"Downtown Victoria" from Gonzales Observatory

Seen from Gonzales Observatory, this is downtown Victoria in inclement weather  - a narrow break in the clouds illuminates the taller buildings of this wonderful capital city of British Columbia.

Oils, 11 x 14 on RayMar canvas panel complete with a Melamine backing to avoid warping - soft hair brushes were used - five of 'em! (Different sizes).

"Boats at Seaside, USA" oil 11 x 14

Boats coming in to berth at Seaside. In the background, random pilings of tidal buildings long since abandoned in this cute seaside hamlet on the Pacific Coast of America

"Gonzales Sideloader" oil 11 x 14

It was really COLD up on Gonzales Hill this morning, but a Sideloader vessel passed by while we were painting obligingly giving us a focal point. Those are the Olympic mountains of the USA in the background - the dip in the mountains is where Hurricane Ridge is located, it's a mile above sea-level, so I'm told.

"Restful and Fragrant" oil 11 x 14

The lavender farm in Sequim, Washington State. A place to meander and rest among the fragrant lavender rows.

"High Tide, MtDoug Beach" 8 x 10 oil

Painted en plein air this morning, there's a bit of shine-back on this painting because of the amount of linseed oil that my Langnickels demand in order to get the strokes on the canvas. While a soft mongoose brush is a pleasure with which to work, one has to change one's way of applying paint! Dry-brush technique is out of the window ...

"Oranges Wedges" 6 x 8 oil sketch

With my soft mongoose hair brush (no.8 again) I painted this small study using thick and juicy brush strokes.

Should you click on the image you'll see an enlargement,  but press your BACK button to return here.

Thanks, Ron.

"Captain Bill McKechnie" oil 6 x 8

Today as a guest I painted with the group of seven portrait painters at Goward House in Victoria BC. Captain McKechnie was once the master of the "Queen of the North" many years before it met its end. Nice, chatty fellow with a wonderful Scottish accent. Afterwards group leader Jim McFarland invited our sitter to choose a portrait to take home, much like the "Star Portraits" on television. Captain Bill chose mine which is great.

I used four brushes, two of them Langnickels - the smallest of which was a No.8 so the session was quite a challenge for me, trying to get the finicky detail in.

"Mount Baker from Cattle Point" oil 11 x 14 en plein air

Mount Baker looks great with side lighting and the challenge was to separate the snow-from-the-clouds-from-the-sky tones. Shaun Cunningham, a photographer with a good lens happened to be passing by and later he sent me his JPG of my scene as it is actually.

Shaun Cunningham's JPG of me painting in the wind at Cattle Point. the wind won, I had to stop play!

"Maple Bay Gem tree" 11 x 14 oil on RayMar board

An Arbutus (Madrona) tree in Maple Bay, Vancouver Island. I was drawn by the gem-like appearance of the foliage and the boathouse tucked-around-the-corner .

"Seagull at Holland Point" oil 6 x 8 canvas on board

Painted en plein air at Holland Point just a few feet to the left of the previous painting location (see below). I used my new Langnickel series 5590 brush again - it's extremely soft (made from Mongoose hair) but it gives a silky effect - I like to see brush marks in my work - I want to show confidence and even bravado!

And yes, the seagull was really there, I worked quickly to get him down on canvas. He stayed for at least ten minutes...

"Holland Point Cove" oils 11 x 14 plein air

We are lucky to live in such a paradise, the sun came out, the sea was calm, so were we - sunny and calm. My lady love read a book whilst I painted - it took me an hour and twenty minutes to sketch this scene and I'm happy with it. I hope you are too ...

"Oak Bay Icon" oil 6 x 8

Painted at the re-opening of the United Church, Mitchell Street, Oak Bay.

"Stream, Michell's Farm" oils 11 x 14

I saw this from a narrow road with no place to park, so I drove around to another field, parked, and began to paint from memory. The result is a simple composition with few distracting elements - lending some impact to the work I think.

"Rubin and Bo Sweep Clean" oils

Rubin is the name of Bo's horse. Bo has an immaculate farm called Hunt Valley Farm and I mean it is CLEAN.  This is Bo sweeping Rubin's stable. I liked the halo on Rubin's head with light from the window.

Oil on stretched canvas 11 x 14. Click on the image for a close up look and hit your BACK button when you're done. Thanks for looking, Ron.

"Hunt Valley" oils 8 x 10

From the stables at the Hunt Valley Farm in Central Saanich (Vancouver Island) one can look across the field to this white house with its steep-pitched upper roof line.  Fog rolled in during this rainy morning, creating atmospheric perspective to the far trees.

"Expediter" study in greys 8 x 10

It was a grey day at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club today. The Expediter was hauled out by the owner for power washing - decks and hull. The drapes are to prevent overspray during blustery conditions. The club had spent money on extra concrete and drainage to prevent the grunge from falling back into the water. Good one.

For me it is a challenge trying to separate the greys.  I enjoyed it.

"Classic Refit, Port Townsend" 11 x 14 oil

This Ship's carpenter (Chippie) is busy restoring the planking of the classic wooden boat hauled out in Port Townsend.

Times-Colonist September 14, 2010

"Beaver Lake Reflections" oil 11 x 14

I could tell (even before I had stopped the car) that this was going to be my scene to paint.

In spite of the overcast and drizzly conditions, many artists turned up here this morning.
The benefit of having other artists around is that you may get some advice - and Keith Hiscock was very kind in his appraisal - I took his hint and avoided the "soldiers-in-a-row" scoops in the left-hand water's edge by limiting them to one instead of three little bays. He told me that it often happens to him when he paints poles and trees - spaced apart at regular intervals - I didn't spot my fault until he was gracious enough to mention it to me in the most tactful means possible. Thanks Keith.

"Astoria haul Out" oil 11 x 14

Astoria is a quaint village on the border between Oregon and Washington, with an iconic steel bridge between the two states. There it is in the background.
I was stopped by the man who is dwarfed by the extremely heavy hull and of course the reflection in the water. The seagull shape repeats the V slings. This is the good vessel "Mary" hauled out.