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Elizabeth Gaye MacDonald

~ Plein Air Painter

Elizabeth Gaye MacDonald

Category Archives: Botony

One Tree Three Times

18 Saturday Jul 2015

Posted by Elizabeth Gaye MacDonald in Acrylic, Art, Botony, Landscape, Oil, Oil painting, Ojibway, Plein Air, Trail, Watercolour, Windsor

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Acrylic, Art, Bible, Canada, Corporate greed, Death, determined, Disgrace, Do not go gentle into that goodnight, dogged, dying, dylan thomas, Forgive, Forgiveness, Genisis 1:28, God, Grandmother, indefatigable, insistent, Land grab, Landscape, life, Nature, Oil painting, Ojibway, Ontario, patient, persistent, Plein Air, resolute, Revive, Spiritual, Spirituality, staunch, steadfast, Strong, strong-willed, tenacious, Threatened woodland, tireless, Tree, unflagging, unshakable, unswerving, untiring, unwavering, unyielding, urban sprawl, Watercolor, Watercolour, Willow, Windsor Ontario, Wisdom

I’ve actually painted this old willow more than three times.  I’m continually drawn to it.  It’s tenacity to remain upright no matter how much the storms and age try to take it down, intrigues me.  With broken limbs, and burled trunk she sprouts new leaves every spring.  Each time I set up in front of her, I study her many bruises.  I think how much we also get bruised and battered in life.  Hopefully, we hang in there like this strong tenacious willow.

She is respectfully known as “The Grandmother” by the Ojibway natives.  She resides at the beginning of the northern trail at Ojibway Park.  She, maybe broken, but her spirit is strong.  No one who passes by, can ignore her.  This park is currently threatened on all sides by urban sprawl.  Stand tall Grandmother.  Stand your ground.  Speak of all that you’ve seen in your long lived years.  Speak to the world a wise word of warning.

Genesis 1: 29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.  ~NIV

God help us.  What have we done?  Forgive mankind for our disrespect of your precious gifts.  I pray it’s not too late.

 

Battle Scarred, Image size 7 x 10 1/2 Watercolour Framed $125.

Battle Scarred Two.  12 x 16 Acrylic on Canvas  $150.

Battle Scarred Two. 12 x 16 Acrylic on Canvas $150.

Rain on Me, Painted en Plein Air in the rain at Ojibway Park 8 x 10 Oil on Ampersand panel$275 framed. (On display at Arts Council July 2015)

Rain on Me, Painted en Plein Air in the rain at Ojibway Park 8 x 10 Oil on Ampersand panel$275 framed. (On display at Arts Council July 2015)

Dylan Thomas, 1914 – 1953

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Pelee Island Plein Air with Friends

27 Saturday Jun 2015

Posted by Elizabeth Gaye MacDonald in Art, Botony, Flowers, Hike, Landscape, Landscape, Nikon D90, Oil, Oil painting, Photography, Plein Air, Portrait, sunset, Uncategorized, ViewNX

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Art, Beach, Birds, botanical, Botony, Campfire, Canada, Fire, Flooded farms, flower, Flowers, Food, Friends, Harbor, Harbour, Holiday, Jiimaan Ferry, Lake Erie, Landscape, Leamington, Nikon D90, Oil painting, Ontario, Pelee Island, Pelee Island Winery, Photography, Plein Air, Portrait, Windsor & Essex County Plein Air Artists, Wine, Winery

It was my first trip to Pelee Island, Canada’s most southern Post. I am so blessed to have good friends. My Plein Air group the Windsor & Essex County Plein Air Artists is chock full of wonderful people.  I could not be more grateful.  One of our members and incredible artist Vera Graham, invited the group to spend the night at her cottage.  Two of us, Kathy Hudak and I, were able to take advantage of her generous offer. 

A large backhoe barely fits in the Jiimaan hold.

A large backhoe barely fits in the Jiimaan hold.

It was an early day Monday.  We had to be at the Leamington dock by 9:00 to board the Jiimaan Ferry to the island.  It’s amazing what this vessel holds!  A huge backhoe on a trailer bed, large trucks, a garbage truck, a cherry picker lift, and many other smaller vehicles. 

 

 

Life jackets ... check Life boat ... check

Life jackets … check
Life boat … check

It was a full and heavy load.  The ferry listed on the Port side from the incredible weight of the trucks.  I’m sure she was never in any danger of capsizing, but I was very grateful for calm seas.    Just to be sure I made note of the life jackets and lifeboat locations! 

 

 

 

Bon Voyage!

Bon Voyage!

Once we’ve boarded we headed up to the deck to watch the boat leave the harbour.

The one and a half hour cruse was pleasant.  The brisk breeze was refreshing.   I could hardly contain my joyous anticipation of what the two days ahead would hold for us.

 

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OOps!  We got into a bit of trouble.  We walked down a set of stairs into a restricted area.  Well they didn’t have any signs, and the steps were not roped off!  How were we supposed to know?  The equipment was just so COOL!

OOps!  Ship's hand chased us out of here, but not before I got this great photo of a huge winch.  They need better signage!

OOps! Ship’s hand chased us out of here, but not before I got this great photo of a huge winch. They need better signage!

We reach the Island docks.

We reach the Island docks.

First order of business snacks! Chips, salsa and Pelee Island WINE!

Relaxing on the beach.

Relaxing on the beach.

Then off to paint.

Vera's Refuge 8 x 10 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord $275.
Vera’s Refuge 8 x 10 Oil on Ampersand Gessobord $275.
Painting Vera's Refuge on the East Beach, storm incoming
Painting Vera’s Refuge on the East Beach, storm incoming

 

The rest of our 2 day painting holiday was filled with a great beach bonfire, nighttime thunder storms, hiking on the beach, hiking in the woods, sack lunch at the winery, snacks at the cottage,  and good friends.

Chairs positioned to catch the last rays of the day.

Chairs positioned to catch the last rays of the day.

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Monday’s sunset is an incredible light show.

Monday's sunset is an incredible light show - looking west
Monday’s sunset is an incredible light show – looking west
Monday's sunset is an incredible light show - looking east
Monday’s sunset is an incredible light show – looking east
No trip to the cottage is complete without a good campfire.  One on the beach is the best!

No trip to the cottage is complete without a good campfire. One on the beach is the best!

 

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Tuesday’s tour of the island saw that Monday night’s storms flooded much of the farmland.

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A walk through the forest at the south west end of the island.

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The southern most tip of Canada, which is the south west tip of Pelee Island.

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The harbour lights signal we are home again.

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DSC_9600A beautiful end to a wonderful 2 days.  Sunset on the north shore of Lake Erie.

Mom’s RumRill Vase, Table runner, Hydrangeas and My Abstract Watercolour

10 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by Elizabeth Gaye MacDonald in abstract, Art, Botony, Flowers, Nikon D90, Photography, Still Life, Still Life, Watercolour

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Tags

Art, botanical, Botony, flower, Flowers, Nikon D90, Photography, Still Life, ViewNX, Watercolor, Watercolour

Mom's RumRill Vase, Table runner, Hydrangeas and My Abstract Watercolour by photographerpainterprintmaker

Yesterday we cleaned up the front garden. My hydrangea bush had some incredible blooms on it this year. It was a joy to bring these inside. I found a lovely spot for them in my office. The background is a section of my abstract watercolour/rice paper collage which measures 40 3/4″ x 49 3/4″.

When I was a child we had two very large lilac bushes in our backyard. Every spring I would cut lilacs from these bushes and bring them in for my mother. She would go to the china cabinet and pull out this vase to hold them. Little did I know that this piece of American pottery was anything special. It is Red Wing RumRill art deco pottery with the number 629 on the base. The crochet table runner was made by my mother.

This was one of my final BFA pieces. My classmates, I’m sure, didn’t appreciate having to hop over this painting every day in order to get to their studio’s. I had to lay it on the floor with fans drying the large pools of watercolour. This process would take hours.

I love it because it was one of those pieces that I pushed beyond the breaking point and brought back. I thought it was trash, but my professor Adele Duck made me work it to death, or should I say back to life. I think I learned more on this one failed painting than in all my other works combined. Thank you Adele!

I photographed this in natural light. It’s a bit grainy because it is a cloudy day.

Lunch – Omelet with Morels

03 Thursday May 2012

Posted by Elizabeth Gaye MacDonald in Botony, Nikon D90, Photography, ViewNX

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

morel mushroom, Nikon D90, Photography

Lunch - Omelet with Morel's by photographerpainterprintmaker

Lunch - Omelet with Morel's by photographerpainterprintmaker

Lunch - Omelet with Morel's by photographerpainterprintmaker
Lunch - Omelet with Morel's by photographerpainterprintmaker

Monday’s paint out may have been rained out, but the trip to Chatham was well worth it! We had to reschedule for the 7th. What made my day was the opportunity to leisurely stroll though Peter Moffat’s incredible woodland garden with my camera. One of the ladies had very sharp eyes, and spotted an incredible patch of morel’s. I could not have been more excited. I was able to take a few home. Today I made lunch with one of them.


1 morel cleaned and sliced
2 eggs beaten
A splash of milk
2 pats salted butter
1 clove minced garlic
1 sliced shallot
Sprinkle Parmesan cheese
Salt & fresh ground pepper

Saute veggies in butter a bit
Slide to one side of pan
Gently pour in beaten eggs
Sprinkle on Parmesan cheese
When almost set fold omelet.
Let set up a bit more
Plate and enjoy!

Red or Purple Trillium

26 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by Elizabeth Gaye MacDonald in Botony, Gimp, Nikon D90, Photography, ViewNX

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Red or Purple Trillium by photographerpainterprintmaker
Red or Purple Trillium, a photo by photographerpainterprintmaker on Flickr.

Monday, was a blustery day out in Essex county, but in Greg Iler’s woodlot you would hardly know it. All around the lot barren fields lost their precious topsoil to the angry wind. On the woodlot floor the Trillium’s were sheltered from these gale force winds. The tall slender trees creaked around us as they swayed in the wind that forced its way through their canopy. The occasional small branch would fall victim, and come plummeting into a bed of white, purple and blue wild flowers. Not wanting one of these wayward branches to knock us out, we quickly captured these beauties in their brief spring show. Thank you Greg, for showing us this beautiful sight.

Mighty Lak a Rose.

23 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by Elizabeth Gaye MacDonald in Art, Botony, Flowers, Watercolour

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Tags

Art, Botony, flower, Flowers, Watercolor, Watercolour



Mighty Lak a Rose., originally uploaded by photographerpainterprintmaker.

by Frank Lebby Stanton

Sweetest l’il feller,
Everybody knows;
Dunno what to call him,
But he mighty lak’ a rose!

Lookin’ at his Mammy
Wid eyes so shiny blue,
Mek’ you think that heav’n
Is comin’ clost-ter you!

W’en he’s a dar a-sleepin’,
In his li’l place,
Think I see de angels
Lookin’ thro’ de lace.

When de dark is fallin’,
When de shadders creep,
Den dey comes on tiptoe
Ter kiss ‘im in his sleep.

Sweetest l’il feller,
Everybody knows;
Dunno what to call him,
But he mighty lak’ a rose!

Lookin’ at his Mammy
Wid eyes so shiny blue,
Mek’ you think that heav’n
Is comin’ clost-ter you!

I have a print of a baby boy by Bessie Pease Gutmann, entitled Mighty lak a Rose. It was inspired by this poem which was also made into a song by Ethelbert Nevin. This sweet lullaby was sung by many artists over the years, including Bing Crosby, and Petula Clark. I went looking for inspiration today, and found a beautiful photograph taken by my friend Margaret. I don’t normally work from photo’s but this rose begged me to paint it. I knew immediately what words needed to accompany the painting.

Orchid: Love, Luxury, Beauty & Strength

22 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by Elizabeth Gaye MacDonald in Art, Botony, Watercolour

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Art, botanical, Botony, flower, Flowers, Watercolor, Watercolour



Orchids, originally uploaded by photographerpainterprintmaker.

Orchids have long been one of the most cherished of flowers. They are associated with love, luxury, beauty and Strength.

My father converted a room in the house dedicated to growing them. They were not easy to grow. My dad loved orchids so much that we had a casket blanket made out of living orchids. I had to tell the shop what I wanted. I wanted to be able to take apart the blanket after the ceremony. They shook their heads in confusion, but did manage to do as I asked. Each child was given one of the orchids to take home in remembrance of him.

Dad lived with my hubby and I for the final 13 years of his life. When he passed it was as if someone blew a huge hole in my heart. Then, after 4 years in dormancy the orchid bloomed. I took it as a sign that Dad was telling me it was time to shake off the sorrow. If it were not for this orchid (which I really didn’t take very good care of) blooming, I might still in deep depression. So this plant gave me back the strength to get back into life again. I’ve never looked back.

Plein Air at the Amherstburg Navy Yard

28 Saturday May 2011

Posted by Elizabeth Gaye MacDonald in Art, Botony, Moleskine, Nikon D90, Photography, Plein Air, Watercolour

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Tags

Art, botanical, Botony, flower, Flowers, Nikon D90, Photography, Plein Air, Watercolour



RodiDSC_2315, originally uploaded by photographerpainterprintmaker.

My best two female friends and I ventured out to Amherstburg this morning to paint during the Garden Tour. We were not disappointed as the gardens were in full bloom. I’ve taken to doing smaller watercolours in my Moleskine. I have fallen head over heals in love with this book. I bought two larger one’s when I was in California, but I’ve yet to take the plastic off them. We have an exciting summer planned for the Windsor & Essex County Plein Air Society in this our third summer.



Amherstburg Garden Tour, Navy Yard Rhododendron, and Azalea Garden, originally uploaded by photographerpainterprintmaker.

Just an incredible day in Amherstburg. I wish we could have stayed longer.

Flowers from Jeanne

08 Tuesday Mar 2011

Posted by Elizabeth Gaye MacDonald in Botony, Photography

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

botanical, Botony, flower, Flowers, Nikon D90



Flowers from Jeanne DSC_0928, originally uploaded by photographerpainterprintmaker.

A knock on the door brought a delightful surprise today. It was a lovely bouquet from a dear friend of mine who had to move out west. We met only a year ago through my Plein Air outings. Jeanne is a wonderful artist, and a beautiful woman. It was heartbreaking to meet someone so nice only to loose her to a large move. Thankfully the internet allows us to keep in touch, but it definitely is not the same. We did get to share some great times last summer drawing and painting together.

Today was such a beautiful day that I was able to open up the back door and take some lovely photos in the natural light. Mind you the back room is our mud room, so I had to disguise the junk with some drapery. I think this photo turned out rather well.

I wish I had time to paint them. I’ve got a couple of big things on my plate these days. One is getting my artwork organized for Margaret’s and my show next week. The other is helping Patricia to get an Ontario Arts Council grant written. Maybe I will get a moment to breath, and in that moment I can paint or draw these beautiful flowers.



Flowers from Jeanne DSC_0948, originally uploaded by photographerpainterprintmaker.

The True Morels vs the False Morels

24 Monday May 2010

Posted by Elizabeth Gaye MacDonald in Botony, Macro Monday, Nikon D90, Photography, ViewNX

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Tags

Botony, Edible and poisonus mushrooms. True and false Morels, Macro Monday, Nikon D90, Photography, Uncategorized, ViewNX

Ascomycetes – Morchella – The true Morels vs the False Morels


If I told you where these were,  I would have to shoot you! They are a spring mushroom, and highly prized. We also encountered some false Morels, which are poison. I’m grateful that I have my Dad’s mushroom books to help me identify them.

Morchella The True Morels

Gyromitra, Helvella, and Related Species of the False Morels

Gyromitra, Helvella, and Related Species of the False Morels

Gromitra Brunnea Underwood

Cap large 5-15 cm broad, often saddled-shaped, lobed, often veined, chocolate-brown, white beneath, Flesh brittle, white. Stalk large, 16 – 15 cm long, 2-5 cm broad, Slightly larger base, somewhat ribbed to smooth, white, nearly hollow to cottony inside. Spores 28 – 30 x 12 – 15 elliptical, finely warted.
Single or several under hardwood forests in eastern North America in early Sp. Causes severe illness from high levels of MMH. (Group V toxins). G. fastigiata (Krombh.) Rehm (394B) is similar but looks as though it might be a darker brown formm of southern Helvella gigas; however it also contains Group V toxins. It is occasionally found at low elevation in western North America.

This mushroom is identical to the one depicted in 394B

Macro Monday challenge

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