The Zen of Plein Air Painting

NFS 8x10 Oil on Birch Panel
A bunch of us were at S. Cooking Lake this morning before we head off in different directions for holidays. We had 1 1/2 hr. to get something down so there was excitement in the air. It was a hot morning day so I'd underpainted my panel with hot pink which I find helps as I don't have the white glare to start with. Everything was going swimmingly and although I didn't finish, I felt happy that I could finish it up pretty quickly at home. When we got back to the cars one of the girls asked if she could see mine so I opened my box and the painting fell jam side down onto the leftover piles of paint. I think by that time I was so dazed by the heat and concerned about picking up kids, I couldn't really react. I must have stood there looking like a guppy. I'm sure there is something to be found in this .. perhaps detachment, or funny memories. Well it will be funny a few days from now!
I'm taking my paint box to B.C. so hopefully I'll have some beaches painted when I get back.

Summer Solstice

Elk Island Summer Solstice Paintout

We had a great time yesterday at our Summer Solstice Paintout at Elk Island. Some of us caught a bit of Bluegrass at Katie's Crossing in Ardrossan



and then off to Elk Island for the evening. We were greeted a few minutes into the park by a big guy



and then ate potluck dinner at the lakeside and planned to paint until dark. Normally that would be about 11:00 but at about 9:30 the weather gods decided to test our mettle with a windstorm.






We finally had to abandon our paintings after being buffetted for about 1/2 hour or so and get back to our cars. Once we had our stuff safe, we decided we had to stay and watch the sunset. We laughed and chatted portrait painting as the sun went down in a spectacular setting.

South Cooking Lake

Ragweed at Bob's Point Study 1
Oil on 7x8 Panel
This little study was done last Wed eve. at a lake near Edmonton called South Cooking Lake. There was a lot to process and I was just glad to come away with some colour information. It was a glorious evening with good company and not a mosquito in site due to the dryness. It seems so unlikely as we had snow into the third week of May but as the land was still frozen, it didn't benefit the soil and the area is now in a state of severe drought.
I was curious about the name South Cooking Lake; apparently Cooking Lake has been a stopping place on the Carlton Trail from Winnipeg to Edmonton since the 1880's. Around the turn of the century, the first homesteaders coming to this district used this trail named by the Cree Indians �O-PI-MI-W-SIOO-SAKYAKN� (Place Where We Cook Lake) or Cooking Lake.




Ragweed at Bob's Point Study2
6x8 Oil on (Linen) Panel

We had such fun last week and yet felt it was a lot to take in so we decided to go back to the same place again. I have to keep reminding myself that although this is the second summer we've painted outside, it's probably less than a dozen times in total. I can say that I enjoy it more each time and really that's the important thing.

This weekend we are going to Katie's Crossing to listen to some music and then painting at Elk Island until the sun goes down which will be verrrry late because it's the Solstice. Hopefully it won't make the buffalo edgy.

Mactaggart Sanctuary Paintout

6x8
Oil on Linen Board
This is such a wonderful place and it was truly a surprise to me. I didn't go with high expectations. We took the boys one day when we first moved here but it was snowing heavily and the trails weren't great. Then in subsequent years, there was a lot of construction on the road leading to it so it just fell off our radar. I'll return happily next time.
There were quite a few people celebrating the return of spring with a brisk hike. They were very interested in us strange folk painting away but they were respectful as well. I believe the Sanctuary part of the name is meant for the birds but it was equally wonderful for us humans. There was a painting scene in every direction you turned, the challenge was settling on something.

Salisbury Geese

8x10 Oil on Linen Board

This pair of geese greeted me outside Salisbury Greenhouse when I was there a few weeks ago. I watched them for a few minutes until this fellow gave me the distinct impression he'd like me to give his partner some space. The lady in the store told me they are resident at the greenhouse and they mate for life. It made me think about new beginnings and all kinds of sappy stuff. And yes for my coast friends, I haven't forgotten they're a beach menace but we don't have so many here so it's easy to forget.

This was in our brief spring interlude before we were vaulted back into winter for awhile. They say it will warm up sometime in 2009!

Blueberry Fields Forever

6x8 Oil on Board

This is a scene in Pitt Meadows B.C. in early Feb. , a bit of a contrast to the snow scene I posted the other day which was taken about a month earlier. There are acres and acres of blueberry fields and a walking path along the dyke so the walkers get to enjoy it. It's hard to believe how close you are to a big city, there are kilometres of walking paths along the dyke and it's all very peaceful.

Will It Ever Stop?

Oil on 8x8" Board

A friend once noticed that people talk a lot about what matters to them. So if you live in a city where the housing prices are challenging, people talk all about their rates and lengths. If you live in a city where the weather is a challenge, there's a lot of chatter about that. Well, this year on the West Coast, talk of the weather trumped all else. It brought the city to a standstill more than once. This little painting is from a photo Mom took and sent when she ran out of words.