Patio drenched in last light

a quick oil sketch of our patio in the last light

Virginia creeper

The Virginia creeper dangling and draping over our patio started to turn red at the end of the season.

In the last light

a hanging pot of flower in the last light of the day at the end of summer season.

At the end of the day

A quick oil sketch from the front yard  of our house at the end of the day

Backyard -- my sanctuary

I painted this view of our backyard in the afternoon totally losing myself in the tranquil and warm  sunny moment of a beautiful autumn afternoon where time stood still , where personal worries and feeling of uncertainties about future suddenly melted away in the warm wash of sunshine.

Sunny Sunday morning from our patio

A quick oil sketch from our patio at 11 a.m.

A glimpse of Down-town Brandon at 8th Street

There is a particular quality of light at this time of the day at the start of the fall season which words fail to describe. However I can definitely feel it when I stand close to the corner of 8Th Street and Princess Avenue at 3 p.m starting this one hour long oil sketch.

Noon hour at our backyard

The trees are changing colour for the season. Another quick oil sketch at noon from our backyard.

Turning colour for the fall

A quick oil sketch of the lone poplar tree behind the hedges in our backyard with its leaves starting to change colour at the turn of the season.

The last bloom in the last light

Caught sight of this pot of yellow flower sitting quietly on the table on our patio in the evening, and did this quick oil sketch before the light varnished.

two pots of red geranium

a quick oil sketch of the two pots of red geranium in the last light

Change of colour

a quick oil sketch from our backyard early  in the afternoon when it was very cloudy.

End of the summer season at Clear Lake - from the last long weekend of the summer

Hope this is the view of the lake most people will leave the lake with at the end of the summer. I struggled against wind and occasional rain to paint this view to mark the end of the summer season.

Moon Lake of Riding Mountain National Park

Have not been to Moon Lake for many years, and have never painted on this location yet. Decided to drive all the way to the lake to paint this morning. The sun broke out of the clouds only briefly to lit up the sky a bit. There was a red canoe sitting quietly at the foot of a spruce, and of course the ubiquitous outdoor fire pit for barbecue.

Hot and stuffy afternoon - a glimpse of our backyard

A quick oil sketch on this hot and stuffy afternoon from our backyard.

A long wooden pier on Winnipeg Lake

Painted this view on my last day at Winnipeg Beach this morning. There are a few wooden piers like this one stretching out over the lake outside the town of Winnipeg Beach. We drove to this location early in the morning. Painting here is such a mesmerizng experience with  the lapping of the water against shore of the lake , and when  unexpectedly,  a young lady chasing her unleashed  lab suddenly intruded into my view. This is my way to say goodbye to Winnipeg Lake.

A busy evening on the beach

After a short rest in the afternoon, I walked across the street with my easel late in the afternoon. There on the long sandy beach is a typical picture of what a hot summer day was like. It is  hot and muggy today which draws many more people to the cool water of the lake.

What a view from the front yard !

The owner of the charming house must be the luckiest person to be able to step out of her door every morning to face this spectacular view! Do you see the land mark tower right in the view?

A charming house facing the lake

Came to this charming and beautiful house early in the morning to paint when its front window reflected  the  sunlit lake facing the full morning sunshine. Its owner was away not knowing that her house was interpreted into an oil painting. Only her cat was lying there comfortably all the time watching me painting with curiosity.

Moon rising over Winnipeg Beach

There is an enthral feel about the sight of the full moon rising over the lake in the evening. Setting up my easel right on the beach I rushed against the encroaching darkness to try to record the special moment. What is more special is the quick painted image of my wife strolling along the edge of the lake.

A small bridge on Boundary Creek

A charming wooden bridge on what it is called a boundary creek to remind people that this creek used to mark the northern boundary of the province of Manitoba in the distant past. Painting this view I had to fight with so many mosquito bites.

A charming marina of Winnipeg Beach

Winnipeg Beach has its own marina which is really charming. Standing on this particular location I can  get a glimpse of the landmark tower in the distance. It was getting hot early in the afternoon. However the light was getting more mellow which I enjoy much more to paint.

The Sunrise moment at Winnipeg Beach

My wife woke me up at 6 in the morning urging me to go to the beach to paint right away. The view took my breath away ! The land mark water tower stands there like a sentry facing the rising morning sun turning everything in its path into a golden glow! Here is the painting of what I saw at that moment on the beach.

My first sight of Gimli !

Our  first ever trip to Gimli to mark our 28th wedding anniversary! After we checked in our motel at Winnipeg Beach, we drove 15 km north to find ourselves in Gimli. Can not believe that I had never been to this part of Manitoba ! We left Brandon early in the morning. However, about 30 kilometres before  we reached Portage right on the highway, the  front tire of our car got suddenly flat out . It was a scary moment. We pulled up , and managed to put on the spare tire to reach Portage to get it replaced with a new one at Fountain Tire. I started to paint right away after we reached Gimli marina. I felt physically exhausted after standing unprotected in the sunlight  and looking towards the west  for two hours in the afternoon !

another quick oil sketch

another quick oil sketch from the same concert of Clear Lake Chamber Music Festival.

A quick oil sketch from Clear Lake Chamber Music Festival

a quick oil sketch on the last day of Clear Lake Chamber Music Festival. Could hardly see my palette when sitting in the audience in darkness.

From the Spray Park - Kin Park of Brandon

It was rather windy today when I came to Kin Park on First Street and Aberdeen Avenue in the afternoon. There were few kids playing at the water spray spot. My setting up of French easel drew the curiosity of a few young kids who were having a birthday celebration there, and when they realized what I was doing, started to go to the water spraying spot . I did a quick oil sketch of each one of them when they came into my view to mark the summer moment here in the newest park of Brandon.

Walking her dog in the hot glare of noon hour sun

A quick oil sketch from our driveway when a young lady walking her dog passed by in the hot noon hour sunlight.

The same view from this morning

Painted this view from the same point of view as the previous sketch early in the morning when it was a bit cloudy.

In the last light of the day

Painted this view in the last light of the day when the backyard was already swallowed in the shadow of darkness.