating to care.
June 12, 2007
Sheep Shape
I stopped to take pictures of this flock of sheep last weekend. There were more of them which I might put into another picture. There were several other lambs half hidden in the grass, too. I guess I was the object of their curiosity, since they kept putting their heads up to see what I was doing. They were quite noisy, as was the guy on the left. I'm sure I wouldn't mind living near a sheep or cow farm, as their vocalizations are just part of nature, and in my opinion, quite soothing. However, the farmer who owns them might not agree with me-they're probably just part of his working day. When I look at a sheep or cow, or geese, I want to take pictures and paint. The farmer probably sometimes wishes they would all just be quiet for awhile.
June 5, 2007
Birth In The Pasture
…We go further back along the hill, my daughter Elisabeth in the lead. Suddenly she gives a cry of triumph. There in a thicket of young poplars is the calf, standing with his legs splayed out, perfectly motionless. Elisabeth tiptoes up and pats the small white head. The calf rolls his eyes, but otherwise stays perfectly motionless. "You darling thing," Elisabeth says. "I think I'm going to call you Armand."
Excerpted from Third Person Rural
by Noel Perrin
May 23, 2007
Finished
This is take two of the birthday picture, finished. These cows were in a field near Lindsay. It was a perfect spring day, cool and sunny, and the trees in the background were just starting to leaf.
May 17, 2007
Work in Progress
This work in progress is going to be my daughter's birthday present. So, happy birthday J and sorry your gift isn't finished yet. At least you know I'm working on it! Actually, I'm going to start again as the brown and white cow's head is not where it should be. It's too far out on the neck. I didn't notice until it was too late. Well, back to the drawing board.
May 13, 2007
The Old Barn
In a hundred years, this barn has sheltered
Countless newborn calves, cats and kittens
Probably some sheep
And perhaps, in a corner stall, a large gray spider
And a grateful runty pig.
May 4, 2007
Old Farmhouse
When I was taking pictures of the cows and the barn, the pleasant little farmhouse caught my eye so I took one picture of it. I'm sure it's over a hundred years old, and it looks as if it may have seen some changes over the years. Some of the bricks around the front door were a slightly different colour. Perhaps there used to be some kind of porch in front which has been removed. Between the large barn and the house, is the laneway, leading to another barn behind the house. You can see a bit of it in this picture. You'll see the barn in my next entry.
April 28, 2007
The Cow
The friendly cow all red and white,
I love with all my heart;
She gives me cream with all her might,
To eat with apple-tart.
She wanders lowing here and there,
And yet she cannot stray,
All in the pleasant open air,
The pleasant light of day.
And blown by all the winds that pass,
And wet with all the showers,
She walks among the meadow grass,
And eats the meadow flowers.
Robert Louis Stevenson
I looked around for a nice cow poem, and found this one. Admittedly, the cows in this picture were not exactly wandering in meadow grass, but were wallowing in barnyard mud and manure. It didn't seem to bother them that they were completely filthy.
The farmhouse, next to the barn, was very pretty and it is definitely on my list of Things To Paint.
April 23, 2007
Sheep Shape
Here are some more of the friendly beasts from Wessell's farm. The day we stopped to take their pictures, we also stopped at another farm where several cows and calves were out enjoying the sun. They also posed obligingly for my camera. Wait till you see the calves. They were so cute. They will appear here soon.
April 21, 2007
Sheep May Safely Graze
A few weeks ago, on the way home from the cottage, these sheep, still in their heavy winter coats, were out grazing and I didn't have my camera. So this past weekend I made sure to take it along and I was happy to see that they were again gathered around the feeding station. Since I don't live in the country, I don't have many opportunities to study and photograph farm animals. So I took lots of pictures. I don't think sheep can really be anything but charming and comical, no matter from what angle you choose to photograph them. Perhaps on one of my trips I'll get to see some lambs too. I'm sure that in a few weeks these sheep will be glad to be grabbed, thrown to the ground and sheared to near nakedness. Those coats must weigh a ton. I hope to add a few more sheep pictures soon. Even their retreating rear ends are photogenic! I'm also finishing up another portrait which I'll try to post in the next while.
April 9, 2007
Grandma
This baby did a wonderful thing. He made the woman holding him into a grandma for the first time. ( I know her quite well, but I'll keep her anonymous.) While she looks fairly serious in the picture, rest assured that this was a happy occasion, and her heart was full of grandmotherly gratitude. She has been enjoying her new role ever since, and her children have since gifted her with several more bundles of joy.
March 29, 2007
Austin Clarke
This is another picture of Austin Clarke, taken on the same day as the other one, during his interview with the Toronto Star. I enjoy painting faces, so perhaps I'll try some more portraits in the next few weeks.
March 24, 2007
Austin Clarke
Austin Clarke was born in Barbados, but came to Canada in 1955. He lives in Toronto and is the author of many books, the latest of which is The Polished Hoe. It has won several prizes, including the Giller Prize, and has recently been made into a play.
The Toronto Star carried an article about him on February l8th, and a beautiful picture, from which I got inspired to paint this watercolour. The photo was taken by Colin McConnell, and the article was written by Richard Ouzounian.
Now I am off to read The Polished Hoe.
February 14, 2007
At the Dump
I came across the photo for this picture in the Sun newspaper awhile ago. It's hard to find pictures showing clear details of birds in flight. This one was good so I saved it. So thank you to which ever Sun photographer went and stood in garbage (well, maybe he or she was saved from that by using the telephoto lens) but nevertheless, was able to take a very good photo of seagulls in flight. I was mainly interested in the one with outspread wings, but I also wanted to show a bit of the surroundings. I tried to represent a bit of garbage in the foreground without putting in too much junk. And I tried to darken the background around each bird to bring out their whiteness. While I was painting I got thinking about how much garbage we make. I guess we're all part of that problem. I tried to block environmental thoughts out of my mind, and focus just on the birds.
January 4, 2007
When my grandma passed away, my mom was going through some of her things, and wondered what to do with this little Royal Doulton figurine and its partner, which I haven't painted yet. Grandma always kept them on the mantle over her fireplace and I always thought they were pretty, and of course they made me think of Grandma. (I was twelve at the time.) My mom had bought them for her. So I asked if I could have them, and they've always had a spot on my buffet. I seem to have changed the expression on the face a little. Larry thought I should include a photo so you can see what she is really supposed to look like! I wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2007.