Author: Doug Rutherford

I couldn’t turn down this one when I saw it in my Landscape Reference Photos for artists group. It does, however, make me think longingly of my halibut rod and the fact I haven’t gone halibut fishing in some time.

I’ve seen this site many times, usually anchored about 200 m to the left of this painting with a line over the side.

Eldred Rock Light, Lynn Canal, Alaska. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches.
Painting of the day #1781.

I often joke about some of the exotic locations I paint from. This is from my front step.

Porter Creek evening. Watercolour on paper. 8×10 inches.

I’m doing a workshop for the ElderActive Recreation Association in Whitehorse on February 7th. The theme is mountain sunsets.

I decided to spend yesterday and today coming up with a potential painting to do with the participants, considering there will be a wide variety of experience levels working with watercolour. I have two choices and will finally decide some time in the next week.

Here’s the choices.

Sunset, Little Peak. Watercolour on paper, 8×10 inches.
Painting of the day #1778.

Sunset in the Auriol Range. Watercolour on paper, 8×10 inches.
Painting of the day #1778.

I spent three days this week at Yukon Artists @ Work gallery in Whitehorse, working as the Artist in the Window. I used this time to do a few paintings.

Cloudy night, Dezadeash Lake. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches. Available at Yukon Artists @ Work gallery.

Mountain sunrise. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches.

Snowy morning. Watercolour on paper, 8×10 inches.

I started this one at the gallery yesterday, but finished it at home this morning.

The outlet, Miles Canyon. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches.

We’ve come to the end of another year and it’s time to look back. I’ve had a rather busy painting year.

For the first time, I have done at least one painting every day in 2024. I had two solo exhibits and participated in five group shows. In total, I did 389 paintings last year.

With preparing for exhibits, I did have to paint a lot. I had a total of 60 pieces in the shows. Quite a few were sold.

I tried to pick my favourite 10 paintings of the year. It’s not easy. So, here they are in no particular order.

Evening walk. Watercolour on paper, 8×10 inches.

The last sunrise of 2023, Yukon River. Watercolour on paper, 11×15 inches. Private collection.

Gull. Watercolour on paper, 5×7 inches.

Starry night, Kathleen Lake. Watercolour on paper, 11×15 inches. Private collection.

Night. Watercolour on paper, 11×15 inches. Private collection.

Sunset, Porter Creek. Watercolour on paper, 11×15 inches. Private collection.

Sunset island. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches.

Sunset. Watercolour on paper, 12×12 inches. Private collection.

Winter wonderland. Watercolour on paper, 8×10 inches.

Windy Arm, Tagish Lake. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches.

Winter forest. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches. Private collection.

Happy New Year, everyone!

In the almost five years of trying to do a painting a day, I have never managed to get time to paint on Christmas Day. Usually, I’m getting busy for Christmas stuff, and since I paint on the kitchen table, I usually have to make room for more common kitchen table usage.

But, work requirements led to us improvising and eating Christmas dinner at my daughter and son-in-law’s on Christmas Eve. So, I painted Christmas morning while my wife slept, and during the painting, it occurred to me that the last day I didn’t do a painting was last Christmas Day.

Here’s my Christmas Day painting. and a few others done recently.

Atlin Lake. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 in.

Here’s a few more recent paintings.

Winter Field. Watercolour on paper, 8×10 in.

Winter aspens. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 in.

At the return of the light. Watercolour paper, 8×10 in.
Done for the first morning after solstice.

A recent painting has given me an important lesson on people’s perspectives on art. Lots of times, I’ve posted a painting photo and had people tell me, “It’s your best one ever.” Usually, this happens half an hour after I’ve shredded it and put it in the recycling bin.

I posted this one that I did the other day, and it is by far, gained the most likes on social media of any painting I’ve ever done.

Day’s end, McIntyre Creek. Watercolour on paper, 8×10 in.

I like this one. And, other people like it. For example, as of now, it has 441 likes on BlueSky.

However, a photo of Furball, one of our cats, from the day before has 700…

We’ve been knee deep (literally) in snow for about a month now, and I’ve be leaning into painting winter scenes. I’ve always loved winter, with wonderful light, the contrast of snow, and snow-covered mountains. So, here are a few winter scenes.

Morning poplars. Watercolour on paper, 8×10 inches.

Moon over Mount Cairnes. Watercolour on paper, 8×10 inches.

Evening walk. Watercolour on paper, 8×10 inches.

Night forest. Watercolour on paper, 8×10 inches.

Dezadeash Lake, Yukon, is a wonderful spot. Be prepared to take a lot of photos on the way from town. I did this one of a fall morning for a challenge for one of the Facebook painting groups I belong to, aptly named the Mauvember challenge. This one is currently on its way to a new home in Newfoundland.

Dezadeash Lake.
Watercolour on paper, 8×10 inches.

I think Mt. Cairnes (60°52′06″N 138°16′37″W) is one of my favourite mountains. It has character, and to be honest, I’ve pulled a few greyling dinners out of Jarvis Creek while looking at it. Painting of the day #1710.

Full moon over Mt. Cairnes, watercolour on paper, 8×10 in.