Doug Rutherford

I suppose you could add this one to my list of “paintings from exotic locations.” This is a sunrise view of Grey Mountain looking above the ridge from the Walmart parking lot.

Sunrise, Grey Mountain. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches.
Painting of the day #1798.

Next week, I’m teaching a workshop at the ElderActive Recreation Association on painting mountain sunsets in watercolour. I poked at a few possibilities for the project, and decided on a final topic. I needed to keep it reasonably simple, since we’ll have a range of experience among the participants and the workshop is only two hours long.

I did have an earlier plan in mind, but I figured we should go a little more dramatic than my original thought, although we’re still painting the same mountain. Now, all I left to do to prepare is make my drawing templates for the group.

Fox Lake. Watercolour on paper, 8×10 inches.
Painting of the day #1797.

Mount Martha Black is one of my favourite mountains (yes, you can have a favourite). I’ve painted this face several times and, since I may have a mountain themed exhibit in the summer, I figured I’d do this face again. I love this exposed face and how the trees on the roadside frame it.

Mount Martha Black, SE face. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches.
Painting of the day #1796.

A night drive in winter is always a great trip. There’s lots of wonderful scenery, although you do have to pay attention for wildlife on the roads in the evening. The Taklini salt flats are a pretty spot.

Night on the Takhini salt flats. Watercolour on paper, 8×10 inches.
Painting of the day #1795.

Here’s a sunset over Mount Sumanik, Whitehorse, Yukon.

Sunset, Mount Sumanik. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches.
Painting of the day #1794.

We had an amazing sunset the other evening. I took a lot of photos and, when trying to decide what to paint this morning, chose this particular view. This, by the way, is another of my exotic location paintings… from my front step.

Sunset. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches,
Painting of the day #1794.

The morning sun was coming through my studio window this morning when I was trying to decide what to paint today. Leafing through photos, the sun inspired me to do a morning scene. This is from the beach near Congden Creek, on Kluane Lake.

Morning in the Ruby Range. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches.
Painting of the day #1793.

I should start with the fact that I’m not happy with this one, but it is just a preliminary sketch. I’m working on a submission for a poster competition. There is an issue with contrast and my swan needs to be larger, but I do think I have a good start.

Coming home. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches.
Painting of the day #1792.

I looked back through my photos from this fall when deciding what to paint this morning. This is the one I came up with.

Poplars. Watercolour on paper, 11×14 inches.
Painting of the day #1791.

This was another possibility for my workshop in Tagish in March. I think this one may be a bit much for participants will minimal experience. I also did it with the idea in mind of doing a larger version in the near future. I do want to get into doing larger works and this might make a nice big painting.

This is from a photo taken several years ago from the base of the Tagish fire tower.

Sunrise, Little Atlin Lake. Watercolour on paper, 8×10 inches.
Painting of the day #1790.