Sunshine on the last day of the year

Can not believe it is the last day of the year 2011, As I stepped outside painting this view from our front yard , memory from the past all flashed by.

It was turning cloudy again in the afternoon. As I stepped out , the sun started to break out of the clouds again. A quick oil sketch from our front yard/

Sunny morning after an overnight snow fall

A window view of a bright sunny morning when our car was blanked with  fresh overnight snow.

A window view of the morning light

A lady passed by with her dog walking into the crispy morning light. There across the street the swirling smoke from Ken's chimney  across the street conjured up image of early morning life in winter. A quick oil sketch of what I saw this morning.

A glimpse into a bright sunny morning from our doorway

A quick oil sketch in the morning.

My brilliant little nephew sitting at his laptop

A quick oil sketch of my little brilliant nephew Andrew who came all the way from Indiana with his parents to revisit us in  Brandon after 8 years! You should watch him when he plays Rubik's cube with one hand! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL1yMPg_muI  On top of that he was also very good at playing piano , and swimming as well. He was only three when he stayed with us after moving over to Canada from China with his parents. He does not remember his early years in Brandon but this visit did bring back to him some fond memory.

At dawn before sunrise

With Sarah coming home for Christmas bringing  with her her room mate   , and with  my sister and her family joining us for Christmas, we are having a most memorable Christmas this year.  You must have been wondering  why I have not updated my blog for  so long , the excitement of family reunion kept me away from my daily painting routine. Still I managed to paint every now and then throughout the holiday season. Here is one I painted on the morning from my living room before our quests woke up for the morning.

In the street light

In the street light

snowy and foggy afternoon

In the bright light at noon

Facing the receding light

My busy wife

Another quick oil sketch of Ping checking out her recipe on internet and cooking book simultaneously.

My busy wife

Another quick oil sketch of Ping busy cooking  over the stove.

My busy wife

A quick oil sketch of Ping making dim sum food over the stove in the evening.

In the warm street light on a warm winter night

A quick oil sketch from our bedroom window at night.

My busy wife

A quick but unfinished sketch of Ping making Wonton dishes at the kitchen table.

My busy wife

A quick sketch of Ping busy doing some sewing work on my winter coat in the evening.

In the path of morning sunshine

As soon as I got out of my bed, I went straight to my   box easel and did this quick oil sketch before breakfast.

A window view late in the afternoon

A third oil sketch for today looking into the sky at the moment when the sun was setting with a burst of glorious colour and light.

A window view at noon

One more oil sketch from our living room window at noon.

From our front yard on warm Saturday morning

A quick oil sketch from our front yard while listening to CBC radio 2 this morning

Full moon rising

A glimpse into the night sky where the full moon was glistening in the wintry sky. It is handy to always have my easel set up ready facing the window. A quick oil sketch for tonight.

In the last glow

A quick oil sketch of the wooded spot behind our hedges in the last glow of late afternoon sunlight.

A full moon winter night

Came home later from a shopping errand but the excitement at the sight of full moon rising in the sky was irresistible. I set up my easel at the window and painted away.

In the path of receding sunlight

Another quick oil sketch late in the afternoon looking out of our window into the receding sunlight.

A glimpse into rising sunlight at dawn

Another quick oil sketch from our window early in the morning.

A glimpse into the encroaching night through the window

The warm lights through the windows across the street pieced through the thick armor  of the night. A quick oil sketch late at night.

A view of Maureen's garage against the last glow of the sun

It was windy but not too cold which allowed me to paint this quick oil sketch from our patio looking into Maureen's backyard over the hedges. The sun was low over the horizon glowing vibrantly.

A glimpse into the receding sunlight through the window

A quick oil sketch of the view through the window again when the receding light is quickly giving way to the shadow of the night at this time of the day.

Against the late afternoon sunlight

A quick oil sketch of our house standing against the late afternoon sunlight.

Winter light

The sun finally broke out of the clouds at noon. Braving the cold element outdoor, I did this quick oil sketch from our front yard.

In the last light

Dan, our neighbor,  was walking by with his little dog while the last light of late afternoon sun was shining on the junipers and hedges. A quick oil sketch from our living room window.

A stroll into sunset on Balmoral Bay

a quick oil sketch on Balmoral Bay late in the afternoon.

In the last glow

another quick oil sketch from our window when the sky was tinged with evening blush before the darkness took over.

A view into our backyard

a quick oil sketch of the view over the hedges late in the afternoon.