Roadside Treasure

 What's a plein air painter to do on a miserable day? Well...I picked some daisies ….and thankfully the cats left them alone ...so today was a daisy a day dear!

Roadside Treasure

Pastels on toned multimedia paper

Size aprox. 5 X 7 in.

The Swamp - monoprint

 The Swamp

Monoprint 1/1

Size 11 X 14 in.

Completed from a recent charcoal sketch (Derwent coloured charcoal pencils and blocks plus some vine charcoal) at a local swampy area behind the Miramichi mall in Newcastle, Miramichi. I transferred the charcoal drawing to my Gelli plate and used Mat Medium for the pull onto Strathmore Tan Toned mixed media paper….finishing off with a bit of soft pastel work over selected areas. I was especially drawn to the foreground trees…such character! ….and the colour of the early spring grasses…..If I waited another week or so the entire scene would have been too green for my liking. I love the colours and textures of spring.

Harkin’s Academy Watercolour

 Harkins Academy 

M. Graham W/C on Arches 100% cotton paper

Size 11 X 14 in. (Will be matted & framed to 16 X 20)

Plein Air/Studio

A couple of weeks ago, Kelly and I decided we’d better capture the old Harkin's Academy in paint….before someone burns it down! It’s a beautiful old stone building that could have been reused is a variety of ways but has been left to the ravages of time. I’ve captured it from the front on a sunny morning that brought out some of its past glory…but like the early spring trees…it is nothing more than bare bones right now….

The drawing was done on location…the watercolour in studio.

Contemplation - A Monotype

 Contemplation

Monotype 1/1 

Size 7 X 5 inches (will be matted to 10 X 8 in.)

Finally ..what I call a successful Monotype!

—a monotype is a one of a kind hand pulled Art Print — It is NOT printed from a photograph of a painting!

My thoughts on it’s creation — 

A woman on her knees looking back contemplating her childhood wishing she could help the child but unable to do so, as there is a great divide. The child looks up toward her adulthood contemplating what the future will bring. The light surrounding their heads signifies the invisible connection between past and present.

2 new artworks celebrating the New Year

 Right back into the swing of things after the New Year celebrations. Hope everyone is blessed with Joy, Peace and Good Health in 2026!

First 2 photos

I’m back to painting in the car during the winter months….Here’s mine…and (second photo) you can just see my friend Kelly’s car on the road up in front of me. 

I sit in the car with the drivers side window down to see my subject in good light…and I wear a heated vest and heated socks for warmth. The only way to paint Plein air in Canadian winters!

Sun after Storm - acrylics on canvass cardboard panel - size 61/2 X 12 inches.

Trees Bough To Nature

Hand pulled art print from a gel plate transfer of an original charcoal sketch (white ink added after the pull)

Size 5 X 7 inches.

Inspired by a drive today…looking at all the birch trees bent over from the ice and snow.

England Hollow Park

 Out yesterday with Kelly to English Hollow Park in Chatham. I got mine about 1/2 finished on location….before we lost the sun…so some studio time was needed. I decided to leave out the park signage as was hiding the bright red bush behind it…. The star of the show. 

Two photos here..the first is the finished painting, the second is how I left it in the field when we lost the sun.  (touch to enlarge)

Trail’s End (Ritchie Wharf Park)

 A few days ago myself and an artist friend took advantage of a gorgeous day for a little Plein air painting at the far end of Ritchie Wharf Park in Newcastle, Miramichi. A couple of cars were parked in the exact area we planned to paint in…but patience paid off and we moved right in as soon as they vacated the area.

I didn’t get to finish on location so finished up in my studio. The painting is an 11 X 14 inch oil on stretched canvas…and I’m calling it Trail’s End

Roughing It

 Roughing It - M. Graham watercolours on Arches Rough 100% cotton - size 11 X 14 inches

Had a fun Saturday afternoon painting with Kelly Hay-Hambrook at the camp…..just got to finish it up today at home.

(Touch to enlarge)

Garden Tapestry

 Last Saturday,  I and a couple of friends were invited to another artist friend’s garden to paint. She has a beauty of a well tended garden full of colour and texture and painting there for the third time in 3 years was an absolute delight. Since in the previous 2 years I painted with Pastels and Oils…I choose watercolours for this time around.

Garden Tapestry- M.Graham Watercolours on Arches 100% cotton paper. - Size 6 X 12 in.

(Touch to Enlarge)

Waterside Reverie

 Sitting outside the camp overlooking the Bartibog River a few days ago I hauled out my pastel kit to create the following painting. I just got around to finishing it up in my studio here at home today. (Where I have more colours to work with) I love our little piece of heaven on the Bartibog….it offers me endless scenes of wood and water for both quiet contemplation and painting.

Waterside Reverie - Pastels on Pastelmat - approx 11 X14 in.

Whispers of Tranquility

 I love Plein air painting but with so much rainy, cloudy weather lately I settled in to the studio to work on a painting I’ve had in mind for a couple of years now…the Nelson Miramichi waterfront as viewed from the Miramichi bridge. I was so excited by the view one day as we crossed the bridge that I had my husband go back and cross again so that I could take photos! So here it is with some close-ups…

Whispers of Tranquility- Oils on gallery wrapped canvas - 12 X 36 inches

Here Comes Santa Claus!

 Santa came to visit last Christmas and I managed to sneak a few photos…so this work has been inspired by those photos. It is an oil painting on stretched canvas - size 11 X 14 in. I’ll have it available in my prints very soon.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to all my followers…. May you experience the Peace and Joy of this holy season.

Touch photo to enlarge

First Snow at the Point

 Out for a bit of sketching yesterday at one of my favourite locations, Wilson’s Point Historic Site. I just had a short time to spend…about an hour but it was definitely rejuvenating to get out. Due to the time constraints I choose to work in graphite pencil on a gray toned paper. I loved how the late sun was hitting a few places on the little replica church and here and there on the trees and snow. Today I was looking at the drawing…thinking this one could do with a bit of colour….and off to the studio I went….grabbing some charcoal pencils and pastels. See both versions below. (5 X 7 inches) Which do you prefer?

Plein Air Painters

 Had a fun afternoon with a couple of painting friends at the high ground at Strawberry Marsh last week. We started out with a bit of sun but it quickly clouded over leaving me with nothing but one opportune photo and my relatively good colour memory to recreate the scene in the studio. I was quite pleased with the outcome! ( Oils on board )

Touch to enlarge

Afternoon Delight

 A lovely afternoon spent with a few artist friends at Ritchie Wharf in Miramichi yesterday resulted in this painting *Afternoon Delight* Oil on Masonite- size 8 X 10 in. 

Started on location and finished in studio (click to enlarge)

View From The High Ground

 View From The High Ground

Oils - size 11 X 14 in. Looking east toward the Miramichi bridge from the high ground at Strawberry Marsh. Begun on location and finished in the studio.

Touch to Enlarge

Windy Weather

Windy Weather - Oils on MDF - 5 X 7 in.

Out again to Nelson yesterday….nice bright sunny day…but too late for the fishermen who were just taking off…probably due to the windy weather. I miss the old boat house, but the scene is still attractive.

Painted from inside the car (due to the wind) and touched up in studio today. 

Touch to Enlarge

Portrait of Marion

 The sketches of Santa (see last post) got me in the mood for portrait painting. I had taken a photo of my neighbour while she was over for a visit a few short years ago and thought I could do something with it. I believe she was 100 years old at the time. She’s 103 now, a veteran, a great neighbour and all round interesting character. I thought I’d better get at that painting of her! 

Marion - A Life Well Lived - Oils on panel - 11 X 14 in.

Peace In The Valley

Another trip to Wilson’s Point Historic Site on what was probably the last warm day of Autumn…. On many strolls, this scene always captured my attention…I could just imagine long ago, people walking up a path to this little (replica) church in the pines. I didn’t have long in the field…probably an hour of painting before losing the sun entirely, so this painting had to be finished in the studio. I think I was able to express the peace I found in this delightful spot.

Peace In The Valley - oils on hardboard - size 11 X 14 in.

Click the pictures for full resolution