County Jamboree

Sunday, I will be at the Biggest Country Music Event of the 2010 Summer, the 2nd Annual Boot Hill "Country" Jamboree in Bothwell Ontario. The weekend of festivities started on Thursday with karoko and a Jam Session with Guest Jamie Warren. Friday evening included Marie Brottrell with Aaron Solmon (Memories of Hank & Patsy), Jamie Warren and Little Texas. Today the line up of entertainment includes Jessie Farrell, Mustang Sally and the big attraction George Canyon. Sunday's entertainment includes Desert Heat, Deric Ruttan and Larry Gatlin & Gatlin Bros.

North Middlesex History

Over the past few months, I have been doing some drawings of historical architecture of North Middlesex county. I will have a booth at their celebrations this weekend, Friday night and Saturday morning at the North Middlesex Community Centre in Parkhill. Included will be streetscapes, churches and beautiful old barns. This is my favourite "Parkhill Streetscape No. 3" an ink drawing measuring 4" x 9", double matted to 9" x 14" in size.

Golf in the Muskokas

Holidays last week. Rented a cottage on Six Mile Lake. Spent the week drawing, golfing and sitting on the dock. It was great! Played Rocky Crest Golf Club, twice ... my favourite clublink course. A "walkable" course that still has all the beauty of the Muskokas. Played my best round of the season there on Monday, shot an 81. Followed that up with a 95 on Wednesday.

Played Grandview Golf Club for the first time. I played from the red tees, which is normal for me and found some of the holes rather short. I usually can't reach a par four in one, let alone be over the green in one. Having said that, it was one of my better drives! Grandview is descibed ... "Two-time major champion Mark O'Meara knows a thing or two about golf courses and that insight is obvious to anyone fortunate enough to play the Mark O'Meara Course at Grandview. Winding its way through the granite, forest and wetlands of the incomparable Muskoka region, Grandview is a delight to play." It did pour rain for a couple of holes, which was fine because it was a very hot day.

Also played The Lake Joseph Club. "Architect Thomas McBroom utilized the granite crags, towering trees and heaving topography of the incomparable Muskoka vacation region north of Toronto with such success that the course was named the best new course in the country by Golf Digest." We took a cart that day, so it was easy to do some sketching while playing.

Last sketch was practice greeen at Greenhills after ladies night on tuesday.

Sketches by the River

Went sketching by the Thames River, by Blackfriars Bridge last evening with my friend Kym. With thunderstorms looming in the distance, I was convinced we would get rained on... but we were lucky and didn't get wet.

We were sitting out in the middle of the river on a rocky patch with our chairs. Before we knew it, the water started to raise and we were soon surrounded by water, came up at least 4 inches in less than an hour. There was abviously heavy rain to the north of the city! This first one shown here was not complete when we had to move.

We moved up to the top of the break wall, facing downtown and did some more sketching. It was a lovely evening to be sitting outside drawing.

Phillie with Colour

There is a small street close to The Clay Studio called Elfreth's Alley. I felt like it was 2007 and I was back in France. "While a modern city has sprung up around it, the Alley preserves three centuries of evolution through its old-fashioned flower boxes, shutters, Flemish bond brickwork and other architectural details. Butchers. Bakers. Candlestick-makers. Named for blacksmith and property-owner Jeremiah Elfreth, Elfreth’s Alley was home to the 18th century artisans and trades-people who were the backbone of colonial Philadelphia. " This ink drawing with some added colour, is from photo reference. The order of homes is not exact, but it gives the feel of the street as I seen it.

This drawing is for sale on RadfordArt on Etsy.
Cost is $65.00 Canadian plus shipping.

Philadelphia Streetscape No. 2

Philadelphia

I had the opportunity to visit to Philadelphia this week with some members of the London Potters Guild. 2 days is not enough time ... Philadelphia is a historic, cultural, beautiful city. I had never thought of Philadelphia as a city I must visit, but it is city well worth visiting.

We visited The Clay Studio in Philadelphia. Interesting and informative, a vision for the future of the London Clay Art Centre.... the whole purpose of the trip. Tuesday morning, we visited Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens. Isaiah Zagar is an award-winning mosaic mural artist whose work can be found on over 100 public walls throughout the city of Philadelphia and around the world. We did allot of walking, so I had time to figure out what and where I wanted to draw. Tuesday afternoon I had time to do just that... sit and draw. I choose the historic neighbourhood by the hotel we stayed at, Spruce and 12 street. I did some quick sketches in my sketch book and then completed this drawing on location. I wish I had more time there.

Greystone Golf Club Sketches

Sketched 3 holes during the round of golf at Greystone Golf Club. This it hole no.1 and hole no.6. We road in a cart, which I usually don't like, but I really wanted to take my larger sketch book. It too big and too heavy for carrying, besides with a cart, I had a place to sit. It was busy and we did have to wait.