'Water Lover' oil on canvas 24 x 30

Sunday, February 27, 2011

'Snowy Coffin Island'

At low tide the Coffin Islands are a small and wondrous
place alive with the quarrelsome sounds of feeding
Wigeon as well as other competing waterfowl.
The islands lie on the north side of the entrance to West Bay
in Victoria's outer harbour. Though they both are probably
each under 100 feet across they rise up like the humps
on a camels back to at least 30 feet.
At below zero tide they seem higher yet when standing
on the exposed flats at their feet.
I made it out for a paint on Friday afternoon with painting pal
We dressed for cold as it was about -10 Celsius in the wind
which in this part of the world is damn cold.
But dressed right, out of the wind and in the sun
quite pleasant. Victoria has just passed through our first
big weather event of this winter. My neighbourhood
got close to 25cm of snow and then the cold winds
gusting at times to over 50 kmh. Our world famous
flower count is slated to begin on Tuesday!
=:-/
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Oil on wood panel 6 x 8.
Your thoughts & comments always appreciated.
Jeffrey

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

'North from Holland Point'

I started painting this piece on a really beautiful late
morning in lovely sun on Victoria's waterfront.
However as many can attest, when painting en plein air,
a beautiful sunny day can be quickly over taken
by a cloud bank. This one showered us in
ice pellets and had us making a hasty retreat after about
an hour...what a difference an hour can bring...
=:-/
So I finished it off in the warm dry studio.
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Oil on wood panel 11 x 14.
Your thoughts & comments always hoped for.
Jeffrey

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

'Morning Gale'

This piece was inspired from a recent plein air
excursion during a morning easterly gale to
Albert Head Park. When the east
winds blow, large breaking waves are hurled onto
the beach and eventually create great swirls and
drifts of foamy sea floss from the constant wave
action. Years ago there was a manned light
station on the point. It is one of the local hot spots
for salmon and halibut fisherman as well many
sea mammals and birds can be observed here.
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Oil on canvas 36 x 30.
Your thoughts & comments are invited.
Jeffrey



Saturday, February 19, 2011

'Easterly Gale - Albert Head'

I arrived here to paint Friday morning knowing it would
be windy but hoping I might find a spot with some
protection, that turned out to be behind the
windshield of my vehicle!
I hadn't tried this before, however I think it may be
worth exploring further for those days when the
conditions prove to much for this old soldier...
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Oil on wood panel 9 x 12.
Your thoughts & comments always appreciated.
Jeffrey

Friday, February 18, 2011

'Konk-la-tareeeee..."

Southern Vancouver Island has small numbers of
Red-winged blackbirds that winter over every year but
the wonderful mating displays and calls of
"konk-la-tareeeeeeeee..."
won't be present for awhile yet. However by this time of
year I'm already watching and listening for them and
looking for the first swallows of the year.
Two things that mark the beginning of
of spring, for sure, in my world.
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Oil on wood panel 9 x 12.
Your thoughts & comments always sought.
Jeffrey


Thursday, February 17, 2011

'Misty Morning Swans'

One of the highlights of the winter season on the
south Island are the Tundra Swans that spend the
winter months here. Standing close to the marsh edge
when a small flock glides low overhead to land in the
water is a thrilling experience that warms the soul
even on a cool and damp west coast morning.
The marsh in those conditions softens sound
and the bugling calls of the swans
seem from another world.
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Oil on wood panel 12 x 16.
Thoughts & comments always appreciated.
Jeffrey

Sunday, February 13, 2011

'Lagoon Willows'

Even on a chilly overcast westcoast winter day the
wonderful colour of the naked willows light up the
morning. I painted this while out with a small band
of hardy outsiders on Friday. The cold wasn't to bad
if you were out of the wind.
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Oil on wood panel 9 x 12.
Your thoughts & comments always appreciated!
Jeffrey

Monday, February 7, 2011

'Not Long Now'

This scene depicts that time in late fall when the
snow line is slowly creeping down the mountain with
each passing day. The excitement in the
skiing and boarding community begins to build
as the long waited for opening of the
season gets closer...
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Oil on wood panel 14 x 11.
Your thoughts & Comments always appreciated.
Jeffrey

Thursday, February 3, 2011

'Meadow Memory'

Once a common sight on the south Island and throughout
much of the Gulf Islands, the Western Bluebird
is mostly just a memory. Though a few are sighted
every year it is a rare sight indeed.
Thankfully nest box programs and monitoring are
being started and it is hoped that it
will meet with the same type of success other
programs have had with species like
the Eastern Bluebird, Wood Ducks, Purple Martins and
others elsewhere in Canada & the US.
If you want to be part of the effort and help
bring back the Western Bluebird please check out
You can really help.
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Oil on wood panel 10 x 8.
Your thoughts & comments are always welcomed!
Jeffrey