The path

After supper around 5:30 I found myself walking towards the path where I had painted so many times over the past 6 years. The sunlight was breaking out of clouds and the crab apple trees were being lit by the light while two ladies were walking their dog towards me. This was the moment I was trying to keep  in my memory as well as onto my canvas. 

Color of spring

I have lost track of how many times I have painted at this spot over the past 6 years! However, each time I found myself at this spot next to our line of hedges the urge to paint was strong as ever especially at the turn of the season. The vibrant and fresh color in spring was engulfing my every sense while I was painting away in the afternoon. 

Blooming Nanking Cherries

The blooming Nanking cherry brush on Maureen's property was so enticing that I simply could not pass by without getting it onto my canvas. Around noon when the sun was in and out of clouds every now and then, I tried to capture its cheerful and light spirit. 

Garage Sale at 42 Balmoral Bay

As before, the Gross always serves as the organizer of such a neighbourhood event. And they are so well organized. On top of that John's great sense of humour always adds to the cheer and joy of the moments. To me garage sale means more than a garage sale it serves kind of as a seasonal initiation and a ritual that marks the transit of  a long passage of winter into a hard earned summer season. After the first painting I trained my easel towards the Gross' front yard trying to capture the moment of such an event. 

Balmoral Bay in the morning

Early in the morning around 8 people gradually came to the bay to muti-family garage sale. Every year at this time  Balmoral Bay will hold its annual community garage sale which really attracts lots of people. This year with such beautiful weather finally there is no exception. It is not so often that I can set up my easel early in the morning to do some painting outdoor. I was totally captivated by the color and light in the morning. 

A long stretch of fences

A favorite spot of mine to paint across the seasons. While passing this location on my way home to work, I was attracted by the glow of the blossoming trees in the sun , and I  returned to it with my easel  to paint this view on this open space behind Cornwallis Crescent. 

Moment before sunset

It was about 7 p.m when the trees in the backyard  were lit up by sunset. The moment was impregnated with a serenity and beauty that was beyond verbal descriptions. 

Glow in the sun

The tender green of the new leaves on the trees glowed in the sun as viewed from our driveway in late afternoon. 

A study of a willow tree

Walked to the path between two fences , the old willow trees from inside the fence made me stop to paint. 

A glimpse of a house next door

The house next to ours is the most impressive one in our neighbourhood with its big French window and lots of old trees in its front yard. I painted a quick oil sketch today before the sunlight receded. However, the very next day  quite a few of the trees  were cut down by city crew!  I seemed to have painted a visual lament for these trees ! 

Looking over the hedges again

A bit cloudy today, and it was getting really cold towards afternoon. However, in spite of painting numerous times from our patio I found it hard to resit the temptation to paint again the same view. 

Mum for Moms

It was on Mother's Day yesterday when I bought this pot of mum for Ping. It has become such a cliche to buy mum for moms on Mother's Day. Nevertheless, yesterday, I repeated the same cliche. Looking at the dazzling yellow flowers against the warm sunlight pouring into the window I  set up my easel on the dinner table and  painted a quick oil sketch dedicating it to all the ladies young and old, past and present, who have made such a difference in my life! 

A view of a house nestled on the bank of the river

After I finished the first painting on the spot, it turned cloudy suddenly and wind started to blow and I could almost feel the chill from the river. However, the view of the house in the distance with a stretch of open green space was really captivating and I turned my easel around  starting my second painting for the day. 

Spring coming to the Assiniboine River

I drove to  a location on Assiniboine river across from Dinsdale Park in Brandon where people tend to go fishing at weekend. The trees lining up along the bank started to turn green which looks exceptionally beuatiful against a crystal clear sky. 

A glimpse over our hedges at sunset

There is something sublimely beautiful about a sunset sky at this time of the year. The shimmering green color warmed up by  the light in the late afternoon has really a hypnotic effect on me while I am painting alone in our quiet backyard. 

Looking at myself in the mirror

Sick at home with migraine headache , I could only relief myself from the pain by picking up my brushes again, and since I could not go outdoor painting I simply painted myself standing in front of a mirror. It proved to be really unsettling to stare at oneself for so long as if I were trying to lay open my own self for an unscrupulous dissecting.