Past Events

Oct 9 – Bala Falls Road

_{Our season ender was met with cooler temperatures but warm conversation over tea and coffee as we waited out the rain for the first hour at the nearby Hook & Ladder restaurant. The Bala Bay, the Kee to Bala, the Bala Falls and the Bala Stone Church were subjects in our paintings. That’s a wrap until we meet again in 2025. “Be Art, Love Art”}

Oct 2 – Bala-Hy Beach, Long Lake in Bala

_{The lily pads and water views at this week’s location at the Bala-Hy Motel on Long Lake would have made French impressionist Claude Monet smile. A very pleasant morning with a group of 10 artists. A very dynamic sky with clouds and wavering light on the water encouraged our spontaneity.  Many thanks to the Bala-Hy for allowing access to our group …by car or canoe.}

Sept 26, 2024 – Johnston’s Cranberry Farm & Winery

_{Painterly ways and warm enough for T-shirts on this Thursday as our plein air group spread out around the marshes and ponds at the Muskoka Lakes Cranberry Farm & Winery. The annual cranberry harvest is underway. As you might describe a good cranberry wine, you can also describe a good painting. A nice progression of bold strokes and intensity across the palette. Most of the cranberries harvested here end up in wine. Nice to have a few young emerging artists too!}

Sept 18, 2024 – Torrance Barrens

_{Fourteen artists turned out for plein air as the weather dished up a perfect sunny low humidity day. Oil, pastel, water colour and acrylic were used to capture what the ecological preserve presented to us and imagination filled in the rest.}

Sept 11, 2024 – Muskoka Wetland Marsh

_{Although we didn’t hear the singing coyotes who live here, we had a ring side seat to a majestic magical marsh. Nine Bala Plein Air artists witnessed the morning sun moving across the view, and altering the colours. The yellows popped and the reds deepened. Many stayed longer as the light gave us more options, more paintings. Thank-you to Warren for making this happen.}

Sept 4, 2024 – Hardy Lake Provincial Park

_{Birds were chirping, the air was sweet, and lake water like glass. We hiked 500 metres along the trail to the edge of Hardy Lake to paint the rocky reflective shoreline in oil, watercolour and acrylic. A classic plein air day to kick off September. A busy trail for hikers.}

Sept 3, 2024 – Nocturne Bala

_{And now for something completely different…. an evening plein air in Bala across street from the Ice Dream shop and Bala Takeaway Pizza. Nocturne plein air proved to be fun and a really a good exercise by slowly eliminating light from the scene. As it got dark our headlamps came in handy to see our paint, but they did prompt some funny looks by cars driving by.}

August 29, 2024 – Huckleberry Point

^{We made the climb on Thursday morning as a fall back for Wednesday and treated to a magnificent blue sky, pink granite a billion years old beneath our feet and many hikers with a great variety of dogs stopping by at Huckleberry Point. Yes it was a steep climb but worth it when we found the top. A few of us got lost! Thanks also to those who made the best of things and went for coffee and conversation at York & Mason in Port Carling while it poured outside on Wednesday_.}

August 21, 2024 – Muskoka Beer Spa, Torrance

_{Thank-you Muskoka Beer Spa for having us paint in and around the fountains, flowers and relaxing setting. El Gringos Cantina a great spot for hand-made tacos followed for some after mixing with paint.}

August 14, 2024 – Sunset Demo Bala Falls

_{To the delight of Bala Plein Air artists a special evening presentation took place before the sun set on the most photographed view in Muskoka, the Moon River in Bala. Astra, a celebrated and Award winning plein air artist brought 10 examples of her work and work of other artists demonstrating how light and colour can be used to great effect in painting. Following her talk, artists perched on the Bala Falls rocks and got to work to catch the sunset for 8:25 PM. Thank-you Astra and all who attended, took pictures and thank-you to the Township of Muskoka Lakes.}

August 14, 2024 – Port Sandfield (AM)

_{Plein air between the lakes, Rosseau and Lake Joseph in and around the man-made canal. Many donuts were consumed at this session.}

August 7, 2024 – Windermere Village

_{Windermere Village didn’t disappoint with the myriad choice of views, perfect summer weather and a big group of plein air artists. Many thanks to Muskoka Chautauqua Arts Festival for inviting our group to be part of the week long festival.}

July 31, 2024 – Lake Medora

_{Many thanks to artist Maja who opened up the pathways in her beautiful pristine forest on Lake Medora to be painted by artists today. Torrential rain overnight led to high humidity affecting the water colour artists, although welcomed by acrylic painters. But fortunately no rain and the calm and serenity here was awesome.}

July 24, 2024 – RMS Segwun Steamship

_{Despite tricky weather, artists jumped on board this historic vessel, the RMS Segwun at the Wharf in Gravenhurst. Instead of delivering the Royal Mail, we delivered great art in oil, pastel, water colour, acrylic, and gouache protected from the brief downpour on her upper decks. Built in 1888, this Muskoka Steamship is undergoing restoration and refurbishment so that she can sail the Muskoka Lakes again soon. Thank-you to Captain Dave (pictured in middle above), First-Mate Bertrand, Fire Man Gabriel and Shipwright Peter.}

July 17, 2024 – Bush’s Watersports Park

_{Splish, splash, paint. As water skiers zipped by and kids bounced in Lake Barrett, a dozen plein air artists dazzled in oil, pastel, water colour and acyrlic at this location in Bala. Perfect July weather. Thank-you Bush’s for the Muskoka chairs and hosting our group!}

July 11, 2024 – Port Carling, Museum of Muskoka Lakes

_{A happy bunch of plein air artists met the sunshine with smiles on a Thursday morning after the rain cancelled our regular Wednesday outing. Perfect temperature and gentle summer breeze were on tap on the James Bartleman Island Park where the Museum of Muskoka Lakes is situated. Thank-you Curator Sarah and her team for having us there. The Museum is celebrating 60 years at this location and is worth a peak inside.}

July 3, 2024 – Bala Town Docks

_{A great kick off to our fourth summer of Plein Air in Muskoka. Nice to see eleven artists out on this day. A few familiar faces and new ones too. The rain held off until the afternoon, so we were treated to some great blue sky, shape changing clouds and docking boats of all shapes and sizes as cottagers made their morning bakery run. Many thanks to the Township of Muskoka Lakes and the Community Engagement grant for supporting us again this year in our promotional efforts.}

2023 Season

Oct 4 – Bala Generating Station & Falls

_{Record setting 27C sunshine for plein air in October helped everyone up their game at the season ender. Moon River rocks and trees painted from the platform at the Bala Generating Station, Margaret Burgess Park, and Portage landing while others wandered over to Purk’s Place to fill their canvasses with fall colour.}

September 27 – Cranberry Marsh

_{What a gorgeous day at Muskoka Lakes Cranberry Farm & Winery! All 10 of us spread out across 27 acres to capture fall colours adorning the edges 73 year old cranberry bog. After taking our group photo, artists from our group were given a lovely wagon ride piloted by Murray Johnston himself. We learned even more about where we painted. With only 27 days of harvesting, they anticipate 400,000 lbs of cranberries this year from the good weather. Q. Which animal or bird species eat cranberries? A. None, they are too tart for them, so more for us!}

September 20 – Huckleberry Rock

_{Bright and sunny on the last day of summer as we hiked up to Huckleberry Rock Lookout point. The climb was much easier with the help of the Muskoka Lakes Fire Department who transported our gear in their side by side UTVs. Master pastellist Margaret Ferraro was our guest artist this day and energized our day with a talk at the top on retracing the Group of Seven, tips on composition and what to pack for en plein air. Her tip about taking only the essentials out to plein air to get to the art process quicker hit home with the hike on this day.}

September 13 – Torrance Barrens

_{Torrance Barrens did not disappoint with its undisturbed bedrock interspersed with wetlands, treed uplands and a huge variety of birds and wildlife. The clouds danced around with the sun and every once in a while douced us with a mini rain shower. The group of 9 carried on before heading to El Gringo’s Cantina at the Beer Spa nearby for lunch. A great way to punctuate our Wednesday morning plein air session in the fall with tacos and salsa!}

September 6 – Windermere House

_{A very hot day 31C with a very warm welcome by the staff and guests staying at the Windermere House on Lake Rosseau. A great turnout of artists and brushes dipped in water colour, acrylic and oil paint were flying before we enjoyed a very tasty lunch at the Windermere Pub & Patio.}

August 30 – Bala Buildings

_{Despite the temperature dropping as we painted we found a few hours rain-free to paint the iconic buildings in Bala – The Balacade, Kee to Bala the Bala Pub. Slow drying paint and layering up were order of the day.}

Aug 23 – Lake Medora Cranberry Rd, Bala

_{Artists on full oxygen overload flew into Maja’s forest like a flock of birds. Never mind “forest bathing” try painting en plein air in forest of moss, brightly coloured mushrooms, pink granite and ancient trees that were skipped over by the forest fire that ripped through Muskoka in 1834 . Thank- you Maja! The smiles say it all.}

August 16 – Pine Ridge Road Point, Bala

_{Another spectacular day near the water (Moon River) in Muskoka with a plethora of views and subjects to choose. Plein air tip learned today: get the shadows and light quickly sketched in before they disappear when the sun moves over head to counter one of the challenges painting in the morning to noon. Thank-you Heather for hosting us!}

August 9 – 100 Year old Barn Moon River

Aug 2, 2023 – Muskoka Steamships in Gravenhurst

^{With smoke and steam billowing out of the Segwun and Wenonah II, artists from our group wasted no time painting the two historic Muskoka ships in watercolour, pastel, ink and acrylic to the encouragement of many people walking by before they set sail. The Wenonah II left the wharf at noon followed by the Segwun a bit later for its afternoon test run with Captain Dave at the helm. Before leaving, Captain Dave stopped by to take a look at the plein air paintings and shared some history of the 100 year old ship with everyone.}

July 26, 2023 Warren’s Marsh

_{The best place to be on a hot simmering day over 32C is beside the Marsh in Muskoka. Yes the deer came out to see what we were up to at the beginning but decided she did not want to be on anyone’s canvas after all. Many thanks to Warren and friends for inviting the Bala Plein Air group to his property!}

July 19, 2023 Bala Stone Church

_{Built in 1926 using Muskoka granite, the Burgess Presbyterian Church as it used to be known was painted from all sides by artists on this day. Watercolour, acrylic and oil were mediums used at this plein air session. The sun shadows changed quite a bit from our start at 9:00 till we finished at noon. Really great to see some new artists joining from nearby in Muskoka as well as Barrie and Hamilton. Many thanks to Tiffany and Ken Bol for access to the Bala Stone Church property.}

2022 Season

October 5, 2022 Torrance Barrens

_{Mother nature gave us a beautiful send off for our last plein air of the 2022 season. The day was reminiscent of summer weather with the added fall explosion of colours. A real treat driving here with leaves at 100% colour glory on route.}

September 28, 2022 Muskoka Lakes Cranberry Farm & Winery

September 21, 2022 – Purk’s Place, Bala

September 14, 2022 – Sherwood Inn

_{A cool morning, with fall in the air. Painting around the Resort was followed by a nice lunch together at the Sherwood Inn. Fun to chat about art and check out the art on the walls by local artists and meet the chef at the Inn. Small world – we discovered one of our group’s artists was a former Sherwood Inn Chef.}

September 7, 2022- Muskoka Steamships, Gravenhurst Wharf

_{The Muskoka Steamships first launched in 1866. They carried the Royal mail, and many passengers to Muskoka resorts. Today they provided inspiration at the dock for artists from the Bala Plein Air Group. Nice work everyone!!}

Aug 24, 2022 – Wahta Mohawk Territory

Aug 17, 2022 – Moon River Point Ridge Road

_{Temperature was just right. No wind, no bugs, and a dozen artists together coming in from Orillia – Severn Falls – Huntsville and nearby to paint en plein air. With a point of land there are so many directions to look. Moon River near Jaspen Park in Bala was our destination at a private cottage of one of our group members. Thank-you Heather!}

August 10 –Bush’s Watersports Park, Bala

August 3, 2022 – Three Birds Flower Farm

_{Sister duo Jackie and Leslie invited the Bala Plein Air group to their farm. The sky opened up and rained heavily at times, but we managed to find cover under porches, umbrellas and a shed roof for the sake of our art. Three Birds Flower Farm on Falkenburg Road between Port Carling and Bracebridge grows large volume of flowers for events in Muskoka.}

July 27, 2022 – Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery – Home of Johnston Cranberries

July 20, 2022 – Roselawn Inn, Bala

July 13, 2022 – Torrance Bay – Sunset Beach

July 6, 2022 – Muskoka Lakes Museum, Port Carling