Absolutely beautiful day. Drank some cold medicine, then headed out to paint. Did a few sketches then started to paint. At that moment, I found myself in the arch of a rainbow.
Then, of course, it started to shower. Seems like I would have figured out by now that when you see a rainbow, moisture is in the air. Packed up and headed toward some sheep fields away from the ocean and rain. But the minute I got out of the car to survey - NAH - need to feel a water current and the edge of the sea. (First time I noticed an A on the back windshield. “Avis”, “Amateur” or “American”? A small warning sign for the Irish.)
So, a few things about painting outside. Something always comes up. Weather, forgot the paints, hands freeing, where’s the bathroom? This was on my mind when seeing how the tide had moved the seaweed overnight. Reminded me of Monet’s hay bales. I was lucky that I only had to deal with a few gnats here….and cold hands.
My favorite group of outdoor painters is the Group of Seven - Canadian landscape painters from 1920 -1933. They believed that by direct contact with nature, a distinct Canadian art could be developed - which became the first major Canadian national art movement. They were truly explorers - out in canoes - on the Canadian lakes- painting in all seasons.
Tom Thompson’s body, one of the best known of the Group, surfaced on Algonquin Park's most famous lake , Canoe Lake in July , 1917 - a bruise over his left temple. Some speculate that he stood up to pee, lost his balance and fell in.
Tom Thompson, Alqonquin Sunset, oil on panel, 1917
Late afternoon, I headed to the workshop building to try a few more monoprints. Walking over, I caught this shot of the Bay. I am now paying more attention to water due to my book - check out the color reflection of the cloud on the water.
