Lake Rotoiti

First snow painting of this season! I was up here a few weeks ago, after hearing that there had been an early snow fall, but by the time I got up here, a few days later, it had been rained off.
Never mind. Today made up for it. One of the problems of painting in the mountains is that what you can see depends so much upon the cloud cover, and the direction of any wind.
I have several favourite locations around the foreshore, but this one was the only one that worked for me today. However, it was more than adequate. A very enjoyable day at the lake.



15152. "Lake Rotoiti". Oil on panel. 8 x 12 in. $100

Any plein air painting from this blog may be purchased by emailing me at

rosswhitlock@inspire.net.nz


Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Morning Roll Call.

Somehow appealed to my sense of humour. The wise old owl and his little flock.

I've been too long in the studio with my apples. Off to the mountains tomorrow. I hope to paint my first snow scenes of the year.



15151. "Morning Roll Call" oil on panel. 8x10 in. $100.

Any painting from this blog may be purchased by emailing me at

rosswhitlock@inspire.net.nz


Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Crab apples and silver dish.

Another rainy day so back into,the studio to paint still life. The apples are lasting, so I'll paint them while I can.

Still life is quite a different discipline than landscape, even although I'm painting it directly, using the same palette of colours and the same equipment that I use outdoors.

The compositional challenges are different. Still fun, but different. It makes a very pleasant change, however I'm looking forward to getting outside again soon.



15140. "Crabb Apples and a Silver Dish". Oil on panel. 8x10 in. $100

Any plein air painting may be purchased from this blog by emailing me at

rosswhitlock@inspire.net.nz


Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Crabb apples and sugar.

I have never seen Crabb apples so huge and so ripe as the ones our tree this year. The wax eyes are going nuts over them. There must have been a dozen of them working away in the crab apple tree. I must post a photo of it tomorrow.

In the meantime, the rain returned so it was back into the studio. I'm thinking Crabb apple jelly, so it was inevitable that I picked up the little sugar storage jar from the kitchen on the way out. It makes a nice composition, and reminds me that there is more joy to come from the crab apples yet. Yum!




15148. "Crab Apples and Sugar". Oil on panel. 8x10 in. $100

Any painting from this blog may be purchased by emailing me at

rosswhitlock@inspire.net.nz


Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Nelson Haven.

After days of rain, the weather gods finally relented, and allowed the sun to shine. I am still enjoying painting my apples, but the opportunity to take my plein air kit and a small panel, and go looking for an out door subject was too good to miss.

I found this view along the boulder bank, looking towards Nelson. I included a "painting on location" shot so that those of you who don't live here can realize that yes, Nelson is this beautiful, and no, he is not exaggerating.







15147. "Nelson Haven". Oil on panel. 6x8 in. $75.

Any plein air painting may be purchased by emailing me at

rosswhitlock@inspire.net.nz



Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Apples and crab apples

This is better, but not there yet.



15146. "Apples and Crab Apples" oil on panel. 8x10 in. Unfinished.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Unfinished apple still life

Rotten headache. Double vision. Off to bed. Finish this tomorrow.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad