Back to Killarney

I took my son up to Killarney on the Thanksgiving long weekend for a little painting. Perfect weather and absolutely brilliant colours. Not very happy with the results but I did enjoy myself.

This is my first attempt to paint in High Park. It's unfinished, which I blame partially on the unavoidable onlookers. "Are you painting?" was the usual query. I guess the easel, brushes and paint and the canvas with a picture of a tree that was remarkably similar to the one standing right in front of them were insufficient clues. I thought the painting sucked anyway, so I headed home.
In retrospect though, I wish I had stuck it out. It's not half bad. Mind you had I stuck around I would have had to deal with the crazy lady who climbed my subject as I was packing up.
I miss Killarney where my only audience were the chipmunks.

Here's another I did from a pic taken in St. Lucia while on a cruise a couple of years ago.
Needless to say I embellished the clouds a bit. Probably got carried away, actually. Bit of a cloud fetish kind of thing.

a COLOUR landscape!!

Yes I broke out the paints.
This is based on a photo of a woodlot near our cottage in Kintail.

Here is the last painting from Killarney. I sat on the front steps of the 'Haversack' (the cabin my daughter called home for the past 3 months while working for the Killarney Outfitters) and painted what was in front of me. Absolute bliss for 4 hours.

What I Did on My Summer Vacation Pt II

On the beach at Inverhuron near Kincardine.

What I Did on My Summer Vacation Pt I

OK, so they're not in colour, like some people .

Sketches from a cottage we rented on Lake Anima-Nippissing. Cool place.

This was done the day before we left. Again, at the site.

I got really exited about this one, then after stepping back to admire my brilliance, I realized I had painted a backdrop for "the Jungle Book-part 2". That's the F---ing storyboard artist coming out when I'm not looking.

...and number 4. I've got this thing for Birch trees.

This was created in the same day. All these are in oils on gessoed masonite.

After that fiasco, Annemarie convinced me to look for inspiration at the camp site. More food, potential roof over my head and company when needed was the argument given.
And this was the result. Just a simple study of a birch.

Kolouring Kanvases in Killarney

I'm back from Killarney Provincial Park and had a spectacular time painting. 6 paintings in 10 days. I'm not sure if my enthusiasm is reflected in what I created but in the immortal words of Bugs Bunny "I don't give a crap!" (....or was that Lord Black.) More than half my enjoyment comes from just the act of painting outside.
Anyway, this was my first attempt. I hiked with all my gear out to AY Jackson Lake and produced this piece of shit. I was in sort of a 'I'll show that Mark Harris I can paint clouds, too!' frame of mind and failed miserably. I was chased back to the camp site by that nasty black cloud.

This was inspired by a true event (except for the Jesus part). While having dinner with a good friend the other night we struck up a conversation with a couple beside us. They seemed pleasantly surprised at my buddy's dry wit, keen grasp of politics and encyclopaedic mind. As usual in these situations, I sat silent, content to listen to this enlightening conversation. After enquiring as to everyone's career choice the question was put to me. After I said that I was an illustrator their eyes lit up like super novas and their smiles were so large the corners of their mouths seemed to meet at the backs of their heads. You'd think I was Brad Pit or as the cartoon suggests, Christ himself.

Playing with Painter 10

Just goofing around with Painter 10. Fortunately its not much different than 8. Just fewer crashes...which is a good thing.

SpacedOutMan

Got a new tablet & worked out the 'new gadget' frustrations on this one.

Shameless Plug

Like all great art, it speaks for itself.

Cruise Island

Another Painter X landscape. Sure is easy when you've got lots of 'undo's'!

Pouring a new step

Finally got around to pouring a step in front of the studio using my son as a pack mule. I'm not too sure why I had a son cause all he does is remind me how old and decrepid I'm getting.

Mothers Day

Another 'digital landscape' (ie too lazy to get out real paint) done for my wife. It's from a photo taken on a camping trip last year at Inverhuron Provincial Park.

Helicopter Thing

Oh look, another flying machine...

The Road

I read this Cormac McCarthy book a few months ago. One of the most disturbing & best books I've ever read. I was inspired to do a couple of images.

Barbados

Based on a pic I took on a cruise last year

Sorry Mark, couldn't resist the opportunity. Blame Ma Bell.

Way to kick a guy when his network is down!

Just in the nick of time

The story continues...

Here we go again

Well there goes my day, all shot to Hell
(so to speak).

Caught Napping

Did this for an online forum, to avoid working for a living.

Charity painting

I did this for a charity auction. I would show you a more recent effort had I not carefully removed the canvas from its stretcher with an x-acto knife and tossed it in the garbage.