#0615 "Bough-zers"

#0615 "Bough-zers"
18 X 24 (inches).
Started Sunday, March 2nd, 2003

This scene is along the path leading directly south from Watershed Farm through the open

gate with our neighbours, Thelma and Max Church. The family Chesapeake and I went to

examine the snow-laden white spruce. There were some interesting bunny tracks in the snow

leading between the white spruce, so I set up my easel. However, the Chesapeake soon

destroyed those tracks but added many of her own.

I was just starting to take a few pictures of my plein air work in progress. Digital cameras would

make that all very affordable, but that had not happened for me yet in 2003.

The snow was still heavy on the boughs from the snowstorm of the week before, and a fresh 2

to 5 centimetres had fallen the previous night, so that everything was white.

The conditions were quite reasonable to start with. The winds were light from the northwest,

and the temperature was steady around minus 4 Celsius. By the time I was finishing up in the

mid-afternoon, the wind was out of the northwest at 30 to 40 km/h and the temperature had

dropped to minus 14 Celsius. The wind chill was brutal, and the paint all froze. I had to retreat.

Can you spell "cold front"? I was on the verge of freezing my hands again! An artist can feel

the brush and the oils very well with gloves on. Of course, the same is true when your hands

freeze.

The title is after the slang word used on "Inspector Gadget" that the kids watched when it was

a popular cartoon. Would you believe.. the voice of Inspector Gadget was Don Adams, Agent

86 from "Get Smart". I used to imitate that voice. Don was also a fine artist. 

The canvas had been primed with a medium-light coat of raw sienna.

The Chesapeake assisted me while I painted #0615 "Bough-zers".
She was always with me when I painted, even in the Studio. 

We loved that dog! She and her friend, the Maine Coon cat, would line up for special suppers. Both would accompany me outside on walks or when I painted. They were much more than just family. 

For this and much more art, click on Pixels or go straight to the Collections. Here is the new Wet Paint Collection. Thank you for reading, and stay well!

Warmest regards, and keep your paddle in the water,

Phil Chadwick