Driving up Islington Avenue into Kleinberg, they caught my eye: sunflowers bending over a garden fence in the moody light of a September morning.
Perhaps it was the cover of a recently purchased book (The Tangled Garden: The Art of J.E.H McDonald) still fresh on my mind that cajoled me. Though the flowers beckoned, I continued to scout for a subject in town and on the McMichael grounds. The following morning, despite threats of rain, I returned to the roadside garden. Then I returned again. With each visit, the flowers seemed a little more spent, yet ever as beguiling.

Mother Nature has created a spot with many elements high on the riverbank. The brilliant crimson hues of a Virginia creeper intertwine with the forest edge climbing skyward. This sun-lit trail invites many visitors to enjoy this autumn beauty.
Special Note: Two young Klienburg siblings on a family outing showed great interest, as I was En Plein Air painting. It was a joy to invite both of them to apply some greenish colour blocking beneath the branches in the top right-hand corner. Exemplifying the fact, we are never too young or old to appreciate and/or to paint!

These works were painted on a small creek that pours into the Humber River. When I sit in the field to paint , there is another layer of nature that is difficult to communicate with paint. This is a delightfully noisy little stream, shaded by trees full of chirping birds and squirrels. I can hear unknown creatures rustling the grasses and insects buzzing about. There is activity everywhere that can be heard, smelled and felt, if I only sit still and quiet. This is when I feel peace, joy and fully present.

Scott Rubie is a self-taught artist working primarily in acrylic. Most recently he has been focusing on landscapes often with water features and forest scenes. Light and colour are principle elements he looks for to capture the beauty and intimacy of the moment while at the same time trying to be true to the scene.

Scott sees himself in a period of exploration and growth both with the medium as well as style. His work is constantly evolving as he experiments with technique and subject. He is always searching for that emotional equation that ties the viewer to the scene through his painting.

Now retired from teaching, Scott is able to devote more time to his painting. He has a studio in his home outside of Renfrew.

The beautiful Humber River always makes people linger, the colors here are colorful, make people daydream, make people calm, forget the disappointments in life, our human life is still moving forward.

This piece is a reflection of the McMichael as an installation, a pristine gallery embedded in a staggering, urban forest. By design, individuals who come and go are encouraged to interact with the space in the manner most suited to their desires. The wayfinding draws the visitor in, provides guidance but as with the art throughout the space, the route taken and final destination is entirely personal and remarkably unique.

Painting has been a life-long passion of mine, since I got my first set of watercolour pencils as a child. I look for inspiration near my home in rural Pelham, as well as while travelling further afield. Most of my work is acrylic or watercolour, but I love exploring with new mediums. Lately I have paired watercolour with drawing inks, and experimented with mounting pieces on birchwood panels.

Drawing in the open was a calming and soothing experience for me, as I took in the beautiful weather and atmosphere.
Under the burning sun, I drew the main entrance to the museum. I painted this because it was a place where the umbrellas, grass, the pink ground, and trees could be seen in one frame. As the green of the trees crowd in, the blue umbrellas and pale pink roads helps balance it out. I thought that all the colour could create a satisfactory piece.
I’m quite happy with the ending part, I’m glad that both the green and the light pink contrast each other well.

This is my first time doing a live sketch using acrylic, and I am honoured for it to be during this event in this lovely and calm environment with a luxurious vibe.

I have always liked live art outdoors and the Canadian landscapes. I’m an immigrant that is about to enter grade 9 and I am thankful for this opportune event.

Scott Rubie is a self-taught artist working primarily in acrylic. Most recently he has been focusing on landscapes often with water features and forest scenes. Light and colour are principle elements he looks for to capture the beauty and intimacy of the moment while at the same time trying to be true to the scene.

Scott sees himself in a period of exploration and growth both with the medium as well as style. His work is constantly evolving as he experiments with technique and subject. He is always searching for that emotional equation that ties the viewer to the scene through his painting.

Now retired from teaching, Scott is able to devote more time to his painting. He has a studio in his home outside of Renfrew.

In my painting, I decided to paint this tree while I was taking a small hike around the campus, this particular tree caught my attention.

Unlike the many plants around the gallery, this tree spoke to me. The roots stood strong beneath the ground while the long branches were swaying with the wind. I painted this piece to symbolize growth and strength. As time goes on, the newly planted trees would all transform into their final identity.

I like the colors in this scene, and I recently learned perspective and wanted to try it.