COLOURS on the WALL
Featuring the artwork of Gordon R. Wilson
Hi, and welcome to my website. There are 7 volumes of watercolour, gouache, and acrylic paintings to explore.
River Bend.jpg
20" x 16"
Acrylic on Canvas
Again, on the Englishman River, I attempted to tackle two rather tricky subjects- rocky terrain and flowing water. By amplifying the colours of the rocks I was able to give them a degree of separation while not overpowering the delicate transparency of the river.
Acrylic on Canvas
Again, on the Englishman River, I attempted to tackle two rather tricky subjects- rocky terrain and flowing water. By amplifying the colours of the rocks I was able to give them a degree of separation while not overpowering the delicate transparency of the river.
Cape Breton Memories.jpg
24" x 18"
Acrylic on Canvas
Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, must be experienced to be believed, This painting is an impression of a beach view capturing the evergreens, red-toned rock formations and the breaking waves on the sandy beach. Painting this was somewhat of an unplanned development as I had little to go on other than a few photos. I am pleaded the way the orange and mauve colours on the beach compliment the greens in the treeline and water.
Acrylic on Canvas
Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, must be experienced to be believed, This painting is an impression of a beach view capturing the evergreens, red-toned rock formations and the breaking waves on the sandy beach. Painting this was somewhat of an unplanned development as I had little to go on other than a few photos. I am pleaded the way the orange and mauve colours on the beach compliment the greens in the treeline and water.
Maple Lake.jpg
30" x 24"
Acrylic on Canvas
Maple Lake is hiiden away behind a gravel pit near Courtenay, BC. I must admit that I was a tad unsure of how I would handle the foreground shrubs and branch-laden ground. Purples and blue-green colours dominate the shadowy foreground and the loose treatment of the background creates the sense of depth. You have to put your mind on "auto-pilot" when painting like this and let your eyes do the thinking for you as you proceed.
Acrylic on Canvas
Maple Lake is hiiden away behind a gravel pit near Courtenay, BC. I must admit that I was a tad unsure of how I would handle the foreground shrubs and branch-laden ground. Purples and blue-green colours dominate the shadowy foreground and the loose treatment of the background creates the sense of depth. You have to put your mind on "auto-pilot" when painting like this and let your eyes do the thinking for you as you proceed.
The Ancestor
30" x 24"
Acrylic on Canvas
Although the Qualicum Beach area holds many forested areas, in the early 20th century the lumber industry claimed many of these ancient redwoods. By keeping the surrounding elements rathe vague, I was able to concentrate on the details to this tree stump. These ancient relics bear evidence of the axes and saws that felled them and time has given each one a unique look and colour.
Acrylic on Canvas
Although the Qualicum Beach area holds many forested areas, in the early 20th century the lumber industry claimed many of these ancient redwoods. By keeping the surrounding elements rathe vague, I was able to concentrate on the details to this tree stump. These ancient relics bear evidence of the axes and saws that felled them and time has given each one a unique look and colour.
Ravensong Morning.jpg
24" x 18"
Acrylic on Canvas
Ravensong is the name given to another wooded area in Qualicum Beach. It was while walking our dog "Bella" that I came across this scene of morning sunlight illuminating a section of the trail. I have used yellows and oranges to depict sunlt areas while purples and blue tones define the shadowy foreground.
I remember this walk as one where I slipped on hidden ice beneath the snow and landed hard on my keester! My back has never been the same since.
Acrylic on Canvas
Ravensong is the name given to another wooded area in Qualicum Beach. It was while walking our dog "Bella" that I came across this scene of morning sunlight illuminating a section of the trail. I have used yellows and oranges to depict sunlt areas while purples and blue tones define the shadowy foreground.
I remember this walk as one where I slipped on hidden ice beneath the snow and landed hard on my keester! My back has never been the same since.
Winding River.jpg
20" x 18"
Acrylic on Canvas
Another river view with rocks and trees featuring an interplay of darks and lights. The majority of colours are bright giving the illusion of sunlight. These fresh foreground tones and the direction of the river guide the viewer's eye through the composition.
Acrylic on Canvas
Another river view with rocks and trees featuring an interplay of darks and lights. The majority of colours are bright giving the illusion of sunlight. These fresh foreground tones and the direction of the river guide the viewer's eye through the composition.
River and Rock.jpg
24" x 18"
Acrylic on Canvas
Here, we are looking in the other direction from the previous painting. I chose to use short stabs of colour to replicate those reflected on the surface of the water. The reds in the rock face on the left side of the painting draw the eye towards the background and the use of bright hues help to give the sense of summer sunlight.
Acrylic on Canvas
Here, we are looking in the other direction from the previous painting. I chose to use short stabs of colour to replicate those reflected on the surface of the water. The reds in the rock face on the left side of the painting draw the eye towards the background and the use of bright hues help to give the sense of summer sunlight.
Inside Looking Out.jpg
24" x 18"
Acrylic on Canvas
It was rather hard to find suitable painting subject matter in Southern Ontario. There was a small wooded area in our neighbourhood of Burlington, Ontario that was my inspiration for this painting. Here we are looking out through the trees towards a park in the background. The shaowed foreground serves as a frame for the bright section in the background.
Acrylic on Canvas
It was rather hard to find suitable painting subject matter in Southern Ontario. There was a small wooded area in our neighbourhood of Burlington, Ontario that was my inspiration for this painting. Here we are looking out through the trees towards a park in the background. The shaowed foreground serves as a frame for the bright section in the background.
Cooling Off_.jpg
18" x 24"
Acrylic on Canvas
While on vacation in Algonquin Park (Ontario) one hot summer day many years ago, a friend and I stopped to cool off near a fast-running stream. The trick with this work was separating the figure from the surroundings and keep the brushwork the same throughout. The cast shadow on the subject helps lend shape to the body and not over-working the anatomy keeps it united with the background.
I also have painted this same subject in watercolour
Acrylic on Canvas
While on vacation in Algonquin Park (Ontario) one hot summer day many years ago, a friend and I stopped to cool off near a fast-running stream. The trick with this work was separating the figure from the surroundings and keep the brushwork the same throughout. The cast shadow on the subject helps lend shape to the body and not over-working the anatomy keeps it united with the background.
I also have painted this same subject in watercolour
Beached.jpg
30" x 24"
Acrylic on Canvas
I love this painting! The old boat was found in the parking lot of the French Creek Marina. The age and condition of the relic with it's many coats of old paint really gave it alot of character. Seeing as how a parking lot would not be a fitting background, I painted in a shoreline from sketches from a trip to Nova Scotia a few years ago.
Acrylic on Canvas
I love this painting! The old boat was found in the parking lot of the French Creek Marina. The age and condition of the relic with it's many coats of old paint really gave it alot of character. Seeing as how a parking lot would not be a fitting background, I painted in a shoreline from sketches from a trip to Nova Scotia a few years ago.
Prairie Gentlemen.jpg
18" x 14", gouache on paper
unframed
I always love a chance to do a big sky painting and this prairie scene fit the bill. The central figures were from an old slide from the 1960's that I'd come across.
unframed
I always love a chance to do a big sky painting and this prairie scene fit the bill. The central figures were from an old slide from the 1960's that I'd come across.
Approaching Storm.jpg
24" x 18"
Acrylic on Canvas
Rathbun Lake in the Kawartha Region of Ontario was the subject of many of my paintings. To get there one had to paddle through Anstruther Lake and lug all the gear and canoe up a hill and relaunch in Rathbun Lake. One had to be very careful to avoid blind folks in speedboats and be wary of the weather which could change at any moment.
This painting gives the viewer an idea of the sinking feeling a canoeist would get seeing storm clouds moving in. The greens and yellows in this painting and the movement of the trees give the sense of rain and wind.
Acrylic on Canvas
Rathbun Lake in the Kawartha Region of Ontario was the subject of many of my paintings. To get there one had to paddle through Anstruther Lake and lug all the gear and canoe up a hill and relaunch in Rathbun Lake. One had to be very careful to avoid blind folks in speedboats and be wary of the weather which could change at any moment.
This painting gives the viewer an idea of the sinking feeling a canoeist would get seeing storm clouds moving in. The greens and yellows in this painting and the movement of the trees give the sense of rain and wind.
The Secret2.jpg
16" x 20", Acrylic on canvas
The Campers 2.jpg
16" x 20", Acrylic on canvas
"Paris, Early Morning".jpg
18" x 14", Gouache on paper.
This was the view from my window at the Hotel Luxembourg in Paris, some years ago. The rooftops were straight out of another century.
This was the view from my window at the Hotel Luxembourg in Paris, some years ago. The rooftops were straight out of another century.
Maritime Morning.jpg
9.5" x 7", gouache on paper, unframed.
The Elora Gorge .jpg
10" x 8", gouache on paper, unframed.
October.jpg
10" x 7", gouache on paper, unframed.