'Water Lover' oil on canvas 24 x 30

Thursday, March 31, 2011

'Rising Wind - Holland Point'

Though I may seem to whine a bit about bad weather
the neat thing about cloudy wet weather is getting set
up as the winds rise and the clearing begins.
I was lucky enough to get out one afternoon a
couple of weeks ago for just that sort of event.
The clouds and sparkle on the water seems so much
brighter and lively. Little things that make plein air
so very interesting and challenging.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oil on wood panel 6 x 8.
Your thoughts & comments always welcomed.
Jeffrey
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 


Friday, March 25, 2011

'Spring Sky - Little Trial Island'

I painted with a buddy of mine on the shore of McNeill
Bay last weekend. To say that the sky on that
beautiful warm day was spectacular would be an
understatement in the extreme.
I have included a series of photos that I hope will give
you some idea of the incredible aerial extravaganza we
witnessed as we painted. I must say that I sensed at the
outset that I would need to get my sky roughed-in quickly
and then develop it further as things were going to
change and man did they. I often had the feeling that I just may
have started my painting to soon...
=:-/
The double humped island to the right of the painting middle
is known locally as Little Trial Island because of its
remarkable profile similarity to its much bigger brother
Trial Island, that is home to the historic light station.
The main Trial Island is now an ecological reserve that
harbours several plant species that are no longer found
in other areas around the south Island.
These photos are set up from when I first started
till when we were finishing up...I did hold
back on many more!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oil on wood panel 12 x 16.
Your thoughts & comments always appreciated.
Jeffrey




























Monday, March 21, 2011

'Juan de Fuca Light'

I was fortunate to be set up ready to go when the light
broke through the dispersing clouds. Transferring the
blinding brilliance of that fast changing light as the patterns
moved across the water I found to
be quite a challenge. However in this instance the
surface of the sea was dark with shimmering light that
allowed for an interesting contrast.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oil on wood panel 9 x 12.
Your thoughts & comments are valued.
Jeffrey

Sunday, March 13, 2011

'March Afternoon - Holland Point'

Another plein air from Victoria's waterfront. This time
I faced west toward Albert Head while standing
above the beach at Holland Point. That is the
green marker at Brotchie Ledge in the middle left.
Our weather is very unpredictable these days and it is a real
gamble as to what conditions you will get from one hour
to the next. We got lucky close to noon on
Friday for this excursion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oil on wood panel 11 x 14.
Your thoughts & comments are very much appreciated.
Jeffrey

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

'Evening Sky - McNeill Bay'


The waters surrounding these islands and islets have
been the scene of many marine disasters in our
maritime history here on the south Island.
Rough ground that can go from several feet to a hundred
in short order. As well tides that can reach 6-7 knots
make for tricky navigation in the best of conditions, add
in 30 or 40 knots of wind, darkness and
mariners beware.
Fortunately standing as I was on firm ground in late
afternoon sun, painting this piece was not fraught
with such concerns.
=;-))
Wishing you all 'fair winds and following seas'.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oil on wood panel 12 x 16.
Your thoughts & comments are always appreciated.
Jeffrey


Saturday, March 5, 2011

'Eventide in the Islands'

 
Several years ago I spent a couple of days at the north end
of Thetis Island and it is from some of the photos I took
that this piece was developed.
It was late May and there were spring tides running.
The below zero tides during the day provided amazing
reference photos that I have probably developed into
at least a dozen different paintings.
When we were there it was so quiet that it was almost
eerie. The extreme low tides exposed those unusual
rock formations that the Gulf Islands are known for.
(hmmm perhaps a double-entendre...)
As the evening settled upon us 
you could sense the spirits
that continue to walk these shores.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'Eventide in the Islands'
oil on wood panel 
18 x 24.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Your thoughts & comments always appreciated.
Jeffrey

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

'Morning Winds - Enterprise Channel'

BC's south coast was battered by another gale from early
morning and through much of today. Some areas registering
wind gusts to 100kmh. Though the winds were not
anywhere near that speed where I painted this morning,
it was too windy to set up outside so I hunkered down,
once again, in the shelter of my vehicle...
Incredibly beautiful skies and sparkling water in a very
fast changing panorama, so make a decision and
paint fast boyo!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oil on wood panel 6 x 8.
Your thoughts & comments always appreciated.
Jeffrey