I’ve recently finished these two landscape paintings. I always like to have at least a couple paintings on the go. This allows me to tackle the task I’m “ready for” when I go to the studio. Some days, I might not be up to finishing fine, finicky details so I start blocking in a new painting. Other days, I’m “in the weeds” on one so I’ll move over to another.

It’s helpful to work on more than one when they have the same palette. This saves set-up and clean-up between painting. I found it interesting I finished these two landscape paintings about the same time but they have totally different palettes!

Swan Sunset is based on a source photo my friend Nancy Drews generously allowed me to use. It’s not an image I could easily get anymore, since I’m not in the city. But, I remember scenes like this and love the serenity of the swan swimming nearby while the city skyline is draped in a beautiful sunset. This swan is not an indigenous species. It’s a Mute Swan, which were introduced to North America. The Trumpeter and Tundra Swans are native to North America and both have a black bill. You can learn more about these birds on Toronto wildlife.

I took the source photo for Asters and Goldenrod driving back one day after dropping off a purchased painting to the new owner. After reading Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer‘s fabulous book Braiding Sweetgrass, I kept looking to find these flowers growing together. It seemed like the goldenrod had all faded before the asters around here flowered. Then, I found this beautiful grouping in front of an old rail fence. The autumn colours of the trees behind was a bonus!

P.S. That link for Braiding Sweetgrass does not go to the giant corporation owned by an evil multi-billionaire. It goes to Milkweed Editions, an independent publisher of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry where you can buy the book. Or better yet, get it at your local book store.