Balmoral Bay on a winter afternoon

It was just so beautiful outside, and braving  a minus 20 temperature I ventured out early in the afternoon and did this oil painting in two hours.

A view from our doorway

Still too cold to paint outdoor this morning. The light was little diffused. Painted this view in oils around 11 this morning sitting at the doorway.

A window view from our bedroom

It was really cold , and when I got up it was already 10 a..m. Pulled up the curtain to let the bright morning sunlight pour into our bedroom, and looking out of the window, I  set up my easel and did this oil sketch in an hour.

Full moon on a winter morning

Came back from a night shift early this morning, and to my delight the full moon was still shining brightly in the sky. Instead of going to bed, I sat at the dinner table by the window and did this quick sketch in acrylic in 20 minutes. The moon vanished out of my sight in just 5 minutes before the crack of the dawn.

A view of our backyard on a sunny but very cold winter afternoon

Standing in front of the window, and looking at the blue and sunny sky and the hedges with snow, I started my third painting for the day in oils.

Looking out of the window into the wooded spot

After the first painting done, a glimpse into the wooded area out of our living room window pumped me into second quick acrylic sketch. It was already 10 a. m. and the snow-covered hedges along our driving way was bright with sunlight.

Sunrise in the morning

Do not have to work at school today, but got up early nevertheless. Looking out of the window , I set up my easel and painted this view in acrylic. 

A full moon winter night

Just about to watch TV when a glimpse out of our living room window caught sight of the full moon rising up in the sky. Grabbed my paint box again, and did a quick acrylic sketch before 7 p.m.

Heavy with snow

A quick acrylic sketch of the hedges heavy with snow in the afternoon glow. A glimpse out of Sarah's bedroom window. Very cold again.

In the looming shadow of the late winter afternoon

I had to get my wife out of the kitchen interrupting her cooking to do this quick sketch in acrylic when I caught sight of the receding sunlight in our backyard through the kitchen window, which is, I totally admit, annoying to my wife.

A glimpse out of our living room window in the afternoon

 

I am always attracted by the interplay of the cool shadowy light against the warm sunny light towards late afternoon in winter. A glimpse out of our living room window is enough to send myself into action trying to capture that particular moment when the shadow casted by our house and trees started to engulf  what is in front of my sight.

Hedges heavy with snow

Came back for lunch from school, and made a quick acrylic sketch of our hedges and junipers heavy with snow. It was so cold with wind chill outside, yet it looked deceptively warm with the bright sunlight.

Sunny but cold in the afternoon

Looking west on Lorne Avenue

A stretch of Lorne Avenue  where so much of my early memory of Brandon started. Dr. Sam Corrigan who passed away this summer used to live here.

When visitors arrived

Bright lights shine through the windows of the three houses across the bay lifting up repressive heaviness of the dark wintry night. Briefly drifting back to me is my distant memory of an equally dark and cold winter night on a far and remote corner of China where alone I was with a book in hand with heavy snow falling outside the window and with boiling kettle sizzling on a coal burning stove.

On a dark and snowy night

The dark veil of wintry night was suddenly pulled off the inky dark sky by the warm radiation of the street light across the street. A quick acrylic sketch from our doorway.

Before a snow storm

On my way to the Coral Center to do some shopping , I stopped at the Dinsdale Park. It was dark, and cloudy with strong gust of wind, and impending heavy snow fall in the air. Did a quick acrylic sketch sitting in my car surrounded by palpable serenity and field of snow.

A quiet spot on a snowy afternoon

A quick acrylic sketch of a glimpse of the wooded spot behind the snow-covered hedges before supper.

It is getting dark outside

It is getting dark outside, and a flick of light from Dan's house suddenly lighted up the darkness in the backyard.
Sitting at the dinner table after supper, I did this quick acrylic sketch.

From our patio

It is warm enough for me to paint again outdoor. I did a quick acrylic sketch of the moment when the last sunlight lingered on in our backyard lighting up the wall of our house and windows. Soon , acrylic paint started to freeze up and I had to call it a quit.

Sunny backyard

Did not feel well , and stayed in bed until noon. Looking out of the window the intense sunlight made me feel better, and so a quick sketch in oil.

Looking east on Assiniboine River

This is the moment that I always savors when I find myself standing on the partially  frozen Assiniboine River with my easel in front of me , surrounded by fields of snow ,  the russhing river , and the absolute silence in every direction .   With late afternoon sunlight on my back, I can almost feel the fresh breath of a new season on my face.

Home Sweet Home

Moreland Manor

This impressive house on the corner of Louise Avenue and 14th Street was briefly lit up by the warm wash of late afternoon sunlight. I wish I had more time to work on this painting before it was getting too dark and light changed too much of its appearance. I remember the first time I ever caught sight of this impressive manor house a few days after I came to Brandon from China almost 20 years ago. It is forever part of my earliest memories of Brandon now.

Casa Maley on Victoria Avenue

It is such a warm day that most of the snow have melted away on Victoria Avenue.

On the bank of Assiniboine River

Came to this quiet spot on the bank of Assiniboine River at Dinsdale Park in the afternoon to paint on location.

Playing Sudoku on laptop

For the last few days, Ping has been abscessed with playing Sudoku games. After supper here again she starts to pay on computer, which gives me a moment to paint her doing so. Here is my quick acrylic sketch of her doing so at the dinner table.

A glimpse across the street

Again it is warm enough to paint outdoor today in the afternoon. However, again the sunny moment does not stay for long, but long enough to stay on my painting.

Back to my quiet corner

I sort of claim this quiet spot to be mine due to the fact that I have painted here so many times now. I have not been to this quiet spot for a while  behind the hedges where the tiny shed is due to the cold weather. It is warm enough and sunny enough for me to come out to this spot to paint this afternoon with snow up to my knee caps. However, the sun vanishes behind the clouds as soon as I start. I try, nevertheless, to retain that fleeting moment based on my fresh memory of the sunny few minutes, and paint it accordingly.

Hedges with snow in the last glow of afternoon sunlight

Painted the same thing again this afternoon from the opposite end before the sun light vanished.

Hedges with snow in the last glow of afternoon sunlight

Finally it was warm enough to allow me to paint outdoor today. Did this quick oil sketch before sunlight totally receded. It was nine  years ago today, my sister and her family left China for Canada. I remember it was such a warm day too when David and I went to Winnipeg to meet them at the airport. 9 years have passed , and so much has changed since then.

On a snowy night when the street light was on

Using both acrylic and oil, I did this quick sketch today before supper.

Waking up to a dazzling sunny morning

I will never have enough of the window view, especially on such a bright sunny morning. I asked Ping to leave the curtain open the night before so I could set up my easel ready to paint. A quick acrylic sketch for today.

In the last glow of the day

Another quick acrylic sketch of the fleeting moment when the winter sunlight quickly vanished before darkness descended.

In the path of receding sunlight

A quick acrylic sketch of the brief moment when the sunlight receds quickly giving way to darkness of winter again.

Snow-covered backyard at noon

Came home for lunch, and a glimpse into our backyard resulted into this 20-minute acrylic sketch.

A brief sunny moment in the evening

Finally the sun comes out briefly totally transforming the view in front of me as I am standing at the window towards evening. A quick acrylic sketch before supper.

A glimpse of our backyard

A glimpse of the snow covered backyard with hedges and flowerbed covered with snow. A quick acrylic sketch.

Another cold and cloudy day

A quick acrylic sketch at the door

A flicker of light on a cold wintry evening

A flicker of light across the street adds a warm touch to the bleak view on a wintry night. A quick acrylic sketch before supper

A window view on a cloudy and snowy morning

A quick acrylic sketch through the window.

On a bright sunny New Year's Day

First day of the year comes sunny but extremely cold. There is no possibility of painting outdoor today.