#2113 "Maudie and Everett"

One of Southampton Art School's Wind Waves and Weather 2018 participants, Irene painted a scene and included a cement chicken that was in the garden. She painted very much like Maude Lewis and that comparison evolved into an ongoing conversation. That discussion let to the recent movie about the life of Lewis entitled "Maudie" and the strange relationship with her employer and then husband Everett. In one scene Everett who is probably depicted with more generosity than he deserved, wished to clarify Maude's hierarchy in the relationship. Everett snorts, "There's me, them dogs, them chickens, then you"

This led me to illustrating that there was another way to paint a cement chicken. I first painted Maude on the left and then re-positioned the chicken as directed by Irene and Judy. This painting of the same cement bird was intended to be Everett looking at Maude. It is the same bird and same character and this story of silly hierarchy is repeated way too often. There should be no pecking order so to speak.

#2112 "Chantry Breezes Heron Pool"

This was the second lunch time demonstration that I try while the participants enjoy their lunch. I paint away and try to carry on a conversation. The location of the painting at high noon requires that they can enjoy some chairs and tables and I try to turn whatever is in front of me into a painting.

There was a small water lily pond with water trickling into it. The scene reminded me of Monet's Garden. What could be more perfect? There was a woven wire great blue heron near the trench where water trickled into the pond. A common grackle came by to find something to eat and to enjoy a cold shower as well. Even a dark fluorescent bird can be hard to find and somewhat camouflaged in the shadows. Both are in this painting on a very rough and textured panel. I tried.

The group from the Southampton Art School's Wind Waves and Weather 2018 were going to paint all day in this garden. The temperatures were going to soar and we needed some shade and protection from the heat. The owners of the Chantry Breezes Bed and Breakfast were gracious hosts and made us feel quite at home. We were careful to not intrude and leave only memories and footprints. I would highly recommend spending a few days and nights at the Chantry Breezes Bed and Breakfast.

#2111 "Chantry Breezes Bird House Cherub"

From 9:45 am Monday ‎May ‎28, ‎2018 in the garden of Chantry Breezes Bed and Breakfast

This cherub was almost called the "Littlest Wino". Apparently the cement cherub figure had fallen off its pedestal at least twice so now he was demoted to staying on the ground so he wouldn't hurt himself. It would have been quite the fall from the tower and now he was relegated to simply leaning, unsteadily against the base. This cherub was also harvesting and carrying grapes so his intoxication probably explains why he kept falling down. Painting the cement statue reminded me of the time spent studying with Mario Airomi. I included the three bird houses just as they appeared behind the little wino. I surmised that the little drunk was getting the job of looking after the birds after failing to protect the Garden of Eden and drinking too much of the fruits of his labours. Of course I do not really know and am making all of this up. Jenny and Don .... are the proprietors of Chantry Breezes and are terrific and generous hosts! Don told me the history of the cement cherub.

The group from the Southampton Art School's Wind Waves and Weather 2018 were going to paint all day in this garden. The temperatures were going to soar and we needed some shade and protection from the heat. The owners of the Chantry Breezes Bed and Breakfast were gracious hosts and made us feel quite at home. We were careful to not intrude and leave only memories and footprints. I would highly recommend spending a few days and nights at the Chantry Breezes Bed and Breakfast.

#2110 "Chantry Breezes Garden Cottage"

7:30 am Monday ‎May ‎28, ‎2018

I had stayed in this Garden Cottage on the Saturday night before the 2018 version of Southampton Art School's Wind Waves and Weather. This was one of several accommodations offered by the Chantry Breezes Bed and Breakfast. I slept like a log after the long drive from Singleton and getting ready to paint. They had a radio playing under the cottage and had forgot to turn it off. I did not mind as I was asleep in seconds anyway. Apparently the skunks, raccoons and chipmunks do not enjoy modern music or talk radio. I quite agree.

A black and white cat came by and was quite alarmed at my being there in its hunting domain and so early in the morning. Young black squirrels peaked around the tree trunks at me. They were curious. There were a very few walkers enjoying the cool morning sunrise temperatures but I was pretty much alone except for the varmints.

The small and very rough panel made it impossible to paint detail which was fine by me. The red crab apple tree in front the the Garden Cottage was striking.

The group from the Southampton Art School's Wind Waves and Weather 2018 were going to paint all day in this garden. The temperatures were forecast to soar and we needed some shade and protection from the heat. The owners of the Chantry Breezes Bed and Breakfast were gracious hosts and made us feel quite at home. We were careful to not intrude and leave only memories and footprints. I would highly recommend spending a few days and nights at the Chantry Breezes Bed and Breakfast.

#2109 "Saugeen Hillside Apple Blossoms"

This was the fourth demonstration piece for the Southampton Art School's Wind Waves and Weather 2018. These wild crab apple blossoms on the steep banks of Scubby's Point caught my eye. These blossoms were just feet away from the purple wild irises of #2108 "Saugeen Hillside Wild Iris" for which this painting is intended as a partner. The very rough panel made it impossible to paint detail which was fine by me. The impression of the flowers came together with some quick stabs of pigment.

Crab apples are essentially the same as apples except that they bear smaller and tarter fruits. These trees were holding the soil on the steep banks of Scubby's Point. The birds and the bees were visiting the blossoms as I painted.

#2108 "Saugeen Hillside Wild Iris"

This was the third demonstration piece for the Southampton Art School's Wind Waves and Weather 2018. These wild irises on the steep banks of Scubby's Point caught my eye. The very rough panel made it impossible to paint detail which was fine by me. The colour of the iris was what I was after. The flowers came together with some quick stabs of pigment.
The flower takes its name from the Greek word for a rainbow, which is also the name for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, Iris. The irises were at different stages in their life cycle. The purple Iris is the state flower Tennessee.
The folowing painting from the same location #2109 "Saugeen Hillside Apple Blossoms" was intended as the partner to the wild irises.

#2107 "6 South Rankin Street Southampton"

From midday Sunday May 27th, 2018.

This was the second demonstration piece for the Southampton Art School's Wind Waves and Weather 2018. The midday sun was kind of flat but I typically do a lunch time demonstration. There was a comfortable bench for the participants. I decided to paint the view across the street. The lane way entrance to the cottage of an artist friend of mine was inviting. I encouraged Marion to retire from teaching and just paint. I liked the old telephone pole too. That was a horse head on top of the pillar. It does not take much to inspire me to paint.

#2106 "Southampton and Scubbys Bluff Fishing Fleet"

From 7:30 am Sunday May 27th, 2018 on Scubby's Bluff on the north bank of the Saugeen River..

On Sunday morning I set up at Scubby's Point overlooking the Saugeen and the fishing fleet awaiting the participants from the Southampton Art School to arrive. I have painted the fishing boat "Just In Time" many times before. The fishing turtle-style boat is pretty unique. This particular boat rarely moves so it is always in time. I enjoy the way the reflections of the boats and the far shore plays across the rippled surface of the Saugeen River.

The participants arrived as I was finishing this painting so they could see that stage of the work. It is just as important to know when to stop. I do multiple demonstrations while teaching a class and try never to let a moment of daylight get by. This was the first demonstration piece for the Southampton Art School's Wind Waves and Weather 2018. We had a full and eager list of participants.

#2105 "Curious Steer"

From Friday May 19th, 2018...

This was Charley the steer and we named him on the spot as he gazed curiously at Vic and I as we painted en plein air. Curious George the Chimpanzee does not have the monopoly on being inquisitive.

Curious George was created by Hans Augusto Rey and Margret Rey. Hans and Margret were German Jews. The couple first met in Hamburg at Margret's sister's 16th birthday party. They met again in Brazil, where Hans was working as a salesman of bathtubs and Margret had gone to escape the rise of Nazism in Germany. They married in 1935 and moved to Paris in August of that year. They lived in Montmartre and fled Paris in June 1940 on home-made bicycles. They carried the Curious George manuscript with them. Apparently they settled in New York City but that is another story. Curious George was the protagonist of the children's books written by the Reys. Curious George was a brown orphaned chimpanzee brought from his home in Africa by "The Man with The Yellow Hat" to live with him in a giant city.

The name for the steer was not totally spontaneous as he is almost certainly a Charolais which rhymes with Charley. The Charolais cattle is a breed of taurine beef from the Charolais area surrounding Charolles in Burgundy, in eastern France. Charolais are raised for meat and may be crossed with other breeds, including Angus and Hereford cattle. Charolais cattle were introduced to the southern United States from Mexico in 1934. Charolais crosses arrived in Alberta and Canada for the first time in 1953 which coincidentally is also the year I was born. The breed became very popular and in 1965 it was introduced in the northern New England states from Canada.

The life path for this young male Charolais has certainly already been steered toward the butcher. Charley was certainly a steer or a male Charolais that had been neutered. He was certainly weaned from his mother and thus was no longer a calf. A weaned male is typically called a feeder which might be another clue where he is headed.

The curious story behind this painting certainly has its origins in France and it all came together at the farm on the Port Elmsley Road just east of the Rideau Ferry Road intersection.