Monday, August 21, 2017

Painting Brandon's Brocki Donovan Funeral Home during the Solar Eclipse yesterday morning

"We were so glad we could attend the fundraising dinner for the Brandon Art Gallery and place a winning bid on a custom painting by Weiming Zhao. It will have an extra touch of significance as he painted the portrait of Brockie's between 11:00 and 1:15 today just as the eclipse was happening!
We will post the completed piece of art when we place it in the funeral home!

We are so glad to support the Arts in Brandon! There is so much talent among us!:) "
https://www.facebook.com/BrockieDonovanFuneralChapelBrandon

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Wishing you all well at the Wishing Well on Clear Lake this morning at 11:00

Wishing you all well at the Wishing Well on Clear Lake this morning at 11:00
A spur of the moment decision led me to the Wishing well and I did not regret it when I saw the morning sunlight streaming through the grove of spruce trees over the the Wishing Well and over the beautifully landscaped garden , and saw the freshly carved tree trunk sculpture of three climbing black bears! What is even more delightful was to encounter Nancy MacKay, the park gardener at the very moment when I put my last brush stroke onto the canvas. Thank you Nancy for purchasing the painting! Your efforts behind the sculpture and the garden are the source of inspiration for the painting

Monday, August 14, 2017

Brandon University campus as viewed from 18th Street and Lorne Avenue

The controversy over the intended hedges removal from the edge of BU campus along 18th Street seemed to have pumped me to come to this spot to paint this morning despite of the humid weather. Personally, I find it totally unnecessary to spent money and effort on removing the hedges that have been functioning so well over half a century. I just do not see anything negative caused by the hedges. It is not so intrusive as a brick wall. I tend to come to this spot to paint over the years simply because this view of Brandon University is the very first I got to see as part of Brandon 27 years ago when I first received the application package from BU back in China: this view of BU was on the cover of its 1990 -1991 course registration calendar book . And it is also the very first glimpse of BU campus I saw on the very first morning I came to Brandon from China when I first stayed on the corner of 15th Street and Lorne Avenue. Painting anything BU always brings back my fond memory of BU in particular and Brandon as a whole. Without BU, never would I have been likely to call Brandon home for the last 25 years. As I was standing there on the corner of 18th Street and Lorne Avenue painting, this morning , I saw so many international students passing by on their way to and from campus, I could not help noticing how much the demographic landscape has changed over the past two decades here in Brandon as a city. Brandon University is obviously the force behind this change. As I was driving away after finishing my painting, I switched on CBC radio 2, there on the air is Jocelyn Morlock 's Aeromancy for two cellos , there came the BU connection again! I got to know her way way back in the early 90s when I first came to study at BU. Jocelyn Morlock, next time you come to Brandon, I would like to see you again !

Saturday, August 12, 2017

A home on Trappist Monastery grounds

Driving down south towards the Monastery on highway 34 is a visual delight! with the rolling hills covered with  lush green  vegetation !

A charming historical church in Holland, Manitoba

Holland Emmanuel Historical church is located just a short distance away from the wind mill. It was so quiet here in this small town that I felt I was alone there while painting on the street this view of the charming church.

The Wind Mill , Holland Manitoba

It is only fitting to paint this landmark of Holland on my very first visit to this small Manitoba town. It occurred to me that this town is named Holland not so much due to its Dutch root. It is actually named after its first postmaster whose last name is Holland.

Friday, August 11, 2017

An open canola field

Off the first street looking north lies the this stretch of open field of canola which is so delightful to see at this time of the year.

Friday, August 4, 2017

From Dinsdale Park Brandon on a summer morning

Two times flooding from the last few years have wiped out most of the trees in the park leaving the Brandon skyline across the Assisiniboine River more visible now. I have painted in this park countless times over the years now , and I am here sometimes more for the solitude than the scenery.