The Forks in Spring

Came to Forks early in the morning to find a spot to paint there. The river was so full now and the walking path along the bank was still inundated under the water. When you think of Winnipeg, Forks tends to be the place to identify it with, for after all this is the place where history still lingers and ,where the cheerfulness and liveliness of contemporary urban life rubs shoulder with the fading remains of distant past. Under this big tent I was told people skated in winter on a makeshift skate rink. As I was painting this view, more and more people strolled into my sight and I could almost sense the pulse of the city.

Assiniboine Park Path

A lone birch tree close to the exit of the park casts a striking silhouette against the backdrop of an impressive neighbourhood of beautiful houses and quiet elm trees lined streets in the afternoon sunlight.

Assiniboine River Bank

After a short lunch break, I came to the spot on the Assiniboine River right at the exit to the park to paint this view. While painting I heard a vehicle pulling up on the street and the driver saying hi to me. It happened to be a former client who had purchased paintings from me. It was such a delightful surprise to see her!

Pavilion at Assiniboine Park

Thanks to the generous accommodation offered by Jenny I was able to go to Winnipeg and stay there painting on location throughout the weekend. It was still quite early in the morning when I reached Assiniboine Park. It was a bit chilly and windy when I started this painting standing at the open space behind the Pavilion building. I was told that due to the flooding of the Assiniboine River the open space was under a pool of water looking like a lake. Now the water was gone and people came back for a realaxing weekend.

Evening sky

A view from our backyard on a cloudy day

On a warm spring morning

Another view over the hedge. I was struck by the clear blue sky and the shimmering warm color of the willow trees behind our shed. 

Steeped in the morning sunlight

Even through I have painted numerous times at this spot , I have never really painted here  early in the morning. It is exciting  to paint here as if I were facing a completely new landscape. 

Flower bed In the morning sunlight

Came back from overnight shift. Instead of going back to bed  I went outside with the easel to paint the sunlit flower bed in our backyard at 7:30 a.m. 

Reaching the sky

A quick oil sketch of the big elm tree soaring above our neighbour's house from their backyard across the street.

Strolling in the sun of spring

A quick oil sketch done at noon at the doorway. I was struck by the long shadow of the elm tree casted over our front  yard. 

Color of spring

Warm sunlight in the afternoon shining through the grove of junipers in the corner of our backyard really makes me feel spring is finally here to stay!?

Standing in the last glow of the day

Painted this view of the grove of trees  in a hurry today before the sunlight faded away in the late afternoon after supper. 

Finally, it was sunny and warm again after a miserable long weekend. Painted a quick oil sketch of the ash tree in our front yard when it was soaked in the warm sunlight 

Quiet backyard

It was cold , cloudy and rainy for a whole day. Standing on our patio and looking over the hedges I seemed to be able to  detect the first shimmering color of the spring in the old willow trees. 

Waiting to be sowed and planted

Cold and cloudy today. No sign of sunlight. A robin landed in front of me while I was doing this oil sketch. It is always so exciting to see robins again after a long and cold winter. 

Stretching out into the sky

It was cold and wet today while I was  painting in our backyard. The sight of the grove of trees next to our hedges always imspires me. No matter how hard I have tried I could never do justice to the beauty and spirits radiating  from these trees. 

Cleaning up

Fengping could not wait for the weather to get warmer.  She started to clean up her garden sweeping the dead old leaves into her garbage bag  late afternoon after supper. 

Dancing in the warm sunlight

Painting outdoor in the receding sunlight I can sense the breath of the new season which is  so tangible now. 

Sunny and warm

It is such a joy to stand in the sunlight to paint without wearing a hat! Trying to convey the joy of sensing the first fresh breath of the season in the wooded spot behind the hedges.

Wet with rain

It rained all day long. I enjoyed the fresh smell in the air. Using an umbrella I did this oil sketch from the side of our house. A view with last patches of snow from the winter

Another view of Downtown Brandon

After a coffee break we ventured out to do more when the wind was getting even worse. A few times it almost knocked out my easel. A quick oil sketch of the PennyWise Book Store.

A view of Downtown Brandon

Today is the 22nd International Sketch crawl Day when people from all over the world gather in small groups to sketch whatever they see until they are totally exhausted, supposedly. I met a few friends at a downtown location at 9th street and Rosser Avenue at noon , and I did an oil sketch of 16"x20". It is quite windy and dusty. Yet, we really had fun for the day.

On Assiniboine River bank

Came to the stretch of Assiniboine River in the afternoon to paint. The roaring and clashing sound of the ice breaking up and moving on the river was exciting to hear.

A fresh start

Did a quick oil sketch from our backyard at noon.

Time to sow? too early

Flower bed was finally uncovered by the snow. I could sense the warmness of the season on my back while painting this view in our backyard before supper.

Another view from the back alley

I try hard to feel and sense the coming of the season from the sunlight soaked limes of the old willow trees standing by the long and tall fences along the back alley on Balmoral Bay.

Warmness of the light

Snow remains everywhere, but I can feel the warmness from the season now.

Painted from behind our shed

Never looked at this view from this point of view. Standing in the sluggish mixture of snow and mud I painted this view from the back alley at noon.

As if waking from a dream to face a grim reality!?

Still under the charming and awesome spell of Mexico's Caribbean coast, I found it hard to get inspired by the daily view I open my door to. Nevertheless, it is a reality I am more in tune to.