SS02, Mainstreet, Bayfield

SS02, Mainstreet, Bayfield

This is a streetscape of village of Bayfield, a rural village with gourmet dining, art galleries, boutiques and historic buildings.  With a mere 900 permanent residents to that swells to over 2500 in summer, this quaint Lake Huron town has allot to offer.

This is a small portion of Mainstreet, Bayfield, a histoic portion that dates back to 1850.  The Albion Hotel, with it's original Geogain Colonial architecture and the beautifully restored Black Dog Village Pub and Bistro, circa 1850.

This drawing that will be featured at Sunset Gallery in Grand Bend, where I am the Guest artist between July 10 and 23.

Run for a Cure

Every year I participate in the CIBC Run for a Cure. I was out for a run this morning. It reminded me of this drawing and all that inspired it.

I typically run on the bike path in downtown London. Not only is running great exercise, but I find it to be a very positive meditative time. It’s a time to clear your mind and think positive thoughts. The beauty of the citys bike path is... you start off running by the tall buildings of downtown and soon find yourself surrounded by... nothing but trees and nature, The hustle and bustle of the city seems far away rather than just a few steps behind you. This drawing was completed last year.



I Run (Graphite, 4.5” x 12”)

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.

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.

At the Boat Dock, Washago

At the public boat dock to Lake Couchinching in Washago. One of the drawing I did while Troy was fishing. Ink and coloured pencil.

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)

KOLF No 8 Young Golfer

KOLF No. 8 Young Golfer (12" x 8", Graphite)

A little different approach then the other pictures in the KOLF series. The figure is the main focus. The landscape is almost none existant. This is the first in a portrait format.

Today, I can focus on my artwork.... do some drawing, do some painting, matt and frame pictures, plan/organize my stuff to get ready for Boothill Jamboree in a couple of weeks. Setting up a booth to sell artwork at the county music jamboree on July 30 to August 3.

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.

GPG Country Location

Gallery Painting Group location, north west of the city. Country property with rolling hills. Went to this location, first on a Saturday, but accomplished nothing. Figured out why, I had my contacts in the wrong eyes. Just enough of a difference to make it hard to concentrate and see completely clearly. Colin and I wend back a few days later. Both of us had decided that we wanted to paint the field with the bails, BUT they were gone! So we went for a walk on another part of the property, I spotted this small building set among the trees. This was the first of two drawing I did.

Shed Among the Trees (5.5" x 10", graphite and ink)

The other one remains unfinished. I seem to have alot of unfinished artwork lying around at his point. My goal for the next week is to just to finish all the drawings I have started.

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)

Dark Clouds

I like the gently rolling hills of this farm southwest of London. Photo reference was taken while driving home from Otterville. I like old barns, but thats not what attracted me to this image. It was the sky. The sky was dark and threatening on one side and filled with light, fluffy clouds on the other side. It did pour rain shortly after I took this photo. The timing was perfect, we had finished our round of golf.



Dark Clouds (6.5" x 9.5", Ink and Graphite)

FireRock No. 11

A Thomas McBroom design, FireRock Golf Club, a high end public course in Komoka, Ontario is set amongst sweeping fields of environmentally protected Savannah grasses in and around an existing gravel pit. This is hole no. 11, the shortest hole on the course, but certainly not the easiest. The green is guarded by a deep bunker on the front left and set in a valley of black maples. The Oxbow Creek runs along the left side.



FireRock No. 11 (6" x 9" Ink and Graphite)

Drawing from Photo Reference

Drawing from a photo reference presents a challenge for me. This drawing of a Hole in One from Desert Sands Golf Course in California was drawn from photo reference only, as I have not played the course. (although I would love to go there and play it... its looks amazing!) It's hard to imagine the three dimensional space in reality. With my home course, I think I could draw every hole without reference, because I am so familiar with it and can easily picture every hole in my mind. There were also more challenges of water / reflections, fountain, architecture and different kinds of trees. All of the golf holes I have drawn so far were basically golf holes surrounded by trees. This photo is busy and therefore the green is smaller and you have to look to find it amongst all the other elements... but that's realistic for this particular hole / course. I really liked the pink flowers by the water's edge, so I added some coloured pencil. In the end, I was happy with the finished product.


Desert Sands No. 12 (6" x 9" Ink and Coloured Pencil)

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.

Glencairn, Speyside No. 1

KOLF No. 7 GC SS No.1 (6.5 x 9.5, Graphite and ink), Greenhills Golf Course often floods in the spring, as Dingman Creek (which lies within the Thames River watershed) winds it way thought the course. On May 3rd, while Greenhills was closed due to flooding, Troy and I went to play GlenCairn Golf Course, near Milton.

This course has the beauty and spirit of a traditional Scottish golf course, complete with rock fences and extremely deep bunkers. Continuing with my series of history inspired drawings, I have an old Scottish gentleman and hole number one of the Speyside nine. Because it was so early in the season the fescue was short, making it easier to play out of the rough, but he deep pot bunkers were still as difficult as ever.... 5 sand shots on the eighteen hole alone. We won't talk about my final score. The final touch on this picture was the very faint Socttish flag.

Greenhills No. 7

Greenhills No. 7 (6.5 x 9.5, Graphite and ink) I like the 7th hole at Greenhills because of the elevation change. The graceful curves of the fairway and the various mounds around the green are more defined. The gentle uphill slope makes the 325 yards play more like 400 yards, in my opinion. When you are playing this hole in the evening, the sunsets is to the right, so you get great long shadows across the fairway. Maybe that should be the next picture I draw.

Greenhills No. 1

Greenhills, No. 1 (9" x 13", Ink and Graphite) This is the last drawing for The "Canadian Amputee Golf Association" tournament to be held at Greenhills Golf course in July. I have already completed the other nine smaller drawings of various holes at the course. This one is larger and is for the overall winner. I started this drawing on Saturday morning, and then worked on it before work this morning and finished it this afternoon. Because I am so familiar with this course, I find it easy to imagine the three-dimensional space working from the two-dimensional photo reference.

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.

Figure Drawing

Untitled Male No. 4 (3" x 5" India Ink and Graphite) Just one of the small drawings from figure drawing session at the ARTS project on Monday night.

My Old Singer

My Old Singer, (Graphite, Ink and Coloured Pencil) I needed to do some mending, so I got out my new sewing machine, meaning the one that's 25 years old. The tension was all messed up, time to take it in for servicing. Tom, took one look at my machine and said you must be hemming jeans with it... the foot plate was also broke. Denim is way to thick, do not use this machine for that. I went home and decided I would get out the old Singer Machine that belonged to my brother in-law's mother and give it a try. This machine has not been touched for about 10 years. Its a SInger model from about 1946.... and it still works perfect! It only goes forward. Isn't it beautiful! I had to draw it. Then I added the rest of the story, the jeans.

It took me all morning to draw my old Singer sewing machine and to be honest, its slightly out of proportion. It only took a short time to draw my old jeans.

Image Size: 12" x 8"
Double Matted: 18" x 12"

This drawing is for sale on RadfordArt on Etsy.
Cost is $85.00 Canadian plus shipping.



Snow on Tulips (Ink and Coloured Pencil on Paper )

I usually do not draw flowers or work in colour, but the nice weather we are currently experiencing, reminded me of this drawing I did back in December. If you look in your garden you might see the tulips starting to peak through the ground. There is still more snow to come, just being realistic about Canadian weather.

The reference photo was taken the end of April, a couple of years ago. We had driven through a snow storm on the way home from Myrtle Beach and this was the scene in my garden.