'Winter Gale'

*Happy New Year Everyone!*

I painted this piece from the protection of the

cab of my truck yesterday, using my homemade

lap box that I put together with this in mind.

 It was blowin' 35 kmh gusting to 50

and the wind surfers were in their glory!

Rain squalls, then sunshine with rainbows then

back again all within minutes so paint fast

boyo! It was cold in the truck and the gust

buffeting my rolling studio made a steady hand

an illusion at best.

If this truck is rockin' don't... =:-/

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Oil on wood panel 6 x 8.

Your thoughts & comments are valued.

Jeffrey

V V V

The view from my studio window this morning.

More weather on the way...

'First Snow'

The delight of late afternoon sunlight on

the first snowfall of the season.

It is truly a wonderful world

and oh so very precious.

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Oil on canvas 24 x 36.

Your thoughts & comments are always appreciated.

Jeffrey

'Chesterman Sunrise'

Oil on canvas 30 x 48

~~~~~~~~~~~

Well it looks like Victoria, like many other areas, will have

a 'green' Christmas this year (not unusual for my neck

of the woods). So I thought I would post a real West Coast

scene for this years Christmas post.

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Thanks everyone for all your support and encouragement

throughout this year. It would really have

been tough without it.

Wishing you all love, peace & joy.

It's all we really need...

Jeffrey

'Highrock Rhythms'

'Highrock Rhythms' oil on canvas 30 x 40

This painting was inspired by an earlier plein air piece

that was sold a couple of years ago. I enlarged the

format and changed the season among other things.

I have included an image of the original below

for comparison. Naturally the huge size deferential

may be hard to imagine in this posting.

(9 x 12 up to a 30 x 40) 

'August Sky - Highrock' oil on wood panel 9 x 12

Not sure if the transition worked but I think

I'm happy with it so far...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your thoughts & comments would be valued!

Jeffrey
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I would like to draw your attention to an new
artist on my artist link list.
Caroline Simmill from the wilds of the
Scottish moorlands. Amazing atmospheric landscapes.

'Golden November'

About two years ago I painted a plein air piece that

I used as reference to paint this one.

I have always been enthralled with the drama of

a sunlight landscape against a dark sky.

Perhaps a series is in the offing...

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Oil on wood panel 12 x 16.

Your thoughts & comments are always appreciated.

Jeffrey

'October Surprise'

Though they can be challenging to deal with sometimes,

those surprise snowfalls that happen in October or

early November can be such a visual treat.

I find it a very stimulating subject to

paint because generally so much

of the work is purely imagination

based on natures reality.

A good test for your

'seeing' senses.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oil on wood panel 5 x 7.

Your thoughts & comments are valued.

Jeffrey

'Clearing Skies-Incinerator Rock'

Another one from my west coast plein air

adventure, this one at Long Beach and the amazing

geological marvel Incinerator Rock.

It stands like a bulwark against the never ending

surf that rolls and crashes onto this spectacular

edge of Canada. They break against this rock behemoth

with incredible displays of natures force.

One feels much in awe and small in the

presence of such grandeur.

I'm not convinced that a mere 9 x 12 panel

has done it justice...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oil on wood panel 9 x 12.

Your thoughts & comments are always appreciated.

Jeffrey

'October Sunrise-Cox Bay'

This is one of the paintings from a recent painting

adventure to Tofino on Vancouver Islands west coast,

and the wild open Pacific. It is incredibly exhilarating

to stand on strip of tidal beach that separates one bay

from another and watch and listen to the big surf

rolling and crashing in front and behind you and keeping

a close eye on the tide as it rises around you.

By the time I finished it was only 20 feet away

from me and my easel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oil on wood panel 12 x 16.

Your thoughts & comments always appreciated.

Jeffrey

'Spring Morning'

This is a painting from last April that was done on

a cool and breezy morning at the

entrance to Esquimalt Lagoon.

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Oil on wood panel 9 x 12.

Thoughts & comments always appreciated.



'On The Way To Ganges'

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

This painting was developed from a small 6 x 8 painting

done plein air several years ago on a trip to Salt Spring Island.

There are those who say "go big or go home",

I'm still on the road to Ganges...

=:-/

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Oil on canvas 36 x 48.

Your thoughts & comments would be valued!

Jeffrey

'September Sooke River'

In a few weeks time 
this quiet spot will be transformed

into a raging, tumbling river when the big

male rains begin in earnest.

It will tax the stamina of the salmon running 

upstream to their spawning beds.

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'September Sooke River'
oil on wood panel
 6 x 8.

Your thoughts & comments are always appreciated.

Jeffrey 

'View from Hurricane Ridge'

Washington State's Olympic Peninsula and

the Olympic Mountains make up the back drop

of the southern view across the strait from

my studio. They are incredibly beautiful and I have

seen and painted them in all kinds of weather and

light conditions from many locations

 on the water, hill tops and beaches of

southern Vancouver Island.

However until recently had never seen them

up close. Artist Linny D. Vine and I made the

trip in late August this summer and arrived at the

top of Hurricane Ridge on one of the hottest days

of the year. Spectacular really doesn't cover what

awaited us. The mountain wildflowers were at

there fullness in incredibly diverse colours and sizes.

However the scent of pine and wild mountain sage that

drifted in the hot air still lingers in my soul.

Our time seem to pass so very quickly. More trips

are planned for the near future.

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Oil on wood panel 

14 x 11.

Your thoughts & comments always welcomed.

Jeffrey

'Where Spirits Dance'

There are places we walk that alert our senses to the

 beings that first left foot prints there long before us.

 Perhaps a feeling that a presence, at times,

 can be felt when we walk in foot steps

from the long ago time...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oil on canvas 30 x 40.

Your thoughts & comments are always valued.

Jeffrey

'Salt Spring Harvest'

One of the paintings from my recent trip to Salt Spring

Island, this heritage farm is on a quiet and secluded

back-road on the island. Painting this in September/

summer like conditions was a real treat.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oil on wood panel 11 x 14.

Your thoughts & comments are always appreciated.

Jeffrey

'Lime Bay To McLoughlin Point'

This was painted several weeks ago now,

 on a chilly early morning but when the winds
were plein air friendly =;-)

From this harbour side 'Songhees Walkway' the entrance

to Victoria's harbour (just to the left) can be seen and

to the right the mouth of West Bay which holds

so many memories for me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oil on wood panel 9 x 12.

Your thoughts & comments are always valued!

Jeffrey

'Morning Tide'

Early morning, a flood tide, a beach on southern

Vancouver Island. You can feel the life pulse of the

sea and all the life within her.

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Oil on canvas 36 x 48.

Your thoughts & comments always welcomed.

Jeffrey

'Summer Visitors'

From my studio window I can see these daisy's in my neighbours

front yard every summer. Though I have said time and

time again, "I have to get out and paint those daisy's!", it

just never happened, until this summer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oil on wood panel 8 x 10.

Your thoughts & comments always appreciated.

Jeffrey

'Summer Evening Light'

The light, late on an August evening has a softer tone than

July and one that brings with it a sense of fullness.

Large swaths of marsh grass swaying and shimmering

 like waves on the sea but with a warmth you can feel.

The scent of the peat bog rises on the breeze

where swallows drift and dart.

Soon twilght will envelope us and the spirits will dance...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oil on wood panel 6 x 8.

Thoughts & comments always greatly appreciated.

Jeffrey

'Summer Afternoon - Saanichton Bay'

Low tide on a hot and lazy summer afternoon.

Several Kingfishers were working the shallows as I painted

this piece, hovering and diving. As well many other birds

were busy along the edge of the mudflats, some

grand Blue Herons among them.

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Oil on wood panel 11 x 14.

Your thoughts & comments are always valued.

Jeffrey

'Sparkling Water - Oak Bay'

Summer wind, breaking light, sparkling water,

add some oil paint, stir lightly in the open air,

quickly now before its gone.

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Oil on wood panel
 12 x 16.

Your thoughts & comments are always appreciated.

Jeffrey

'Late In September'

For those of you who follow my work from timt to time

will know that I have a particular affection for

September here on the south Island and the wonderful

light at that time of year. This painting is yet another

in my on going series of our September light.

As well it is my first painting completed in my new studio at

the prestigious Ross Place Retirement Residence where I

have recently taken on the position of 'Artist in Residence'

here in Victoria. The position provides a large studio

with attached gallery 'STUDIO65' I will be helping to develope

and co-ordinate an art program there for both residents and

the public at large, focusing on senior artists.

I hope you will come by for a visit. The gallery is

open Tues. & Thurs. from 1pm - 4pm or by

appointment you can email me at jjboronart@shaw.ca

or call the front desk at 250.381.8666.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oil on canvas 30 x 36.

Your thoughts & comments always welcomed.

Jeffrey

'South Island Summer'

Well things have been quite hectic for the past

several weeks (in a good way) lots of art related

news to share with you.

One of those news items is tomorrows

*24th Annual Moss Street Paint-In*

Once again the largest art festival in western Canada

begins Saturday July 16th 11 am - 4:30pm

on Moss Street between Fort & Dallas.

You will find me set up and painting at 101 Moss

between May & Faithful on the lower end of Moss.

Hope you can drop by and say hello, will share a laugh!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The plein air piece above was done last Tuesday morning

after the cloud cover, grudgingly, broke up

and allowed the sun to warm me up!

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Oil on wood panel 8 x 10.

Your thoughts & comments always appreciated!

Jeffrey

'Evening Hayfields'

Another evening in the hay fields, this one depicting

the first days work with more yet to go.

The light started fading fast cutting my time short with this

 piece so more work was done back at the studio.

(Note to self: Start late, paint fast!)

=:-/

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Oil on wood panel 11 x 14.

Your thoughts & comments always valued!

Jeffrey

'A Morning In April'

This painting was developed from reference photos

taken while plein air painting in one our local

natural park areas here in Victoria.

This brief time in spring always

passes so quickly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oil on wood panel 
16 x 20.

Thoughts & comments always appreciated.

Jeffrey

'Summer Eve Hayfields'

On the eve of the summer solstice I spent a lovely,

evening painting sweet smelling fresh mown hay fields.

I imagine there is, for most artists, a particular subject

that connects with you in a special way. Hay fields 

have a special place in my heart and I look forward to

painting them with great anticipation every June.

There is of course a great amount of bird activity around

the fields and the scents that fill the evening air is

like a ride in a time machine as I close my eyes

and fill my lungs. The sweet nostalgia of years past.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oil on wood panel 6 x 8.

Your thoughts & comments would be appreciated.

Jeffrey

'Summer Pasture'

I had originally gone out in hopes of painting some

fields being hayed but it still hadn't started in my area

yet. However this little horse pasture had caught my eye

on previous trips and with the Hawthorn in

bloom and the drifts of Buttercups it seemed like a

wonderful opportunity.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oil on wood panel 9 x 12.

Your thoughts & comments are always valued!

Jeffrey



'Thetis Light'

Late afternoon on a quiet forested lakeshore in

late spring can provide some really sparkling

light for painting en plein air.

Loosely defined details with high contrast allowed me

to get past the overwhelming amount of 'stuff'

in this soft and gentle scene.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oil on wood panel 9 x 12.

Your thoughts & comments are always welcomed.

Jeffrey

'South Island Spectacular'

Those of you who follow this blog from time to

time may remember that back in March I had

a wonderful plein air experience with a sky filled

all day with tremendous cloud formations.

This piece was developed

from photo's taken on that excursion as well

the painting done then and one done a

couple days later in a different location.

I may try and do several more... =:-/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oil on canvas 40 x 30.

Your thoughts & comments are always valued!

Jeffrey

'Camas Meadow'

This piece was done about three weeks ago now and

once again I'm glad I have been able to get out to

paint these wonderful blooms as much as I have this year.

Due to the cooler than normal temperatures we've

been having this spring they are still hanging in there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oil on wood panel 12 x 16.

Your thoughts & comments are valued.

Jeffrey

'Camas Tapestry'

Early morning shadows, bright sun, warm temperatures,

brilliant carpets of wild Camas Lily's and dozens of

swooping swallows hunting insects to feed their

broods made last Friday's paint out so very special.

For me the return of the swallows and the Camas Lily

 bloom time is the highlight of spring here

on Southern Vancouver Island.

Now where did I put the time delay device...

=:-/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oil on wood panel 9 x12.

Thoughts & comments always welcome!

Jeffrey



'Storm Warning'

Hopefully this painting and its title is not some sort of "sign".

 The art life can be an amazing journey of

discovery and adventure, often into unknown territory

both physically and mentally. We can discover things

about the world around us and our selves that shock us

and sometimes bring much pain and anguish. At the same

time these discoveries, both large and small,

can be full of joy and wonder,

bringing us ever closer to the level of vision

and insight that seems often to be that which we

are seeking as artists. But the art life can be a tough

business...if you have been at it for a while you will have

heard someone who's been riding this horse for a long time

tell you...but on you sail further and further from shore.

It can be a lonely life and one that vulnerability has no

boundaries. You will learn things you really didn't want

to know and things that will lift your spirits and set you

free (if only for a brief moment) to soar with the swallows.

Like a west coast seiner heading into a morning gale

we go on, cause that's what we do. 

Wishing you fair winds and following seas!

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Oil on canvas 36 x 48.

Your thoughts & comments are valued.

Jeffrey 

'Camas Trail'

Finally, the Camas season has arrived! I painted

this piece on lovely spring day last week. We are about

three weeks behind last years blooming but happy

nonetheless. It is truly a magical experience to spend time

painting alone among these native flowers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oil on wood panel 
11 x 14.

Thoughts & comments always appreciated.

Jeffrey

 

'South Coast Light'

This painting was developed from a plein air piece I

painted last March. I must say that the grand scale

in this painting was very inspiring and I set my

imagination dial to "Playtime" and let it happen!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oil on canvas 30 x 40.

Thoughts & comments always appreciated!

Jeffrey

"April Morning at Witty's"

On Saturday of the Easter long weekend 
I spent a beautiful sunny day at Witty's Lagoon
 not far from Victoria.

It is one of the south Island treasures. 
On this day the tide was a minus one, 
that produced sand bars in the bay

that ran out at least 1/4 mile interlaced 
with shallow rivulets (ankle to knee deep) 
that needed to be crossed to

make it out some of those far off spots as

many fun seekers did.

We painted close to shore in a dry
 sandy bottomed cove.

This is one of the two I painted that day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oil on wood panel 11 x 14.

Your thoughts & comments always appreciated.

Jeffrey

'Spring Weather - Royal Roads'

This spot is not far from my studio 
and it is one I have been meaning to paint 
for quite some time. It is a

rather exposed location which is fine 
except when a sudden 180 wind shift puts you 
right in the teeth of a spring gale -

like right now!! 
Fortunately, I was just putting some

finishing strokes on when I was forced 
to try and get everything on the ground
 before it blew away.
 I did manage to get that done except for my tripod 
which, of course, blew over and fell 
catching my grounded palette and putting

my brushes and several other pieces of equipment 
firmly into the gobs of paint...

=:-p

Ah the joy and excitement 
of painting en plein air!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oil on wood panel
9 x 12.

Thoughts & comments always appreciated.

Jeffrey