#2677 "Colours of Purple"

#2677 "Colours of Purple"
7x5 inches oil

This is intended to be a partner to #2673 "Singleton Summer Blues Iris". A flower painting should always have at least one close friend if not more.

My oil composition sketch

Colour has inherent associated temperatures which goes back to the time when we were just emerging from the caves. The simplest dividing line is drawn between blues and greens which are cold and reds and yellows which are hot. There a many other variations in colour temperatures within these broad groups. Here is where painting can get more complicated for those who believe that colour rather than value (dark versus light) is most important. For myself, I think that colour and value are both vital but first, you need to start with composition and shapes. One without the others can fall flat. Art without fun and telling a story is not worth doing. That's my story and I am going to stick to it. 

Some flower colours defy mixing. For an intense shade of purple you need a cool red (like alizarin crimson) and a warm blue (like ultramarine blue) and some time to experiment. Even warm reds can be relatively cool and even cold blues can be warm. Einstein make a career and a science out of proving that everything is relative. Typical cool purple is mixed by mixing equal parts of alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue. Deviations with the amount of either colour will yield interesting variations in the hues. 

But often the result is lacking even when I use a clean palette knife to do the mixing. I also use clean palettes when mixing these fragile and subtle colours. Flowers need to be fresh and clean to be really alive and sometimes I am not satisfied with the colours achieved. That is when I dig deep into my "unusual colour box" and experiment. That is what I did in this case. I was not interested in achieving an iris that would pass the close examination by a professional horticulturist. But I did focus on the colours and had to get them right. 

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#2676 "Singleton Cumulus Congestus Showers"

#2676 "Singleton Cumulus Congestus Showers"
8x10 oils stretched canvas

Initially I was just going to include the one central towering cumulus shower but there were more. As a result, I had to change the name of this painting. There was also a lot of meteorology revealed by those lines of showers and I thought I would use the painting to explain why those clouds and showers arrived at Singleton on the Friday afternoon in June. 

The cooler air mass in the wake of the cold front was ignited by the strong June sun. Lines of cumulus congestus were shaped by the lake breezes within the landscape of the background, brisk westerly surface winds. The lake shadow from Georgian Bay extended far toward the southeast and even merged with the Lake Ontario shadow into New York State. A lake breeze convergence line developed along the north shore of Lake Ontario. The waters of Lake Ontario were still very cold and the June sun was enough to create a strong contrast in temperature between the water to the land. That Lake Ontario convergence line was forced to stay along the shore of the lake by the west winds. The northeastern flank of Georgian Bay was responsible for shaping the line of convection that approached Singleton Lake that Friday afternoon. Interesting secondary lines of convection were formed by the Penetanguishene Peninsula and the Bruce Peninsula. 

The observed surface winds were westerly but the lake breeze convergence lines were oriented from the northwest. This was explained in "Adding Friction to the Wind Balance" which described how friction caused the gradient wind at the top of the planetary boundary layer to turn and point toward lower pressure near the surface. Increased friction slows the wind and the balance of forces shifts the wind direction to point more down the "pressure mountain" to compensate for the decreased speed. The typical difference between the wind direction in the free atmosphere at the top of the planetary boundary layer and the surface wind is about 45 degrees. The clouds are aligned with the winds through their convective depth near the top of the planetary boundary layer and well above the surface. Those cloudy, convergence lines make about a 45 degree angle with the westerly surface winds. All of this is clearly revealed on the satellite imagery. 

Shoreline induced convergence lines rely on a single inland penetrating lake breeze vector whereas peninsula convergence lines often make up for their relatively smaller size by benefiting from two, colliding lake breeze vectors. The lake shadow downstream from a bay is especially pronounced by the divergent lake breezes and the associated subsidence. 

Every line of convection can be explained and understood. Science tends to start with the more obvious features like those detailed in the accompanying graphic. Meteorologists then drill down into the details where the pesky devil can be found. I made a big part of my meteorological career out of understanding lake breezes and how they influence severe convection whether that dangerous weather be thunderstorms or snow squalls. Weather is neither random or unpredictable although it might often appear that way. 

For this and much more art, click on Pixels. Thank you. 

#2675 "Sanctuary Studio Fawn"

#2675 "Sanctuary Studio Fawn"
16x20 inches oils

This was the latest arrival to the Singleton Sanctuary. The fawn was born at the sign to my Studio. I was headed out to the forest but saw this vision in front of me. I took some quick pictures and then backed up so as not to disturb the new family. The doe was still in the process of licking and cleaning her new-born fawn. The fawn was barely standing on spindly legs. The time was 9:15 am on Tuesday June 7th, 2022. I sent the image to my family. My Brother wondered if I knew an artist who might turn it into a painting. I also posted the image on FaceBook and several people mentioned the same thing. 

A couple of days later, the weather was really wet and stormy so I went into the Singleton Studio and this is the result. A large snapping turtle was nesting just outside the Studio so I decided to stay quiet inside painting until she was done. 

I moved the signage closer to the new family and changed the weeds into daisies. I also signed "Chadwick" on the sign and placed it to the right so there would not be quite enough space for the signature as has been my habitual signature for a few years now. I also placed a red dot where it would be in my signature as a kind of quiet, inside joke. The little skunk friend of Bambi was named Daisy so the story all ties together into a neat package. 

For this and much more art, click on Pixels. Thank you. 

#2674 "Rainy Day Dandelions"

#2674 "Rainy Day Dandelions"
7x5 oils

Dandelions are safe in the Singleton Sanctuary. They provide early pollen for the insects but they can also be delicious. The Latin name for "dandelion" is taraxicum officinale which apparently means "the official remedy for disorders." The world needs all of the dandelions that it can get! The dandelion has many health benefits which include being good for the liver, assisting with inflammation, alleviating kidney and bladder stones and as a poultice for boils. Dandelion greens are best in early spring. Fresh roots can be peeled, thinly sliced, and sautéed. I continue to learn a lot from art and nature. 

These dandy dandelions were from in front of the Singleton Studio. 

For this and much more art, click on Pixels. Thank you. 

#2673 "Singleton Summer Blues Iris"

#2673 "Colours of Purple"
7x5 inches oils

I had painted a group of iris flowers in #1782 "Wild Iris". The colour of purple is a challenge to match and I wanted to try something different on this wet and stormy day. The variations in the shades of purple span the spectrum and I wanted to get these flowers right. I painted a partner to this iris in #2677 "Colours of Purple". 

Iris is a genus of 300 species of flowering plants with very spectacular blooms. The name comes from the Greek word for a rainbow and the Greek goddess of the rainbow, Iris. Some think that the name is the result of the wide variety of colours found among the many species. Another common name for some species of iris flowers is 'flags'. 

For this and much more art, click on Pixels. Thank you. 

#2672 "Dames Rocket"

#2672 "Dames Rocket"
7x5 inches oils

I consulted with my learned friends as to the identity of the flowers. They did not hesitate at labelling them as Dame's Rocket. The flower is sometimes tootled as an invasive plant, but generally just a few plants are found in clusters on recently disturbed soil or along streams. 

Dame's rocket was brought to North America in the 17th century and has since become naturalized there, now growing throughout most of the United States and Canada. Young leaves are high in vitamin C and can be eaten in salads and have a slightly bitter taste. Seeds can be sprouted and also eaten in salads. 

Art is also an excuse to continue learning about the natural world.  

For this and much more art, click on Pixels. Thank you. 

#2671 "Rainy Day Daisies"

#2671 "Rainy Day Daisies"
12x10 inches oil on smooth panel

I had some paint that needed using. Rain was nearby and I had just returned from a most pleasant paddle in my canoe. 

I decided to set up beside the sunroom overlooking a small patch of daisies that had planted themselves. One can never have enough daisies. We need a new daisy for every day... The rain was close but passed by just to the north of Singleton. 

It was D-Day was the start of Operation 'Overlord'. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, Allied forces launched a combined naval, air and land assault on Nazi-occupied France. The 'D' in D-Day stands simply for 'day' and the term was used to describe the first day of any large military operation.

Early on 6 June, Allied airborne forces parachuted into drop zones across northern France. Ground troops then landed across five assault beaches - Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. By the end of the day, the Allies had established a foothold along the coast and could begin their advance into France. So many sacrificed so much so that people could enjoy freedom... I could simply paint, surrounded by nature. A simple thank you can never be enough. 

For this and much more art, click on Pixels. Thank you. 

#2670 "Singleton Butterfly Kisses"

#2670 "Singleton Butterfly Kisses"
12x10 inches oils on panel

I wanted to have some fun on a smooth and slippery surface. I went looking for wildflowers and found lots of them behind the solar panels. I painted for an hour of tranquillity surrounded by nature. 

A single swallowtail butterfly started out with me when I applied the first brush stroke. Three of its friends soon arrived and they clearly related well together. A hummingbird moth joined us along with an aerator bird - a yellow-shafted flicker. One butterfly landed briefly on my painting but I was too slow with the camera but that memory was stored nonetheless. One butterfly landed on my hat. A tick crawled on to my sock... nature can have a down side as well I guess. The June sun was extremely powerful and it cooked my oils on the smooth panel. The heat was going to be almost too much to endure. It was important though to capture the moment while embedded in nature. 

The guide books identified the butterfly as a "black swallowtail" as near as I can determine. There are lots of swallowtail butterflies and the difference between them are subtle. I could not really be certain as it fluttered by. 

I consulted with my biologist friends as to the identity of the flowers. They did not hesitate at labelling them as Dame's Rocket - sometimes tootled as an invasive, but generally just a few plants in a cluster on recently disturbed soil or along streams. Dame's rocket was brought to North America in the 17th century and has since become naturalized there, now growing throughout most of the US and Canada. Young leaves are high in vitamin C and can be eaten in salads and have a slightly bitter taste. Seeds can be sprouted and also eaten in salads. 

It was the eve of D-Day and I was remembering my Father and the countless others of the Greatest Generation who gave so much for peace... so I could stand out in the forest and simply paint. 

For this and much more art, click on Pixels. Thank you. 

#2669 "Long Reaching into Red Horse"

#2669 "Long Reaching into Red Horse"
14x18 inches oils stretched canvas

The Narrows is an important landmark that marks the entrance from Long Reach into Red Horse Lake. The community of homes have been there at the Narrows for quite a long time. 

On Long Point it's known as Rice's Narrows, and the adjacent large, granite knob to the north is "Rice's Mountain", after Joel and Melinda Rice who were the first settlers there. In Lyndhurst it's called Weeks's Narrows after Harvey and George Weeks who farmed there later. When our local historian was a kid, he prided myself in being able to go through there in my speedboat without slowing down. 

I painted the Narrows before in #1399 "Red Horse Narrows", #1611 "Red Horse Narrows", #1744 "Autumn Narrows" and #2658 "October Narrows 2021". I even called two by the same name... something I try very hard not to do but it obviously happens. 

I was out for a long paddle... and got this painting out of the effort. 

For this and much more art, click on Pixels. Thank you. 

#2668 "Midday Singleton Daisies"

#2668 "Midday Singleton Daisies"
10.25 x 9.25 oil panel

It was a sunny day at least until the line of thunderstorms arrived.

I figured that I had enough quiet time to paint some daisies. I was alone in the Singleton Sanctuary, the ultimate in quiet and at peace. My palette was getting messy but I did not wish to take the time to scrape it and start afresh. Time is limited and precious. 

While painting, I pondered back to the summer of 1915 when Tom Thomson painted "Wildflowers". Tom was frustrated with his efforts. He apparently flipped his brush around and used the pointed end to scratch an "X" in the surface of the wet paint. There are other scratches as well in that surface but the big "X" was clearly an expression that he was not pleased. Tom's painting did hit the mark, the bulls eye so to speak, although he could not see it at the time. 

After I finished this painting, I headed for my swim in Jim Day Rapids. A loon surfaced just ten feet away while I swam. It knew me, made eye contact and hovered around for several minutes before diving further into Long Reach. This reminded me of a previous nickname "Dances with Bees" and perhaps an additional, humourous moniker might apply - "Swims with Loons". 

For this and much more art, click on Pixels. Thank you. 

#2667 "Blue Columbine Wildflowers and Friends"

#2667 "Blue Columbine Wildflowers and Friends"
9.25x10.25 inches oils on panel

I encourage wildflowers in our sanctuary. 

These blue columbine flowers cover large portions of the marble ridge. The blue-white blossoms are a favourite among the birds and the bees. Bumble bees were really active on the clump of flowers right in front of me as I painted. The natural sugars and pollen of real flowers are really best for their diet. There were several other plants and even maple saplings growing within that clump of inspiration. These are the friends that I alluded to in the title. 

The sounds of nature were almost loud. Loons, red-bellied woodpeckers (that sounded like tree frogs), bull frogs... everyone had something to say. 

We were in the warm sector of a large and unstable weather system. The southerly winds were bringing in hot and moist air. I had to cover up with my hat and long sleeved painting shirt to protect my skin. I needed the sunglasses as well. The extra clothing including pants were protection against the biting insects but my dragonfly air force kept them at bay. I rarely sit down to paint en plein air but the flowers were so low to the ground that I had too in this case. I had to retreat for a cooler environment after finishing this group of wild flowers. 

Sadly if you simply Google "columbine" one gets pages of links about something very different than flowers. I will stick with the original botanical links that I found. Sad. 

For this and much more art, click on Pixels. Thank you. 

#2666 "Dandy Bouquet"

#2666 "Dandy Bouquet"
20x16 inches oils

The best way to not overwork a canvas is to grab another canvas and set the first aside - at least for a while. The bugs were ferocious outside so it had to be a Studio canvas. The painting that needed to be set aside for a while was #2665 "Happy Day Sunflowers"

I had this idea about a dandelion still life for a while. I always tend to paint flowers in the late spring and summer when the outside, biting bugs are bad. Of course, the mosquitoes are just doing what their biology tells them to do. I picked a Mason bottle and some dandelions and put a light on the subject matter. 

I collected these dandelions from around the property. These particular dandelions were outside the garage door of our Singleton Home overlooking the field to the east. I kept having to pick more dandelion flowers and leaves until this canvas was done. I had fun painting the ragged leaves which gives the plant its English name from the French "dent de lion" or lion's tooth. Apparently the French common name is "pis en lit" which means " pee the bed" and originates from the diuretic action of the roots. 

Even dandelions are safe in the Singleton Sanctuary. They provide early pollen for the insects but they can also be delicious. The Latin name for "dandelion" is taraxicum officinale which apparently means "the official remedy for disorders." The dandelion has many health benefits which include being good for the liver, assisting with inflammation, alleviating kidney and bladder stones and as a poultice for boils. Dandelion greens are best in early spring. Fresh roots can be peeled, thinly sliced, and sautéed. 

For this and much more art, click on Pixels. Thank you. 

#2665 "Happy Day Sunflowers"

#2665 "Happy Day Sunflowers"
40x36 by 1.75 inches Gallery Wrap

This painting is based solely on #2435 "Overcast Sunflowers" and perhaps the loud music that I was listening to at the time. I felt I could do a large painting and still keep it as dynamic and alive as the smaller sunflowers. I used one of my finest and most expensive, stretched canvases for the experiment. 

Layout Sketch - Charging Forward with the brush...

Life is not always about the showy and bright flowers. The subtle, darker web of the twisted stems and leaves also support the vortex of life as we all turn toward the light… like the sunflower in real life. I was concentrating on connecting the dark to the light with big brushes and strokes of energy. 

As luck would have it, Robert Genn's "The Painter's Keys" would publish "Johanna van Gogh" on the date that I started this canvas. Johanna was instrumental in spreading the art of her talented brother-in-law Vincent around the world. "The sunflower is mine, in a way" said Vincent Van Gogh. I know that he would share though. I almost share my birthday with Vincent except that his was 100 years earlier than mine. 

I was starting to dab and loosing direction after several days of concentrated effort on this canvas. I decided to paint the edges and let it mellow for a while as I went to other subjects. One can overwork even a large canvas. I did return to the canvas after a few days but one would be hard pressed to see any of those brush strokes. 

The sunflower and this painting are intended to bring some happiness into the world during these challenging times ... and challenges always bring opportunities if we look. For this and much more art, click on Pixels. Thank you. 

#2664 "May Evening Post Cold Frontal Altocumulus"

#2664 "May Evening Post Cold Frontal Altocumulus"
5x7 oils on canvas

The cold front had gone through and a ridge of high pressure was building in. 

Remnant pieces of altocumulus in the hang back from the low pressure area were lingering in the sunset sky. The atmospheric frame winds were clearly northwesterly but there were also elongated fingers of cloud stretched from the northwest. I interpreted those as Langmuir streaks. The night-time microphysics image confirmed the deduced pattern. A band of cloud low on the horizon did not reveal how it was oriented but I painted what I saw so it must be right according to nature. 

The west basin of Singleton Lake was exposed to the northwesterly winds behind the cold front. The rippled surface of the west basin was reflecting the blue sky above. The calm waters of the protected east basin of Singleton were reflecting the sky that was lower on the horizon. 

I wanted to have some fun with the colours and stay home too. For this and much more art, click on Pixels. Thank you.