"Kenzie"

"Kenzie" oil on 8x10 board

I am in the process of changing my style, Marcia Mcleary Hodges has been very kind giving me a few tips to try. I had this picture of  Kenzie a little girl that attends Little Green School run by John's granddaughter, Emma. 

Kenzie was mesmerized looking at a pool of water which gave a lot of reflections and was a challenge but the experience has given me an opportunity to peruse this  style , it certainly was fun . 

Small children are curious and full of life, and I hope you can see it in this painting.  

Oil on board 8 x 10.

Thank you Marcia for your help and kindness, and information!

Babs 

Marcia can be seen here http://paintingbythelake.blogspot.ca/

"Learning Scissor Skills"

"Learning Scissor Skills", oil on 8x10 canvas

To quote his teacher: "he is almost three years old. In this picture he is practicing his scissor skills. This was one of the first times he tried the scissors. That practice paid off as he now often goes home with an envelope of cut up paper bits to show his parents and older siblings. Using the scissors is still one of his favourite activities.  He also loves being snack helper and going on trips to the park."
I found this quite a challenge, but I must admit I did enjoy painting it, children's faces are hard to paint the colours are extremely delicate, and I think the painting captures the moment!

Babs

"My Turn Next"

"My Turn Next". oil on 36"x 24" canvas

Started this 2 years ago, and due to a variety of  incidents and house decorating and repair, it got left behind, and then a few weeks ago I managed to start building up the tones and colours.

It was hard work getting back into the routine of painting but I got as far as you can see, much more practice to do but on smaller canvases next!

The original photo I took at the Caledon Equine Centre in Palgrave,  a lovely place to see horses and riders in action and great for photographs.

Next week I'm having a cataract operation so hopefully my left eye will be in tune with my right which should help me concentrate better!

John

"Jam Jar Roses"

Jam Jar Roses", oil on 8x10 canvas

A quick study, and it made a change from cats and dogs!

Babs

"Ellie"

"Ellie", oil on 8x10 board

Ellie is a retriever rescue dog Emma and Justin's second dog who lives with Bentley the St Bernard. 
This painting has taken longer than I expected but decided it was finished,
Sent a copy to Emma and Justin who approved it! Emma said " I think her eyes come off as mischievous and playful, while still being innocent.  Which is exactly how she is."
I was more than happy now it has to dry and framed and hopefully we can pay a visit and deliver the two family fur babies!

Babs

"Bentley" the Saint Bernard

"Bentley", oil on 8x10 board

Bentley

This painting is from a photo, we met Bentley in November when visiting relatives, and he came to greet us !

.

He is big boy lots of fur and lovely eyes and he has a best friend a golden retriever. They are both lovely furry creatures who were rescue dogs. They are well mannered happy souls both quiet seeing it was the first we had met them! 

I was happy to know they both found their homes and each other for company.

Having  not painting as often as I would like Bentley was quite a challenge but I think I have managed to do justice, it has inspired me to keep paintina little more often!

Owners are Emma and Justin, Emma is John's Granddaughter now a parents of a lovely baby girl so they have their hands full! 

Babs

"Two Friends"

"Two Friends"  Oil on  8x8 board

Last week  we delivered a painting 8x8 oil on board it was of two horses close together. Our neighbour asked if I could paint it for a close friend who was upset her horse had died suddenly. She had him for 33 years and they were very close.

The picture has a story and made me think how much intelligence horses have.

It seems the horse in the back of the picture is younger a close friend to the older one. It seems if the older horse decided to rest and sit down the younger one stayed close by his side if any other horse came near he would make sure it moved away in short shrift  they were true friends!

My thoughts are we don't know half about animals and their obvious abilities to help and care for their own kind.

Babs

PS thank you Marianne giving me the opportunity to pick up the brushes again! 

"By the Grackle, Schomberg"

By the Grackle! Oil on 8x10 board

Grackle Coffee in Schomberg has fast become very popular,now having a Barista
that serves some of the best coffee the whole of King not only that they encourage
Good Eating and the best selection of ice cream you can imagine.

It's a small place that's fun to visit and enjoy their company , pop in and meet them
it's the Schomberg fair this weekend a great place to visit for a fun day.
John took this picture some time ago, I decided to try a small painting oil on
board 8 X 10. just to show you this little treasure!
Babs
Ps the Grackle sign has changed since the photo was taken.

"The Royal Pug"

"Royal Pug" oil on 8x10 board

Our Blog has been very quiet lately,due to unforeseen ailments along with a broken right shoulder, but we have more or less come through all that, and very grateful to be on the mend enough for brushes and paint to be used!

When I saw this little pug all dolled up in his red scarf and looking quite royal it gave me a smile and a little motivation to paint him on 8x10 board in oils. 

I will say I found the red scarf quite a challenge especially the light and shade to make it look silky.

Hopefully I will get back into the groove and looking forward to what might take my fancy for the next subject.

Meantime John is painting but not on canvas,we decided to paint the stairs not a nice job,but, it's coming along slowly and will perk up the hallway for Spring, he is hoping to finish a large picture half done on the easel since last September

Time flies! 

Thanks for the comments it will,speed me along to bigger things! 

Babs

American Pharoah

"American Pharoah" oil on 8x10 board

After seeing a photo of Pharoah and reading the story in the attached link I decided to paint a small painting, 

He certainly a beauty and well known a horse like this doesn't come along too often. Hopefully he will have a long and happy life.

An excellent story in Pharoah is here

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10207750790791237&set=a.1218070175377.2033935.1337570468&type=3&fref=nf&pnref=story

Babs 

Work in progress!

What next!

Got a bit lost here, you stare at horses and riders and paint what you see, then you look at your painting and it seems everything has moved, especially the horses legs!
But we shall persevere!
First painting in a year and its doing me good to get back into it.
Oil on 36x24 inch canvas, from a photo I took at Caledon couple of years ago.
John

Percherons

Percherons oil on 11x14 board

I really enjoyed painting these two horses close up, mainly because of the different subtle colours in their coats varying from blues to blacks Browns and orange and because they were both standing so close together it took time to make sure they looked separate!

It was a challenge which encouraged me to squint a lot!

My thanks to you Barry for such great photos
They can be seen here:
http://cameraonking.blogspot.ca/2015/07/percherons-at-windy-hill-farm.html

Babs

Peony in Ichiban Vase

Peony in Ichiban Vase, oil on 8x10 canvas

I was lucky enough to be given a gift made by one of Johns friends it's  a wooden vase with spikes for the flowers so you can arrange and keep them secured in place. Our peonies this year were battered with continuous  rain when in full bloom, but I managed to rescue a few and this is the result of a study I painted today.
I enjoyed it too using bright colours made a change from what  I use for horses or pets.
Thank you Mike, I really like my gift.

Babs

"Hay! Something happening at Onice Farm today!

"Horse at Onice Farm oil on 11x14 board

http://onicehorsefarm.ca/OnIce_Horse_Farm/Welcome_to_OnIce.html

Headwaters Stable tour today!
https://www.facebook.com/OnIceHorseFarm

Wet bird

"You never had a bath?" oil on 8x10 canvas

This is from a photo taken by Barry Wallace in his garden in King City, a picture of a Robin just coming from the bird bath on a hot day. I thought it was an opportunity to paint it,loved the indignant look and the wet feathers of the bird.

Barrie manages to capture some great pictures on his journey around the King Area and he is an avid Birder too, he has as many as ten bird feeders and the water bath in his garden plenty of food for the passing birds who pop in for a quick feed and a clean up before their travels.
This is a North American Robin.

Babs

Barry Wallace's blogs can be seen here:
http://cameraonking.blogspot.ca/
http://barrythebirder.blogspot.ca/

"Felicity & Davoo"

'Davoo & Felicity", oil on 8x8 panel

"Davoo" oil on 8x10 panel

These two paintings were a commission for a birthday gift for Felicity who has a passion for horses.
Her Mum was able to send photographs of her favourite ride, and I was able to paint two small pictures of one with Davoo & Felicity wearing her favourite hat and the second one of the horse close up.
Her birthday was in May I hope she had a pleasant surprise.

I got an email from Felicity a couple of days ago:
" For my birthday this year I received two oil painting portraits of my precious friend Davoo. 
Davoo was my first horse that I rescued when I was 15 years old. As a young teenager I struggled with socializing so my horse was my best friend. 
Davoo was taken from me far too early on New Year's Day 2015. Although I'm still heart broken from the tragedy I am thankful for the time that I had with him. 
Both portraits of Davoo are extraordinary. I can tell that they were created with great care and passion because they both capture every strand of his beauty. They will be cherished and hanging on the walls of our farm for the rest of my life.
Felicity"

That made my day!

Babs

"Dandelion a Welsh cross filly with Mom"

"Dandelion a Welsh cross filly with Mom", oil on 11 x1 14 board

A story about Dandelion .

A friend Marie Beard who owns horses posted a photo of Dandelion a Welsh cross filly with Mom on Face book a few weeks ago, I really liked the look of the photo and decided to paint it.

Dandelion was born at Foresthaven Farms Ltd Puslinch Ont they breed and sell Westphalian horses.
Marie luckily knows the owner and sent a message mentioning I had painted the picture and sent a copy of it to Melanie Michael to see of she liked the painting. Melanie was quite enthusiastic and really liked what she saw and was interested in purchasing, which really pleased me.

We have received an invitation to visit the Farm a great opportunity to deliver the painting and see the real deal! we are looking forward to meeting  Melanie Et al and enjoy seeing the horses, of course we will take the Camera!

It should be an interesting experience meeting another breed of horse and a day trip out!

Foresthaven Farm can be seen here: http://www.foresthavenfarm.com/

Babs

Spring Has Sprung ....Almost

"Spring Has Sprung ....Almost"  8x81 oil on board

Something I know is there is a shipment of baby trees  coming all the way from Oregon, how do I know?

A lady called Ellen she and her family own a Tree farm. Ellen has been in our lives for quite a while she has a blog that we follow called "growing Gills" she's a photographer and writes about all things in nature and goes along with her lifestyle.

She appreciates everything around her and Spring  I think  is one of her special times, lots going on with the Farm and surrounding areas.

She has the ability to see beauty from her family and where she lives.

She can write poetry so well it can bring you to tears or give you a big smile for the day. We enjoy our long distant friendship and treasure her as something special she even follows our blog!

Ellen this is to go with your afternoon tea I painted this a little while ago as it looks like a fine Spring morning.
Thank you for all you do.

Cheers have a fine day.
Growing Gills cab be seen here  : http://roaring-camp.blogspot.ca/


I had to show it on the blog, this little painting has been on my mind to do for a while and for some reason gave me a lot of problems but I like the feel of it it's bright and cheerful .

Babs

Flowers in a glass vase

"Flowers in a glass Vase" oil on 8x10 board

A repeat of an earlier study.

I wanted to paint a still life, last time I managed to make an effort that pleased me , but in the back if my mind I knew I could improve it.

Glass ware is always difficult with reflections and there were plenty! So the need for me was patience and determination.  

The dark background brought out the colours which I like.  

Babs

"Hay, What do you want?"

"Hay, what do you want?" Oil on 11x14 board

Dog Tales & Rescue Sanctuary.
They are located in King Township, a very interesting animal rescue place.

This latest painting of two retired horses attracted me, again  borrowing the picture from Barry Wallace our roving pro photographer of King Township. This year Barry has braved the exceptional  icy weather and taken some incredible photo's one of which has given me the opportunity to paint just one of them. He gives a story of our area in pictures from the past and what we were and what is happening for the future. We are fortunate to live in this area combining History and the future and some fun ones too.

I enjoyed the working on this painting (11 x 14) although it was a challenge
Thank you Barry for sharing.
Babs

Barry Wallace has a blog here:
http://cameraonking.blogspot.ca/