Author: Doug Rutherford

I have an exhibit coming up in July, tentatively called Against the Horizon.

The name and theme is a bit of a joke. I’m a member of a Facebook group of reference photos for landscape artists. I submitted a few photos the other day, but they were declined. The rationale was that, since they were of moon shadows on the snow and fox tracks under a tree, they had no discernible horizon and therefore, weren’t “landscapes.” I’ve never seen that criteria in any art dictionary.

Anyway, joke aside, here are two potential paintings for the exhibit.

Moonlit trees. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches.
Painting of the day #1817.

Mount Martha Black. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches.
Painting of the day #1818..

I think I may actually be tiring of winter. I like winter, but the last few days have been windy with -30°C wind chills and it hasn’t been pleasant. Therefore, it was obviously time to do a non-winter painting.

This is from a photo I took on a photo run a few years ago. I went out to Dezadeash Lake, took a LOT of pictures, and have probably done more than 80 paintings from that one trip. This is the view from the highway look off by Kathleen Lake.

Mount Worthington. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches.
Painting of the day #1812,

This one did not turn out as I had planned. I went out the other night to take some photos of the full moon. I decided on two to choose from early this morning and in trying to do one or the other, somehow this painting developed itself into something different. I like how it turned out but I’m still a little surprised with the end the result.

Standing in stillness. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches.
Painting of the day #1810.

I finally got down to doing my final version of a poster competition submission. I had a few issues with contrast in the earlier attempt and I didn’t think it had a very balanced look. I sat down today and decided on the what the final would look like, which is important considering the deadline is tomorrow.

Coming home. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches.
Painting of the day #1809.

I seem to be on a northern lights kick, but they were out again last night so you can’t really blame me. This a view from the dock and boat launch looking across to Mount Vanier.

Northern lights, Kusawa Lake. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches.
Painting of the day 1808.

I seem to be on a northern lights trend (my current plan for tomorrow’s painting is in the same vein.) This is from a photo taken a few years ago in the fall looking northward down Marsh Lake from the west end of the Tagish River Bridge.

Marsh Lake. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches.
Painting of the day #1807.

We’ve had a number of northern lights tours here lately, and I have sold out of northern lights paintings at one gallery. So, I’d best get off my backside and paint a few more. This is a view of Lake Laberge from near the mouth of Deep Creek.

Lake Laberge. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches.
Painting of the day #1806.

I had a busy day yesterday, between teaching a workshop and then working an exhibit opening at Yukon Artists @ Work gallery. We had a lot of fun at the workshop and, since I was asked to do another, I’m assuming it was a success. I do need a tripod so I can project what I’m working on, though, because painting a picture held in your left hand facing out while painting with the other one is a little confusing.

Here’s today’s painting. It’s a view of Mount Lorne from the Alaska Highway near Kettley’s Canyon.

Mount Lorne. Watercolour on paper, 8×10 inches.
Painting of the day #1805.

We had our workshop this afternoon. It was a lot of fun and we painted a sunset over Little Peak at Fox Lake.

Sunset over Fox Lake. Watercolour on paper, 8×10 inches.
Painting of the day #1804.

I was thoroughly impressed the first time we went up to the signpost on Keno Hill (N63° 56′ W135° 12′). The view is spectacular, and there is more mining road and scenery to find up there since the signpost is not the end of the road. This is an abandoned cabin on the mountain that has always fascinated me.

It’s been a few years since I was up there, but I am looking forward to getting up again next summer.

Abandoned cabin, Keno Hill. Watercolour on paper, 8×10 inches.
Painting of the day #1803.