Fall Photo Abstraction (Part 4)
Here is another set of interesting photos abstractions from my stroll along the colorful paths in Edmonton’s river valley.
Fall Photo Abstractions (Part 3)
Here are some more autumn abstract photos, of paths and trees in Edmonton’s river valley, that hint at being paintings:
All images Copyright Randall Talbot (2021)
Best of 2017 (Part 2)
In this post I continue (from Part 1), my look at my favorite photos from 2017.
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Spring Reflections
Technically it is late-winter, not quite spring yet, but the melting has begun, puddles formed and reflections are making for some interesting images:
Chains
Puddle and Path
Storyland Sky
Photo Abstractions (July 2015)
I’ve been playing around with the Tiny Planets app on my smartphone again and have a few intriguing abstract images to share:
Which came from:
And this:
which started from this photo:
And this image which came from applying a second transformation to the first image in this post:
jAZZ pRIME
These are a few of my favorite photos from the 2015 Edmonton International Jazz Festival:
Serious Bass
Jazz Spirit
Percussive
Dueling Brass
Sweet Tone
More photos from the jazz performances can be seen on my YEGmonton blog:
Leaves on a May Morning
This picturesque morning in Edmonton was the day after a heavy spring snow fall (with much of it still on the ground). The day started off foggy but the sun soon broke through making for some good images.
Orange Celebration
Pine in the Fog
Dew
Shining Through
Trees on My Street
Trees, Snow and Ice – Mid-February Black and White
This past week (middle of February 2012) I have been drawn back to black and white nature photos as I wandered the ravines and river valley in Edmonton. Here are five of my favorite images:
Tall and Bare
Fallen Logs Across the Creek
Black and White Trunks
Shadows Across Frozen Creek
Against the Sun
Do you have a favorite amongst these image? If so, which one and why?
A Series Experience – Color in the Landscape (part 4)
On Day 4 of our Series “Colour in the Landscape” course we again started our day by meeting in the classroom for a critique. By mid-morning we were off to a park within the City of Red Deer to do our painting (or in my case, again capturing photos for later studio painting). Many in the class were still anxiously looking forward to painting the iconic, bright yellow canola fields. From our base at Red Deer’s RiverBend Park we were able to find canola fields and much more.
A Bend in the Red Deer River (at RiverBend Park)
At the name of the park would suggest this area is by a river, enclosed by a large loop in the river. The area has a golf course, a naturalized water park, lots of wooded areas and abundant vista including the river and surrounding farmlands. There was so much of interest I didn’t know where to start so I walked around with my camera (again). I got lots of ideas and references for paintings but never did pull out my paints or sketch book in my few hours there.
Water Park in Red Deer's Discovery Canyon at RiverBend Park
Natural Beauty on the banks of the Red Deer River
After a few hours wandering around down in the valley I headed back up to the plain on my way back to the studio at Red Deer College. There I found some great vistas of rolling prairie with bright yellow canola fields. A couple of our class members were set up next to the road paintings these awesomely colorful scenes.
Canola Fields and Rolling Prairie
Back at the studio my mid-afternoon, I continued work for a couple of hours on the canvases that I’d started earlier.
That evening featured a much-looked-forward-to event that happens every Thursday evening during the Series program – the show of student works from the week. All of the classes (something like 10 of them) have a display of what has been accomplished in just 4 days. It is awesome!
The Thursday Evening Series Show
Some of the week's work from the "Colour in the Landscape" class
After the evening’s events it was back to the studio for another hour or two for me. Not too many people took advantage of the evening availability of the studio but as I had spent so much of my daytime with the camera I was very grateful to have the opportunity.
Field's Edge and Afternoon Sky (Randall Talbot)
A Series Experience – Color in the Landscape (part 2)
This is my account of Day 2 (Tuesday July 12) of the Colour in the Landscape course offered by Red Deer College as part of their 2011 Series program.
My Studio Setup
I arrived early to the classroom on this day and immediately went to the room next door where we were set up with studio easels. My plan was to work in the studio from my field sketches – painting in acrylics. The first step was to lay out my acrylics, palette and  other paintng supplies. I didn’t have time to start painting that morning but I was ready to get down to work later in the day
Again we started the day with a quick critique of the previous day’s paintings (but I hadn’t gotten further than a few pen and marker sketches). We then had a slide presentation by instructor from instructor Dave More and a few words about the types of contrast. By tenish we got the maps for the daytrip and headed out. This day we went to historic Markerville, a 25 minute drive southwest of Red Deer.
Sign Outside the Creamery Museum
Markerville [map] is a tiny hamlet that historically was the site of a significant settlement for Icelandic settlers. It also featured a regional creamery and was the regional supply center. Today it is a quaint, little community , with a creamery museum and cafe, set on a small river with picturesque surrounding fields and landscapes. Of course we were there for the landscapes (and ice cream).
Upon arrival, our group soon spread out, some choosing village buildings or gardens to paint, others picking scenes with the river, fields or barns. I chose to spend the first hour or so just walking around with my camera, scouting out scenes to sketch later and capturing some reference photos.
Markerville's old one-lane, wood-surfaced bridge
Markerville Creamery Museum (and cafe)
A popular painting subject at Markerville
Painting in a field
Painting in-town (Markerville)
Painting at the edge of town
My colored Conte set
After having a huge and delicious double ice cream cone, I settled in on a bench, offering me a view of the river and fields to the southeast of Markerville.
One of my goals for the days was to try out different sketching media. I first dug out my watercolor sticks and after drawing in the scene in ink, I rubbed in the watercolor stick both dry and set. I also used a watercolor brush to blend in the colors and to apply some details. The result wasn’t great but I was satisfied to give it a try. Next, I changed my viewpoint a bit and dug out my colored Conte sticks. Again I started with an ink drawing but then used the Conte for color and value. Once the basic colors were laid-in I used water and brush for blending.
- Markerville Sketch 2
After these sketches I drove back to the College. I intended to get down to painting in the studio that evening but by the time I got there I found the door locked. Fortunately though that freed me up to take-in a professional development seminar put on by Sharon Moore-Foster of the VAAA ( and who was also a figurative sculpting instructor that week).
See Part 1Â in my blog for the story of the first day and for links to related information.
Randall Talbot - Artist 