At the dawn of what should have been a spring morning

Looking out of the window early in the morning, I just did not feel like going to bed after coming back from an overnight shift, Setting up my easel , I did this quick oil sketch while  listening to Ralph Vaughan Williams' Lark Ascending on CBC Radio 2 .

A splendid sunset

It was very exciting to view the sunset at this time of the year; the warm wash of the sunshine contrast dramatically with the cool shadow from the remnant of the winter.

Sign of spring?

At least the snow has melted away on our driveway. It turned a bit cloudy briefly with light snow flakes drifting gently down. However the sun light finally regained the sky making its  spectacular exit towards the evening.

Tender is the night in early spring

The street light was on before the darkness totally enveloped the sky. Apparently there was no sign of spring yet on this early spring night. However, I apparently was the only person still savouring the last show of the winter before it withdrew from the stage of the season with reluctance. A quick oil sketch from the window.

A view on McTavish Ave and 10th Street of Brandon

A bit cloudy today but you still could feel a bit of spring in the air, maybe my wishful thinking only. Here was a glimpse out of the kitchen window from the second floor of an apartment block.

Another window view

Did not feel well today and stayed home from work. However, looking out of the window, I could not help but pick up my brush to experience a moment of inner peace and serenity that only this kind of process will always  offers me.

When the sun started to rise

A quick oil sketch looking out of the living room window early in the morning. 24 years ago, on this date, Sarah was born in the early warm spring of South east China. Can not help but remind myself how time passes so quickly. In just a blink of an eye,    
your child has grown up to be an adult and you are no longer in the prime of your life. Every detail from that date remain so sharply delineated as a detailed drawing with every well defined line clearly visible  on the slate of my memory. She will be on her way to Banff today for a pharmacy event. Just pray that the weather will be fine and the road will be cleared of snow, and she will reach there safe and sound.

Still loaded with snow

Will spring ever come ? However instead of complaining about the prolonged winter, why not savour the lingering winter for its intense light and colour?  A quick oil sketch looking out of the kitchen window.

On the first day of spring when I caught a glimpse of Downtwon Brandon at 7 p.m out of the big window of the Gallery

A 20 minute oil sketch looking out of the big window of the Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba when the buildings in Dowtown Brandon was lit up in the last light before the creeping shadows of the evening.

Looking out of the window from No. 1 Crocus Crescent

It is dazzling to the eyes when the snow is  touched by the bright setting sunlight. Went over to the location to work a few hours overtime, and the home member Diane loves to paint and enjoys watching me to paint even more. At her request, I set my pochade box on my lap, and did this quick oil sketch looking out of the west facing window in the late afternoon  before the sunset.

Glistening in the sun

The snow on the hedges should have been gone by this time of the year.  The sight of it may upset lot of people who anticipate an early spring. However, seeing it glistening in the bright sun, I could not help marvelling how beautiful it is ! A quick oil sketch for today.

Cold, cloudy and snowy

Looks like a storm is on its way when  I looked out of the window at noon painting this view listening to Beethoven's 7th Symphony.

The moment after sunset

Did my third oil sketch the moment after sunset looking out of our dining room window.

Another window view late in the afternoon

Another quick oil sketch looking out of the bedroom window late in the afternoon. Too cold to paint outdoor today.

On a beautiful sunny morning

Sunny but cold. A quick oil sketch looking out of our living room window when a lady walking her dog passes by.

The moment when the sun rises

A quick 15 minute oil sketch of the window view just when the sun rises early in the morning.

Hedges and shadows

A glimpse out of the kitchen window into the snow covered backyard where the snow covered hedge casting its long shadow in the intense sunshine.

Sunlit snow with casting shadows 6"x8" oil on canvas

Sitting on the sofa and looking out of the window of our living room in the morning, I did this quick oil sketch of the sunlit surface of snow with the casting shadows from the trees.

A gloomy snowy morning on Saturday 12"x16" oil on board

The morning started with drifting snow. However, by the time I finished this painting the sun has come back ending the day with a sunny note.

A tranquil winter moment in the evening

There is moment of silent it seems, and then the sun dipps suddenly below horizon and there is the silence with the shadow of the night encroaching onto everything in view.

Hedges with snow 9"x12" oil on canvas

I almost could feel the warm sun beating down on my back as I was standing in our snow covered backyard painting this view.

A bright sunny window view 6"x8" oil on canvas

The sunlight was so intense that I could hardly keep my eyes open when I was doing this quick oil sketch looking out of the bedroom window in the morning.

From the backyard 9"x12" oil on canvas

It just made me feel so relaxed standing in our backyard to paint this view before heading to the gallery to teach my painting class today.

a view from the window 6"x8" oil on board

In the late afternoon sunshine, the snow covered hedges look quite enticing, hence another quick oil sketch for today.

Pine trees at the entrance to the back alley 11"x14" oil on board

Everything looks beautiful in the sun after a heavy snow storm.

After the snow storm the sun came out 6'x8" oil on canvas

A quick oil sketch looking through the doorway, when the sun came out in the morning.

In the early march storm 6"x8" oil on canvas

A snow storm had been raging for a whole day, and late in the evening I did a quick oil sketch looking through the window.

St. Paul’s United Church in Boissevain Manitoba 16"x20" oil on stretched canvas

Late in the afternoon it is getting late and a bit cold when I started to paint this view of St. Paul's United Church in Boissevain . The painting was enlivened a bit when Christina pushing her lovely little girl passed the building and came into my view.

A view from Downtown Boissevain

It is the first time for me to come to Boissevain to paint on location thanks to Christina and Casey Guenther who operates 1894 Art Centre in Boissevain and invited me to have a show there on July 1, 2013. It is always an exciting adventure for me to come to a new location to paint. So standing on the corner of the street painting this view of the old grain elevator on one side and the church building on the other is quite a memorable experience to me. 

Sunny and beautiful view out of the window 6"x8" oil on canvas

a quick oil sketch looking out of the window late in the afternoon