London Streetscape

London Streetscape No. 1 (ink and graphite, 5.5" x 13")

After taking some photos at the London Arts Council of paintings from Art Rental and Sales Gallery, I was admiring the architecture on Dundas Street from Clarence to Richmond. I noticed this plague at the top of the building "Duffield Block 1876" A simple search tells me "In 1871, Joseph Spettigue built Spettigue Hall (later the Duffield Block) which contained an elegant 663-seat concert hall on the second floor. Designed in the Second Empire Style, the structure was 197 feet long, 63 feet high, and cost $12,000 to construct." (See Duffield Block for more information).

I took some reference photos and this is the streetscape drawing I did.

Hole in One

Artwork for a "hole in one" at Greenhills. I have drawn a couple pictures of this hole in the past, so my challenge here was to make it more interesting for me to draw. I happen to have a few reference shots of him, so I have added the ghosted image of him, drawn in the similar style as my KOLF series.



Hole in One, Greenhills No. 3 (6.5" x 9.5", Ink and Graphite)

The Club at Bond Head, No. 2

This is hole number 2, the North Course at The Club at Bond Head. There are extreme elevation changes throughout the 18 holes, giving spectacular vistas in all directions. I always like square tee boxes, a nice contrast to the graceful curves of the greens and fairways. Everywhere I looked was visually interesting; naturalized hazards, uniform cut lines of fairway, numerous sandtraps of various sizes and random shapes. In the distance, a barn and house, again the straight edges make an interesting contrast. A very picturesque but challenging course.



The Club at Bond Head, North Course, No. 2 (Graphite and Ink, 6.5" x 9.5")

Artax and Falcor

The most important part of any portrait is the eyes ... in my opionion. When the viewer makes eye contact with the portrait, a sense of communication is established. Both dogs have great eyes and the reference photos captured them perfectly. That was my favourite part of this portrait to draw.

National Pines No. 9

National Pines No. 9 (Graphite and Ink, 6.5" x 9.5")

This is the nineth hole at National Pines Golf Club in Innisfil, just south of Barrie. A Thomas McBroom designed course that opened in 1992. The conservative club house suits the surrounding landscape of pine forests and meadowlands.

Experimenting with mixed media

Started with a figure drawing sketch in graphite and ink. Mounted on small canvas and added a little bit of acrylic paint.

Untitled (Mixed Media 5" x 7")

Heron Point No. 16

Heron Point No 16 (graphite and ink, 6" x 9.5)

This Clublink course built in 1991 and designed by Thomas McBroom was ranked 73 in the country by ScoreGolf in 2008. The course is a mixture of meadowlands and wetlands and has approximately 77 bunkers. This is hole number 16, a relatively short par 3 (105 yards from the forward tees). The green is guarded by bunkers and this hole is rated the easiest on the course.

Moffat Stove

From photo reference taken at a paintout at Eldon House, London's oldest residence, back in May. This home sits on a piece of high ground, in the middle of the city, overlooking the forks of the Thames. Inside, this beautiful historic home contains family heirlooms and furniture from the Harris family. Outsite, a 19 century garden has been recreated, truly a place of beauty and tranquility.

I was attrached to this old Moffat stove, which may seem a little odd for anyone that knows me ... the fact that I serioulsy did not get the cooking gene. The attraction was about the surface texture and the geometric shapes of the stove and the floor. Such a contrast to the organic shapes of landscape and figures, my ususal subject matters. A different kind of drawing challenge.

Glen Cairn No 7

Last Sunday, we went to play Glencairn Golf Course, near Halton Hills. This scottish style course complete with stone walls, burns, bridges, sod walled pot bunkers and fescue, is the course were I got my hole in one 2 years ago. This is hole number 7 on Scotch Block, a short downhill par three over a field of fescue. I like this course because of the fescue, golden in colour, a nice contrast to all the green on golf courses. Fescue is beautiful.... not to play in, but to look at. I didn't have a problem with the fescue, but I did have a couple of issues with the pot bunkers.



Glencairn, Scotch Block No. 7 (6.5 " x 9.5", Ink and Graphite)

GPG Second Drawing

Path by the Fence (6.5" x 10", Ink and Graphite)

Finished the second of two drawing at the Gallery Painting Group Location. With this one I was consciously using solid black and leaving white areas. Sometimes I get carried away with drawing all over the paper, instead of using the negative space and the white of the paper. This drawing is slightly out of proportion, but I really liked the dead tree on the left side and wanted it in.

Eldon House with Flags

Some artists gathered at Eldon House for the Canada Day Celebrations. This is just one of the small drawings I completed while on the grounds. A comfortable, large front porch, with Canadian and British flags, invite guests to this historic London home. Old wicker chairs line the porch giving visitors a peaceful place to admire all the flowers and vines.



Eldon House with Flags (5.5" x 6" Ink and Graphite)

Adding Colour

I draw. Graphite and Ink are my favourite mediums. One reason is simplicity. All I need is a pencil and some paper and I am ready to go. Second reason is that I believe that drawing is the cornerstone of all visual art. I believe that until you master the art of drawing, which is really about learning to see, you will struggle with other mediums. I am far from mastering it, but I am now reasonably comfortable with my drawing skills.

Having said that, I am ready to work in other mediums. My goal with the Gallery Painting Group this summer is to paint. Watercolour. Visited a beautiful city garden yesterday. Flowers are not my favourite subject. With a little searching you can always find something visually interesting. The screened gazebo was interesting, but with architecture I tend to try to be too perfect and detailed. The pair of old work boots, filled with hens and chicks was a good subject for a small drawing/painting. I worked on three small images at once, simply to let the ink/watercolour dry. This is one of them.... I really consider this to be a drawing with colour added.



Old Work Boots (4.25" x 4.25" Ink and Watercolour)

Ironwood No. 2

Ironwood No. 2 (6" x 9" Ink and Graphite) My sister lives in Goderich. Exeter happens to be about half way between us, so we occasionally meet there to play a round of golf. Ironwood Golf Club offers specials and golf promotions to registered members, including a free round of golf for your birthday, which can be used anytime during your birthday month. Simply go to their website and sign up, no hassles and they are very friendly. So last Thursday we met at Ironwood Golf Course to play. Turned out to be a perfect afternoon for golf.

This is hole number 2. This creek winds its way across the course, coming into play on a few holes. Of course, if I played it more often I would not have put 2 balls in the creek. On second thought I would probably choose to hit driver again on those holes, and put more balls in the creek! As usual, not a problem getting to the green, just too many three putts.

Eldon House

Eldon House (6" x 9" Ink and Graphite) Today’s paintout location was London's oldest residence, Eldon House. This home sits on a piece of high ground, in the middle of the city, overlooking the forks of the Thames. Inside, this beautiful historic home contains family heirlooms and furniture from the Harris family. Outside, a 19th century garden has been recreated, truly a place of beauty and tranquility.

This summer, Eldon House will celebrate its 175th birthday. There are special Canada Day Celebrations in the plans for this year.

This detailed ink drawing was completed on location this afternoon.

Tidewater

Tidewater (9" x 13", Ink and Graphite) One of the courses we played while on vacation in Mrytle Beach was Tidewater Golf Club, located just a short drive north. I liked the holes that bordered the marsh area and had views of North Myrtle Beach in the distance. With views that spectacular, it was easier to forget that fact that I three putted again.

Tidewater Golf Club opened to public play in February of 1990. That year Tidewater was honored by being selected as The Best New Public Course In America by "Golf Digest", and one of the top 10 new courses by "Golf Magazine." Never before or since has one course received both these honors.

London Hunt and Country Club

London Hunt and Country Club, Hole No. 2 (6" x 9 ", Ink and Graphite) From photo taken while playing there last summer. This par three hole is fast becoming the Club`s signature hole, mainly because of this intimidating water hazard. This was before the downpour of rain, which emptied the course of players. We waited out the rain and were able to finish our round on this beautiful and perfectly manicured golf course.

Just playing around with watercolour and ink, working from a live model. This was short pose of about 20 minutes, not much time considering watercolour takes a long time to dry. I'm not looking for a perfectly, polished painting, I am after a painting that has a simple, free feeling to it.

Golf and History

KOLF No. 6 GH 01 (9" x 13", Ink and Graphite) One more drawings in the KOLF series. This time I am working a little larger and used hole number one at Greenhills. Sixteen more days and I will be golfing!

Golf and History

More drawings in the KOLF series. Walking down any fairway you can sense the tradition and history of the sport. You can almost feel the presence of the likes of Bobby Jones and Babe Zaharias. The hole depicted here is from Rocky Crest in the Muskokas, and KOLF No 4 was Greenhills hole 17 and KOLF No 5 is loosely based on Greenhills hole 13.

KOLF No. 5

KOLF No. 4