32 people braved the threat of a fierce winter storm on March 9, 2011, to attend my demonstration for the Kanata Art Club at March Central School near Dunrobin…a very good turnout indeed. After introductions, I gave the audience a choice between 2 pencil sketches on 24 x 30 stretched canvases…one of buildings based on some I’ve seen in Montreal and the Toronto Spadina Chinatown area backyards , the other of woods, rocks, snow and trees. They chose the buildings in Chinatown.

I proceeded to show how I go over my sketch with India Ink, how I clean my brushes, the various colours I use, the use of transparent paints, my disposable paper palette, my favouring of Windsor Newton oil paints, and my choice of technicolour fences. I mentioned preferring synthetic brushes for their strength as I find sable too soft for me. I use Barriere Art Guard on my hands before starting to paint. I told them about my final coat of  Alkyd medium to make the reflectivity across the entire painting uniform.

Questions were asked as we went along. After a break, the group decided they wanted me to work on my other sketch of woods. It was said that I looked like Pope John with my flat black circular hat on. I also wore my haute couture home sewn painting apron. Everyone, including me, seemed to have a good time. Beth and I packed up, loaded the car, brushed a lot of snow off and very slowly, drove home in the heavy snow.

Photo credit: Yvan Delisle