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.

Whitemud Creek

Oil on Canvas framed
16 X 20
$500.oo
Still on the theme of water, but back home in Edmonton, this park is one of my favorite places to paintout. A week ago it was ablaze with colour and now the trees have shed their leaves and the first snowfall is just around the corner. I love the soft lavender and ochre of the background trees in the fall.