"Leafy Cathedral" oil 6x8

A canopy such as this eases one's soul. Don't know how or why, but it does. Granny Kit used to sing "Excelsior" every time we drove through one like this on our way to the store.

"Crow and Mt.Baker" w/c

Watercolour is easy and difficult - easy to do yet difficult to do it well.
But it's art, so it's so enjoyable. Artists are extremely lucky I think.

"Crow & Mt.Baker" pencil sketch

Prep for a watercolour I am planning. I am excited to have a new sheet of Arches cold press and I am dying to see what depth the paper will give my colours. Yippee.

Van Gogh homework while in lockdown

Nobody can emulate Vincent's brush work, and the movie "Loving Vincent" just confirmed it for me. A brush stroke by Vincent is like a signed cheque that only he can reproduce. Nice film though.

But I started reading the 1946 book entitled VINCENT VAN GOGH (editions de la Connaissance) printed in Belgium and it shows his portrait with a grey felt hat, black and white...

If you Google his portrait in a grey felt hat you'll find it in colour (as I did), and to learn something while in quarantine I decided to try painting it as an exercise, with no signature of course. Repeat: The JPG below is NOT a van Gogh original - it's my COPY that I painted as a learning exercise. Besides I believe his works may be in public domain. We'll see.

Brother Théo wrote to their sister wrote about this painting "it is as if two men were in him, one wonderfully gifted, fine and soft, the other proud, selfish and hard. What a pity that he is his own enemy, because he makes life difficult not only for others, but for himself."  This quote is from the book mentioned above.

Get this - Vincent Willem van Gogh inherited the artist's collection. This is Uncle Vincent Willem van Gogh in 1968, he died at the age of 87.

Still, Vincent the artist is one of the greatest artists who ever lived, and I believe he only made $169 dollars from his sales, ever!

Take heart, fellow artists.
Ron 2020

"Oxpecker and Buffalo: 4.5 x 6 inches watercolor

"Red-billed Oxpecker and the Cape Water Buffalo" - imagine having someone to fuss and clean, getting rid of all the wild insects that plague you...a common sight in the Kruger National Park of South Africa.
Watercolor, Conté pencil, pen, white watercolor pencil and acrylic paint. That's what it took to render this little work. As usual, click the image for a slightly larger pic.
Send email if interested.

"Mossie" isolation painting postcard size

Mossie is South Africa-speak for a Cape Sparrow, the beloved local bird found around many a home.
To see a bigger image, click the bird.

"Nuthatch" pastel on postcard size paper 4 x 6 inches

Nuthatch, lil' cheeky thing. You bandit you..but cute hey. You've got your eye out on us.
As per usual folks, click on the image to see a bigger picture.

"Grapes - 2020" pastel on postcard paper

"Grapes" which were bought at 7am Save-on-Foods this morning. The grapes were still wet.

We were wearing gloves (and scarves for the face) saving our N95s for later.

Incidentally, a man tried to sell us plain face masks upon which someone had printed "N95".....

Pastel on postcard paper

"Rooster" watercolor and pastel, postcard size 4x6

To make the colors more brilliant, I add pastel to my watercolor painting. During this time being housebound, experimentation is a cinch.

"Birds & Elephant" postcard size, watercolor during isolation

Restless or disturbed birds ten to hang together during take off, and they usually do a few loops around, checking out other feasible landing spots. This is from a photo I once took in the Kruger Park.

Click to enlarge the pic.

"Old Tjorrie" w/c 4 x 6 inches (postcard).

"Old Tjorrie"

Old vehicles usually get trashed when abandoned.  This truck managed to survive (for now).
During the lockdown I have been doing a number of postcard sketches, and it's a great learning course. (I usually paint in oils with a bigger sizes).

Click the pic above to see a bigger image.

"Bleached" w/c postcard size - isolation painting

During my isolation I have taken to doing a painting a day - mostly watercolour, meant for sending by email attachment to my immediate family.

big brush "Northwest" 24x30 oil

"Northwest" 

Loosey goosey - wave that brush around, let go of my restrictions and let rip. There's a lot going on in the inner mind and we painters deserve to let the brush flow now and then.

Click to see a bigger picture. Hit right click and BACK to return.

isolation painting "Woodshed by the Stream" oil on hardboard 9" x 12"

Social distancing means I do not paint en plein air with the Alfrescoes. So here's the oil I did today based on one of my photographs. It's not on canvas but it's painted over an old work that has since dried. The choppy brushwork gives the impression that the support (ground) is textured but it's not.

Click on the image to enlarge the thing quite a bit!

""In the Garden" oil 4 x 6 inches

My Honey loves flowers. My isolation at home painting today. Based on photos of her. After all, it's the first day of Spring. This young man is feeling it...
Click once more to see a complete picture.

Housebound painting!!! "Three Geese" 6x6

New "Three Geese" oil

Housebound (and alone with my honey), we produced this mini oil with fresh colour and alacrity.

Painted on canvas on board, great for mailing.in this keep-your-distance time. Click to enlarge the pic.

 It's on the market, contact me. ronjbw at g mail dot com

Fun project for a bored artist: Egg carton pastel art 8x10

Soak your used egg carton in a bucket of water for a while,

 beat up the mixture, pour the mulch on a tray and let it dry.

I used pastel to draw the lion on the new egg mulch!

"Beach Tenders in primaries" 6x6 oil

Row boats (tenders) are used by sailors to get themselves ashore once they are anchored out in the bay. The boats have these primary colours which make them a treat to paint in thick juicy brush strokes.

"Bobbies" conté pencil sketch 9x 11

My nephew Andrew is not only handsome but a talented pianist, 

one of the few musicians who execute rallentando.

"White Umbrella" 11x14 for sale

"White Umbrella" should also be interpreted as a white parasol. This is my daughter in my wife's wedding dress! I like the way the sun floods the fabric with gorgeous light.

The riverine scene really comes alive when you enlarge it - a click will do the trick. Enjoy.

"Sails Camp" oil 9" x 12"

"Sails Camp" at Willows, Vancouver Island.

With dinghies brought round from Oak Bay Marina,these students are able to take turns in learning to sail. What a wonderful way to spend a sunny day.

The scene is reminiscent of John Singer Sargent's 'Daughters of Darley Boit' as a central figure gazes directly us while surrounded by  activity. The figures are painted as impressions to afford the viewers (us) to form our own concept of who these characters are. Really, they're kids enjoying the sun and sea.

Click the painting to see a bigger view. Enjoy.

Kayak 2020 6x6 inches

I am painting different sizes, this is a small one at 6" x 6" and ideal for shipping - priced at $CDN144.00 contact me.

"Ron house" oil 10 x 20 inches

There's an old house down the road from me. I like it because the architecture is so much like the building designs of my childhood in South Africa. I see there is a notice within the property boundary which suggests that the building is not going to be here for much longer. There's a lot of rejuvenation going on here in Victoria BC.
Just as well that a painter recorded this 'un.
Click the pic to enlarge it.

"Home on the Gorge" 6 x 8 oil

Painted in the trunk of my car at the Gorge Park. The weather was too cold for me so I took a good look at the opposite bank and returned to my sheltered park where I remembered the scene and painted it. Great exercise
If you click on it you can see a bigger picture.

"Nefertiti" small 6x6

My bigger painting of Nefertiti had sold some time ago so I have done this 6x6 version which turned out a little bolder than my first but I like the spontaneous brush strokes of this one.

Nefertiti  Make me an offer.

"Brentwood Bay - Trumpeter" oil 8x10

When we were kayaking, we saw reflecting diamonds on the water. Yes I did snatch a quickie with my 'phone and painted the scene later. I realize I have to put more interest in my work - tear pieces off me and slam dunk it on the canvas. Happy day. It's got to be more than a captured image.

Red Crab on a green fishing box" oil 6x8

Brush strokes are like carving. I love it.

This is my painting in the footsteps of Mrs.Marine, US artist.

Check out the paintings of Carol Marine by searching her, she's mucho talented.

"Holland Point painting 2019" oil 8 x 10 inches

My database reveals that I have painted this location SEVEN times here in Victoria Canada.
It started as an overcast day, and this is the lighting I have shown here.

Mt.Doug Beach oil 6x8

Plein Air on my easel on Mt.Doug beach here on Vancouver Island

"Mick at 75."

Mick is 75 now in 2018 but this drawing is based on an early photo. Almost accurate, but it is a great exercise 'cos no corrections are possible when working with and an all-or-nothing medium such as lamp black! Either you reach out and get it or you don't.  No eraser.
Taking a gamble on one's prowess is good 'cos it stretches one...sssttrretchhh...

"old PE steam"

In South Africa (on the beach in Port Elizabeth in fact) we came across this rusty old steam locomotive and I painted what I think is one of my finest. I like the style which is loose and juicy yet it conveys accuracy and personality. Yes. My original is available, I do PP so write to me for details.

"Sun Top VW" oil 8x10

Summer brings out the exotic and the classic - and with the top down one can feel the breeze and hear the birds in the trees. See this in Instagram - search for RONJBW

"Dinghy - Oak Bay Marina" acrylic 6x8

Local artists enjoy painting the tenders on the small beach at the Oak Bay Marina. This dinghy seems to have gathered a pool of rain over some time but it still looks serviceable to me. Yachties come ashore and take the bus to town to shop for supplies.

Press the image for a bigger view.

"Craigdarroch Castle" 6x8 oil

Travelling by car I spied this scene and when we got home I quickly drew it in my sketch book. Then remembering the vivid fall colours, I painted this impression.

The fact that the image came through the whole mental process means that we artists can capture certain scenes and paint them later.

Craigdarroch Castle of Victoria BC and the Olympic mountains of washington State.

Press the images for bigger views.

"Glass of Flowers" w/c 3.5 x 4.5

Flowers in a glass makes a charming arrangement. It's a very loose and juicy mix of hyacinths and daffodils. I have been working (playing) with this theme for the recent couple of days. Keeping them small and light.

Press the pic for a bigger view.

"Spring Flowers" 3.5 x 7 w/c

Whisky painters absent-mindedly dip their w/c brushes into their tipple. I am one such person. Anyway, the paper seems to enjoy it.

press the image for a bigger view

"Dafs and Hyacinths" pastel 9x9

Daffodils have special meanings for many of us - here on the island many dafs are grown domestically AND commercially. The hyacinths smell so heavenly. I had fun with pastels and aimed for a simple yet expressive rendering.

Press the image for a bigger view.

"My Getaway Farm" oil 11x14

For those who love a getaway place near to town but in the country, safe and secure. Press the image for a bigger view.

"The Beacon in the Mohave Desert" w/c crayons and pencils

Still in the Mohave Desert, this is the Beacon above Bullhead City on the famous Route 66. It was so hot all those years ago that I had to go out early in the morning, and by 8am it was too much for me so I headed back to Joy Lane, Bullhead and air conditioning.

I used the new watercolour crayons, picked out with watercolour pencils.

"Pecking Order" Test

Who goes first? Hopefully they took it in turns. Anyways, my son Tim treated the chickens exceptionally well before he gave them to his neighbours.

Press the image for a bigger view

"Chicken a la Impasto" 6x8 oil

Very often I paint something really small and then later I intentionally paint a larger version of it. This was the case of my son's free range chickens. He has the miniature painting on a tiny easel in his kitchen. This time I really ladled on the thick impasto and let loose. Voila - chicken a la impasto!

Press the image for a bigger view

Raptor Two - conté pencil on pastel paper 10 x 12

I had drawn this image before but it disappeared - so I'm doing it again. Conté pencil on Canson pastel paper. I like the wildness of the bird AND the gesture drawing. Wild, but a good bird.

"Cook-a-look" line and wash, felt-tip pen and w/c 4x6 inches

Based on a ceramic chicken I saw at a friend's house - it made a good sketch in line and wash. Small hey - 4 x 6 inches.

"Lynn's Barn" oil 11x14

My friend Lynn is developing this newly-acquired property on Vancouver Island - yippee it's red. I left out some stuff like excess trees and other texture but they say less is MORE!

Press the image for a bigger view

"Richmond Road to the Jubilee" oil

I am going to be self-indulgent here. This is the last day for the Sidney Fine Art Show in Sidney, BC. My fellow artist Glen Melville surprised me by telling me that he recognized my STYLE. I thought that I don't have a STYLE - I think that my works are devoid of STYLE, that my painting is very seldom recognizable as being a "Wilson." Just shows you.

Anyhoo - this scene is of Richmond Road in Victoria BC. My spot was at the corner of Lansdowne and Richmond, looking towards the Jubilee Hospital. It's an Urban Sketch, slightly compressed. The road means something to me, the show ended October 16, 2016.

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"Western Vineyard" w/c 4x6

Painting small w/cs can be very rewarding.

Press view image for a bigger view