Architectural Details Blackfriars Estate Condominiums

 This heritage home in a parklike setting along the Thames River was the location for two Gallery Painting Group paint outs this past week. These studies of a couple of the architectural details which caught my eye were done in pen and watersoluable ink, so I could go back in with a wet brush to soften some areas.
The home was originally built in the Italianate style by a man named Kent and later became owned by the Catholic Church and was used by the Bishop and named Blackfriars. The Catholic diocese sold the building a few years ago and it has now been converted into large condos, preserving the original architecture. The gardens are lovely and have statues, terraces, pathways,ponds and fountains. These paint outs will certainly be my inspiration for some paintings in the near future.

Lily Farm

The weather was perfect and the location was too, with wonderful views and lots of shade to work in and a very friendly black lab to keep us company.

Gallery Painting Group Near Delaware

Today I finally got to use my new Eric Michael's plein air watercolour easel. It was wonderful! The GPG Tuesday paint out was on a farm on Sharon Drive. I enjoyed working with my new equipment very much and almost finished a painting until the deer flies and other flies made working impossible. ( insect repellent seems to act as a condiment for them!) I finished the painting below at home in my studio.

Tomorrow we are off to a lily farm to paint, weather permitting! Tonight I am travelling to the Sunset Arts Gallery in Grand Bend to move my paintings to a new wall. It will be nice to see all the artists again.

First Paint Out of the Season: Rain!

Gold Creek Drive: completed  from the back of my car

Corner of Komoka Road and Gold Creek Drive: sketch from driver's seat

Today was The Gallery Painting Group's first paint out of the season. Even though the weather was not very co-operative, a few brave souls came out. Some took photos inside the old school house and some did sketches from their cars or inside the building. I did two quick sketches, one in pencil, the other in watercolour. You can see the rain spatters on the watercolour! The good news is that Monday's weather is supposed to be great and we have been invited back! There are so many wonderful subjects, both on the property and nearby, that it should prove to be great fun. After we were finished, Len and Amelia and I went for coffee and had a great chat. We have decided that this year we will sketch or paint no matter what the weather is like and will have back up rain plans in case we are unable to sketch from our vehicles as we did today.