What’s The Point!

 Kelly and I had a great Sunday afternoon painting at Wilson's Point Historic Site yesterday….lots of people around for the guided tours and the bagpiper! 

Since I retired from the position..Kelly is the NEW Artist in Residence at the Point… but you’ll still find me painting there often!

My contribution today was this watercolour

What’s The Point 

M. Graham Watercolours on 600lb. Arches 100% cotton.

Size 10 X 8 inches

(Will be available matted and framed to 14 X 11 in….At the Rockin River Kin Gallery…check out the Events Page)

 Kelly and I were out painting near the Enclosure….neither of us quite got to finish as we started out quite late after having difficulty deciding on a good spot. I decided on this view of the train bridge….This was a native fishing area the last time I painted here…..but that is long gone now. The view of the bridge through the trees really captured my attention this time around.  Finished in the studio.

Bridge View

Oils on prepared panel

Size 8 X 10 in.

Roadside Treasure

 What's a plein air painter to do on a miserable day? Well...I picked some daisies ….and thankfully the cats left them alone ...so today was a daisy a day dear!

Roadside Treasure

Pastels on toned multimedia paper

Size aprox. 5 X 7 in.

Peace In The Forest (Wilson’s Point)

 Peace In The Forest (Wilson’s Point)

Pastels on Strathmore blue toned multimedia paper prepared with pastel ground

Size Aprox. 5 X 7 in.

A Plein air pastel painting at Wilson’s Point opening day.

This was an experiment using pastel ground on multimedia paper and I’m quite pleased with the outcome!

Miramichi Spring Blooms - (series of 6)

 I started this series to try to improve my use of Gouache…an opaque watercolour. I have used it before in small measure along with my transparent watercolours but this time using it on its own. It dries extremely fast which is both a sticking point and an advantage depending on how it’s used. I loved the ability to layer from thin to thick. I found I much preferred to use the colours straight from the tube onto a stay-wet pallet as I have done for acrylics in the past….much easier to blend thicker paint as they never reconstituted well enough from a dried and then re-wet travel pallet.

Miramichi Spring Blooms series - Gouache on Strathmore (400 series, 184 lb) Toned Gray Mixed Media Paper….vellum surface 

Touch photo to enlarge

Bass Fishing on the Miramichi

 An unsettled day on the river but lots of bass fishermen didn’t mind a bit…gathering in Nelson to throw in a line. I love this sight on the river and have always wanted to capture this scene

Painted with Gouache this time…an opaque watercolour painted in layers…thin to thick…something like oils..but dries VERY fast! This is a tiny painting size 5 X 7 in. And it was painted on Canson waterboard.

Touch to enlarge

The Swamp - monoprint

 The Swamp

Monoprint 1/1

Size 11 X 14 in.

Completed from a recent charcoal sketch (Derwent coloured charcoal pencils and blocks plus some vine charcoal) at a local swampy area behind the Miramichi mall in Newcastle, Miramichi. I transferred the charcoal drawing to my Gelli plate and used Mat Medium for the pull onto Strathmore Tan Toned mixed media paper….finishing off with a bit of soft pastel work over selected areas. I was especially drawn to the foreground trees…such character! ….and the colour of the early spring grasses…..If I waited another week or so the entire scene would have been too green for my liking. I love the colours and textures of spring.