For Artists Who Love the Outdoors

Fish Creek Progress #1

It's been a while since I've been able to get outside to paint. When I got back here to Calgary, the weather was pretty unaccommodating generally and only this week has it started to feel right for plein air work. (I know...real artists are out in all weather!) What I've decided to do is a series on Fish Creek Park which runs across Calgary's south west quadrant. While the park is accessible to the public, it's been deliberately left in close to its natural state. I have this brain wave to wander its paths and paint a series of plain air pieces which tell something of its story. At least that's my current plan.

This first piece includes the original ranch house, now a restaurant, a great place to retreat to after a morning's painting. The mosquitoes were really fierce when I set up and I had to spray DDT twice to get them to leave me alone. Once that was out of the way, I settled in for the morning. Summer is challenging because of the lushness of everything, so as I continue with the series, I'll look to find different ways to express that lushness.

This piece is done on aquabord and it's been a while since I could get it anywhere. Back in January I found that Ampersand was reworking the surfacing formula, which meant I had to look for other surfaces to paint on. I found several, but I'm glad to see aquabord back on the shelves. I do enjoy painting on it.

Lots of people use the park for cycling, running, and walking with babies so I may sneak a few figure studies in as well as landscapes in the future. 

Nothing feels quite as good as getting out painting for a morning. It's great to be back at it again!