Speaking of winter, it is not here yet in Canada, but approaching fast. Let's not get ahead of ourselves though there is still some summer left, and a beautiful fall to come. I just posted a batch of Keystone Colorado paintings from the early works file, and it got me to thinking about this coming winter. Wouldn't it be nice to keep painting outside all winter! Then I remembered some of the past experiences. In this painting, it was awfully cold, the paint was barely liquid but a strong sun helped the paint dry. I believe this was done in Stratford Ontario but could be mistaken. 5 x 8" cold press, watercolour 2004?
Easy huh? Just sit down on a camping chair in the freezing cold and start painting. Oh yeah, the paint can really freeze, even with salt in the water. Not to mention the human body, it needs warmth too. This scene was from somewhere in London Ontario in their many parks.
Frozen Tank, 5 x 7" cold press, watercolour, 1996 (No. 0799)
A little wiser, it looks like I chose a bright sunny afternoon for this one, which was done on University of Western Ontario campus, it is the art building at the edge of campus near the river.
UWO Campus, Frozen Art Building, 5 x 7" cold press, watercolour, 2003 (No. 802)
And my favorite. I actually did two of these, in the other one the mallard ducks are more visible. I have no idea what these ducks were doing there in the middle of winter but somebody had left some food for them. There were quite a few and they kept moving around making it hard to paint them. This scene was done on the Thames river, which can be barely made out in the background. Actual ice crystals started to form, and I recall being extremely cold. It was very windy too, and overcast.
Mallard ducks, Tree, Thames River Winter, 5 x 7" cold press, watercolour,1996 (No. 801)
In conclusion, if I try to paint outside in the winter this year I will need a warmer jacket and boots!
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