Autumn Patchwork

This is the view of the shore of Round Lake in the fall of the year from a canoe - the only way to view a lake. I was attracted to the patchy nature of the tree crowns creating a tapestry of colour. In addition, I just wanted to have some fun.

Path Behind Mowat Lodge

This is a classic Tom Thomson composition but I picked it for its climate change message. Plus this was one of Tom's favourites as he even took time to sign it.
In a warmer atmosphere, snow will become less frequent with more of the precipitation arriving as rain. With less snow and warmer temperatures, the snow pack will melt sooner with the run-off getting to the rivers long before the growing season starts. The springs will be warmer and drier. Spring time drought will impact on planting success although tractors will be able to get on the fields sooner without sinking up to their axles. The old adage of never going out on the fields in a month containing an "a" will have to be rewritten.
The forest fire threat will begin sooner and fires are more apt to become severe with more disease and insect infected trees along with abundant forest floor fuels. This path behind Mowat lodge would look like this on the snowiest day of the winter - never in spring ever again.

Round Lake Squall

This is the view from a friend's cottage on Round Lake looking west from about the same place where Tom Thomson painted "The Canoe". Tom's dove gray canoe would have been pulled up on the shore to the right.
A squall line with thunderstorms had just passed Round Lake. The showers were over. Northwesterly winds were sculpting the clouds and leaning them to the southeast. Convection along the squall line gives regularly spaced light patches in the cloud base. Scud cloud stirred up by the blustery northwesterly winds were whipping along to the southeast.

Round Lake Mirror

This is the view from a friend's cottage on Round Lake looking west from about the same place where Tom Thomson painted "The Canoe". Tom's dove gray canoe would have been pulled up on the shore to the right.
It was a clear and crisp morning. The water was a mirror. A shallow radiational fog over the water resulted from the lengthening fall days and warm water of Round Lake supplying the moisture. Cool winds would have been draining off the hillsides since the previous evening. It would have been great to have a canoe on the water and a lure in the water.

Canadian Talent Farm

Phil has joined the Canadian Talent Farm using his home town of Kingston as the base...

http://www.canadiantalentfarm.com/Phil_Chadwick.html

March Lights the Shadows

I had some more time to paint and it was a beautiful day to do just that. There was a brisk east breeze so I set up within the forest of the old Browns Bay Campground. It was still chilly at 0 degrees Celsius but it was very pleasant with the sun on my back. I was looking north through the forest at the bend in Jones Creek - Toniata River. I had to gradually shift my easel toward the south to keep the sun on the canvas. A couple of dogs came to pay there respects while I painted.

The sunlight of March heralds the end of winter. There was far less snow in the forest than I expected. The same light cast the shadows which were an important part of my subject. If you put this all together, one has the title which may seem cryptic at first. The word "lights" is a verb here but one might think of it as a noun as well. Both uses of "lights" were intended. It was a fun day.

Crash of the Cataract

I was starting to loosen up so I grabbed a panel from the back of the grey Subaru. This is the view looking southwest across Lyn Falls and down the narrow channel carved between the granite ridges during eons of spring floods. There was still a lot of snow in the woods but the sun found its way through the bare trees to try to convert some of it to liquid to supply the cataract that crashed at my feed. It was a beautiful day and in addition, I think I caught the magic of the moment in my somewhat crude strokes.

Spring Pro Rogue

It was my first chance to paint in a couple of months. In a way, my art had be prorogued by lots of things - mostly work. It was a beautiful March day and I could wait no longer. The sun was melting the snow cover and that in turn was flushing as fast as possible down Lyn Falls. The spring and snow itself had been prorogued by the cold weather of February. Everything was on hold pending the arrival of some sunny days and temperatures soaring above normal. The temperature climbed to plus 4 Celsius while I painted. This allowed the spring fever to start and also to covert the snow into its liquid form so that it could rush to the sea. In many ways the day was a rejuvenation of my art, the spring and the snow.
I didn't worry about details and tried to let the background roar of the cataract find its way on to the canvas. Mainly, I wanted to have fun and bask in the sun s it climbed above the tree tops.
The word "prorogue" has been added to the Canadian vocabulary through the dysfunctional political system. I decided to use it in a positive fashion.