Wilson Street Studio
277 Sunset Blvd Peterborough, ON, Canada

I've been asked why I choose this painting as my first giveaway. Simple, it's my favourite painting. This was done on one of the art retreats I lead each year in Killarney. I have painted this tree and rocks more than a dozen times. I've tried to show its many moods. This attempt spoke to me about the enduring nature of the Ontario Northland. My heart lifts each time I look at it. I wanted to share this feeling with as wide an audience as possible. Keith Thirgood... BTW -- Don't forget to check out my updated and expanded website and enter to win a Museum Quality print of "Killarney Purple Rocks". https://buff.ly/2TYLuuH

Surprise! My 2020 Black Friday sale starts NOW. Use code BF2020 for 35% off EVERYTHING through this Sunday, 11/27/2020. This is my BEST SALE of the entire year, and I'm running it extra early this year to make sure no shipping delays get in the way of you receiving your order in time for Christmas. ... So whether you want to give an unexpected gift of art, or just do a little self-gifting, now’s the time! https://buff.ly/2TYLuuH

To celebrate the end of a rough year for all of us, I’m giving away a 12x16 Art Paper Print of Killarney Purple Rocks (retail value $65)! ENTER HERE: https://buff.ly/34UScbJ The winner will be announced on December 7, 2020.... I will also be providing EVERYONE who enters (even if you don't win!) a one-time discount to buy anything on my site at 30% off. Good luck! Keith Thirgood BTW I’d love if you would let me know what you think about my updated site in the comments below!

With all the social distancing restrictions, I haven't been able to hold any classes this year. I miss being able to help artists. To help fill in this gap in my life, I've produced a couple of pairs of educational videos. The first pair is on my approach to painting a landscape from scratch and the second pair is fixing up a painting I was not satisfied with. I'd love to hear your comments on them. https://youtu.be/1dx-x-m3NQQ https://youtu.be/SM8gIJ232Zw... https://youtu.be/ToU87X1zdCg https://youtu.be/38-lDI779Gk

I painted this streetscape in 2017 when I was competing in the Finger Lakes Plein Air Festival. It's one of five that I have done of this scene. Every time I'm there I paint this. I'm not sure why this scene attracts me so. It's in an old section of the city. It is rather run-down, but there are signs that the street and section of town is reviving. I'm hoping the revival will be for the best. As an artist, it's the angle of the road and buildings, The way they are juxtapose...d with each other. I can't put my finger on it, but I like it. Tell me what attracts you about this scene. This painting is available as a print until the end of February with a 25% discount at my online gallery. Visit here to buy the print: https://buff.ly/31U3B8c Use the discount code Phoenix25. If you want to look at my other work, visit my gallery: https://buff.ly/2W1KwNU You will find prints of a lot of my work there and some originals as well. Please follow me if you find my work interesting. Keith PS: If you're an artist and like my way of simplifying a scene, my 2020 Art Retreat and Workshop schedule is live on my art workshop site. https://buff.ly/37K4ymq #postimpressionism #painting #acrylicart #representationalart #semiabstractart #landscapepainter #landscapepainting #landscapeart #impressionistart #backcountrypainter #urbanartist #smalltownartist

I just heard the news that my friend and mentor Don Cavin has died. I'm absolutely gutted. A brilliant artist, an avid birder and a 60s folkie. Don had thoughts on every topic and was able to inspire artists of all ages. He will be sorely missed. Here are a couple of the shots I have of Don from an art retreat I arranged in years gone by.

I've just received word that I've been accepted into Plein Air Easton. It's the most prestigious plein air competition in the world. Only 54 artists out of the thousand who apply are accepted. I'm blown away. Now I know what I'm doing with myself March 12 to 19 this year.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK> Kawartha Tree on Point LINK TO VIEW IMAGE> https://buff.ly/2sqrK9k BACKGROUND: Although I most often paint in acrylic, for this scene I opted to work in oil from the start. There was something about the day that told me to do this in oil. Perhaps it was the sparkle the sun gave the entire scene. I knew I could get that better in oil than acrylic. I think it was the right decision. This painting is available as a print with a 25% discount at my online gal...lery. Visit here to buy the print: https://buff.ly/2sqrK9k If you want to look at similar paintings or other of my work, visit my gallery: https://buff.ly/2Jnlxkt You will find prints of a lot of my work there and some originals as well. Please follow me if you find my work interesting. Keith #postimpressionism #painting #acrylicart #representationalart #semiabstractart #landscapepainter #landscapepainting #landscapeart #impressionistart #backcountrypainter If you're an artist and like my way of simplifying a scene, my 2020 Art Retreat and Workshop schedule is live on my workshop / retreat site: https://buff.ly/37K4ymq

PHOTO OF THE WEEK> Imagining The Cove LINK TO VIEW IMAGE> https://buff.ly/2OMuBAr BACKGROUND: Hey friends, It's been months since I last posted a painting. Not because I don't have more to post. Life keeps getting in the way of living. This painting started as a normal studio painting of Peggy's Cove. But I was unsatisfied with the same image that hundreds, thousands of painters and photographers had done over the years. I wanted something more revealing, less cluttered.... The result was this. All of the superfluous detail eliminated. The highly complex scene reduced to the bare details required to reveal the root of the location. This finally felt like Peggy's Cove to me. You can find prints and the original of this painting here: https://buff.ly/2OMuBAr If you want to look at similar paintings or other of my work, visit my gallery: You will find prints of a lot of my work there and some originals as well. If you're an artist and like my way of simplifying a scene, I will be publishing my 2020 Art Retreat and Workshop schedule in the next few days. At the moment, if you follow this link, https://buff.ly/37K4ymq you can read about this past year's events. Please follow me if you find my work interesting. #postimpressionism #painting #acrylicart #representationalart #semiabstractart #landscapepainter #landscapepainting #landscapeart #impressionistart #backcountrypainter

PHOTO OF THE WEEK> Rural Idyl LINK TO VIEW IMAGE> https://buff.ly/2OXy6Yp BACKGROUND: I originally painted an 11x14 studio sketch of a photo we took. I liked it enough to try variations of it at 12x16. Then I decided to try it big. This is a 30x40 inch version. The original photo was taken in Nova Scotia. I've done others since I did this. It's been fun tackling the same scene a number of times, each time trying to evoke a different mood. If you want to look at similar painti...ngs or other of my work, visit my gallery: https://buff.ly/2W1KwNU You will find prints of a lot of my work there and some originals as well. If you're in the Uxbridge area this weekend, I am exhibiting at the Uxbridge Art in the Park. The original of this painting will be on display. You can find information about the event here: https://buff.ly/2Z7oj1m. Please follow me if you find my work interesting. #postimpressionism #painting #acrylicart #representationalart #semiabstractart #landscapepainter #landscapepainting #landscapeart #impressionistart #backcountrypainter

For those of you in the Toronto are who like my art, I am at the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at City Hall. Drop by and say Hello if you can. Booth A101

PHOTO OF THE WEEK> Blazing Sunrise LINK TO VIEW IMAGE> https://buff.ly/2RfrFgF BACKGROUND: This began life as a plein air sketch from a trip to Charlevoix, Quebec. It sat in my "to be worked on" pile for a few years. I was never happy with the way the sunrise looked. I hadn't captured the way the sun powered-up the landscape. I looked at the photos I took at the time, and they didn't help much. (Photos rarely do.) But they did remind me of the way I felt at the time. So I wen...t with my memory and punched things up until the painting spoke with the same power as the morning had for me. When I exhibit this, it is now an audience favourite. If you want to look at similar paintings or other of my work, visit my gallery: https://buff.ly/2W1KwNU You will find prints of a lot of my work there and some originals as well. Are you an artist as well as an appreciator of art? If you are, you might be interested in attending one of my art retreats in the backcountry of Ontario. To find out more, visit my workshop website https://buff.ly/2MN4yvf Please follow me if you find my work interesting. #postimpressionism #painting #acrylicart #representationalart #semiabstractart #landscapepainter #landscapepainting #landscapeart #impressionistart #backcountrypainter

If you are in the Toronto area this weekend, I have a booth in the Riverdale Art Walk. Booth number L2. The Riverdale Art Walk is a great place to see a huge variety of professional art. It runs rain or shine. If you're in the area, drop by and say Hello. www.riverdaleartwalk.ca

PHOTO OF THE WEEK> Side Street Bakery LINK TO VIEW IMAGE> https://buff.ly/2HHrbws BACKGROUND> This is a typical side-street shop in a small town. While the big box stores are killing off many of these mom & pop stores, some are surviving, even thriving. These make the difference between a place to live vs a place to sleep. This shop happens to be in Markham Village, but it could be anywhere. It's up to us to support them and keep small-town life alive.... Prints of this painting are available for the next three days at a 25% discount. Use discount code bakery25 to get the discount. If you want to look at similar paintings or other of my work, visit my gallery: https://buff.ly/2W1KwNU You will find prints of a lot of my work there and some originals as well. If you are in the Toronto area this weekend, I have a booth in the Riverdale Art Walk. Booth number L2. The Riverdale Art Walk is a great place to see a huge variety of professional art. It runs rain or shine. If you're in the area, drop by and say Hello. https://buff.ly/2I7iN8R Follow me if you find my work interesting. Keith PS, if you're an artist yourself and you're interested in art workshops and retreats, visit my workshop-oriented site. https://buff.ly/2Ux4UEP #art #postimpressionistart #representationalart #oilpaintings #canadianart #pleinairart

PHOTO OF THE WEEK> Road to the Cottage VII LINK TO VIEW IMAGE> https://buff.ly/2vLasBW BACKGROUND> This is one of a dozen or more paintings I have done in my Road to the Cottage series. This is a small 9x12 study done in oil. It shows the archetypical country road heading into cottage country. What lies just over that ridge in the distance? What new wonders await?... For some reason, I never tire of this scene, both painting it and driving it. If you want to look at similar paintings or other of my work, visit my gallery: https://buff.ly/2Jnlxkt You will find prints of a lot of my work there and some originals as well. Follow me if you find my work interesting. Keith PS, if you're an artist yourself and you're interested in art workshops and retreats, visit my workshop oriented site. https://buff.ly/2Ux4UEP #art #postimpressionistart #representationalart #oilpaintings #canadianart #pleinairart

Its the first full day at Pace19, the largest gathering of plein air painters in the world. 1,100 of us. Just finished the morning marketing session. (Started 6:39am) A full day of workshops, plein air painting at Golden Gate Bridge plus a nocturne in the evening. Ill try to post some shots once we get outside later today. #pace19

PHOTO OF THE WEEK> Perkensfield Barn LINK TO VIEW IMAGE> https://buff.ly/2Pn00cJ BACKGROUND> This is a studio painting of an old barn near Midland, Ontario. It is a quirky old thing. I've painted it a few times, trying to show off its different moods. While I like to exaggerate, it really is all bent out of shape. I'm flying down to San Francisco Tuesday to meet up with 1,100 other plein air painters. I might not have time to post my next painting. However, I will be postin...g paintings, photos and perhaps commentary from the convention. If you want to see what happens when 1,100 plein air painters get together, watch my main Facebook page. https://buff.ly/2VbeIZR If you want to look at similar paintings or other of my work, visit my gallery: https://buff.ly/2W1KwNU You will find prints of a lot of my work there and some originals as well. Follow me if you find my work interesting. Keith PS, if you're an artist yourself and you're interested in art workshops and retreats, visit my workshop oriented site. https://buff.ly/2Ux4UEP

PHOTO OF THE WEEK> Two Trees, Purple Rocks LINK TO VIEW IMAGE> https://buff.ly/2HZqhwY BACKGROUND> This was painted en plein air during one of my art retreats in the Killarney La Cloche Mountain area of Ontario. To give my audience some of the feelings I had while being there, I use simplification, reduction and exaggeration. The fundamental elements of a scene usually tell a clearer story than the details.... You can see information about my art retreats here: www.wilsonstreetstudios.com And more of my art here: www.keiththirgoodartist.com Keith #postimpressionism #painting #acrylicart #representationalart #semiabstractart #ontarioscene #landscapeart #impressionistart #ruralart

PHOTO OF THE WEEK> Yellow Sky, Yellow Water LINK TO VIEW IMAGE> https://buff.ly/2CFhFr0 BACKGROUND> This was painted en plein air during one of my art retreats in Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park. The scene and the day were simply full of positive vibes. I wanted the painting to give off that same overwhelmingly positive feeling I had when I was there. My students kept looking for where I was getting all the yellow. It was a lesson for them in releasing their tight grasp o...n reproducing what is in front of them and putting more of their emotions into their work. Can you feel the positive vibe? Keith #postimpressionism #painting #acrylicart #representationalart #semiabstractart #ontarioscene #landscapeart #impressionistart #ruralart

PHOTO OF THE WEEK> Road to the Cottage IX LINK TO VIEW IMAGE> https://buff.ly/2UOwlv4 BACKGROUND> Painted as part of my series of paintings of roads. These remind me of when I was young and I sat in the back seat of the car as we drove to the cottage, looking between my parents at the road ahead. The idea of what was just beyond the next hill made the trips so exciting. This was a studio painting done from memory of a road just north of Markham. But it could be anywhere.... Keith #postimpressionism #painting #acrylicart #representationalart #semiabstractart #ontarioscene #landscapeart #impressionistart #ruralart

PHOTO OF THE WEEK>Sparkling Stream LINK TO VIEW IMAGE> https://buff.ly/2C6xdUc BACKGROUND> I painted this a few years ago. It started as an acrylic plein air painting. After I got back to the studio, I was disappointed in the piece. I realized that the painting didn't reflect the sense of texture I had on location. So I decided to paint over the entire painting using thick oils. While the colours and strokes were similar to the acrylic underpainting, the thickness of the oi...ls gave this the texture I was looking for. This was the first painting I did where I used oil over acrylic. I've done it many times since when I feel that additional texture is the key. Even though it's hard to see the texture in a photo, this shot does give a hint of it. I hope you can see it. Keith #postimpressionism #painting #acrylicart #oilart #oilpainting #representationalart #semiabstractart #ontarioscene #landscapeart #impressionistart

PHOTO OF THE WEEK>Kawartha Sunrise LINK TO VIEW IMAGE> https://buff.ly/2NeWiRf BACKGROUND> Now that Valentine Day is safely behind us, I am resuming my regular art postings. (And thanks to all of you who purchased prints of my paintings for Valentines Day.) This was painted as the sun rose on Buzzard Lake during one of my Kawartha Highlands art retreats. My students were still asleep in their tents while I set up in the pre-dawn. As the sun rose, the colours quickly ran thr...ough a wide range of hues. I painted in a huge rush to capture what I felt in the moment. For all the frenetic energy used to dash down the paint, the result still shows the serenity of the actual sunrise. Keith #postimpressionism #painting #acrylicart #representationalart #semiabstractart #ontarioscene #landscapeart #impressionistart

PHOTO OF THE WEEK>Still Life, Irises LINK TO VIEW IMAGE> https://buff.ly/2MFjl7G BACKGROUND> A studio piece, painted with palette knife. One of a series of still life paintings I did a few years ago. A painting for lovers. When the chocolates have been eaten and the flowers have wilted, art will remain.... Thats why I think art makes for an inspired, unexpected Valentines Day gift. Speaking of gifts, heres mine to you: 25% off my art through midnight on 2/14! Enjoy this opportunity to save a bit of money whether youre treating yourself, or the special someone in your life. Keith #postimpressionism #painting #acrylicart #representationalart #semiabstractart #stilllife #landscapeart #impressionistart

PHOTO OF THE WEEK>Green Box, Blue Teapot LINK TO VIEW IMAGE> https://buff.ly/2W5uqmP BACKGROUND> A change of pace. "Green Box, Blue Teapot" is from my still life series. Done in the studio one cold winter's day, this painting recalls the joy, colour and warmth of spring. It's a painting for lovers, soft shapes, hard edges and complex juxtapositions. Just like real life. Keith... P.S. - Speaking of lovers, if youre going to be hunting down the perfect Valentines Day gift soon, look out for an email from me next Tuesday. I have some news I think youd be interested to hear... Keith #postimpressionism #painting #acrylicart #representationalart #semiabstractart #landscapepainter #stilllife #landscapeart #impressionistart See more

PHOTO OF THE WEEK>Bright Stream in Dark Woods LINK TO VIEW IMAGE> https://buff.ly/2Cm5UVi BACKGROUND> Bright Stream in Dark Woods was painted en plein air at Bark Lake in Muskoka, Ontario. Bark Lake is a resort where the East Central Ontario Art Association (ECOAA) goes for retreats a few times each year. When I was there last spring I wandered about the property. Down a trail I found this stream. Once my eyes became accustomed to the darkness, certain spots, as well as the stream itself, literally glowed. It was quite a magical scene. I intend to go there again and follow the stream further up to see what other scenes reveal themselves.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK>Two Trees on a Point LINK TO VIEW IMAGE> https://buff.ly/2QD39sG BACKGROUND> Two Trees on a Point was painted en plein air during my Kawartha, canoe-in art retreat. (Visit https://buff.ly/2EHqOls for a description of 2018's retreats. 2019 will be the same, just different dates.) I hold the retreat in Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park. It's a great place to paint. There's plenty of bald rock showing, which makes for stunning compositions. In that art retr...eat I take a few artists by canoe into the backcountry, we set up camp and spend most of the week painting at various locations around the lake we are on. It's not very strenuous, but it still feels like an adventure. Keith #postimpressionism #painting #acrylicart #representationalart #semiabstractart #landscapepainter #landscapepainting #landscapeart #impressionistart #backcountrypainter

PHOTO OF THE WEEK> Bohemian Crossroads LINK TO VIEW IMAGE> https://buff.ly/2AVN9HF BACKGROUND: Bohemian Crossroads was painted in the studio from a photo I took while visiting the Czech Republic . This was a view of the rooftops of the village taken from the castle which hung above the town. The town is a 13th-century village called Chesky Krumlov, preserved much as it was for hundreds of years. Cars are not allowed in the centre of the town. I loved the way the buildings h...ad grown almost organically. Walls and rooves connecting at haphazard angles, foliage growing up over parts of the ancient walls. I only had one day there, but I would love to go back and take my time observing and painting. Keith #postimpressionism #painting #acrylicart #czech #representationalart #semiabstractart #landscapepainter #landscapepainting #landscapeart #impressionistart #urbanpainter

Trees on Colourful Point is part of my Backcountry Series. It was painted en plein air in the Killarney, La Cloche Mountain region of Ontario, Canada. I have a number of other paintings in the Backcountry Series that I will be uploading over the next little while. I hope you enjoy them. You can see this print at https://buff.ly/2TDBhlZ BLACK FRIDAY No special deal on this painting, because it's Black Friday and ALL my prints are part of my Black Friday sale. Instead of my u...sual 25% discount off individual prints, all prints on my site are 35% off until the end of Monday. Thank you for looking over my art. I love to read your comments and see how my art is being received by art lovers. If you have the time, please re-post some of my announcements. The more people you tell about my art, the greater the chance of my continued success as an artist. You are my ambassadors. Keith

PHOTO OF THE WEEK> Fourth Chute, Springtime LINK TO VIEW IMAGE> https://buff.ly/2PEnldh BACKGROUND: Fourth Chute, Springtime was painted en plein air in the Ottawa Valley of Ontario, Canada. I've painted this 'horizontal waterfall' a number of times. each year I take artists to the Ottawa Valley and this is a mandatory stop. When I painted this one, it was a perfect spring. Lots of water rushing through the chute, but not too much. Occasionally in the spring, the chute alm...ost disappears because of the volume of water obliterates the rocks it usually tumbles over. As usual, I'm offering prints of this piece at 25% off for three days. Black Friday is fast approaching and I have been persuaded to participate this year. I'm not yet sure what I'm going to do, but I want to do something for those folks who appreciate my art. By my next post, I will know what I'm going to offer. Talk to you soon. #postimpressionism #painting #pleinair #pleinairpainting #pleinairartist #acrylicart #killarney #representationalart #semiabstractart #landscapepainter #landscapepainting #landscapeart #impressionistart

Fall Shoreline is a studio piece, painted from a photo taken in the backwoods of Ontario. I can't remember where I was when I took the original shot. I just remember standing there thinking, "I don't have the time to paint this en plein air, but I have to paint it someday." Last winter I decided to paint it. The original is larger than my usual paintings. 24x30 inches. It has been in a number of my shows this year and it always attracts a lot of positive comments. Prints of this painting can be purchased at my Art Print website. Click here to see it. https://buff.ly/2D7OXzU

I have found over the years that I tend naturally to paint in series. A subject or location attracts me and I keep going back to that subject matter over and over again. When I first realized that I was doing this, I was concerned. Did this indicate a lack of imagination or creativity? Then I realized that all sorts of amazing painters did this, from van Gogh to the Group of Seven. Did you know that Edvard Munch painted four versions of The Scream, his most famous painting? Killarney Purple Rocks is from my Killarney Views series. . . . #postimpressionism #painting #pleinair #pleinairpainting #pleinairartist #acrylicart #killarney #representationalart #semiabstractart #landscapepainter #landscapepainting #landscapeart #impressionistart

This weekend, September 22 & 23, is the Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour run by the Peterborough Art Gallery. My studio is on the tour. The Tour runs from 10am to 5pm both days. There are 31 studios on the Tour. If you're in the Peterborough area this weekend, drop in to see me. 277 Sunset Blvd, Peterborough.

If you're near Uxbridge this weekend, drop by the Uxbridge Art in the Park art show. Saturday and Sunday from 10am till 5pm. I will be there with a number of my paintings both old and new.

Almost sold out. There are only two spots left in my September, Killarney Art Retreat. http://www.wilsonstreetstudios.com/la-cloche--killarney-ret If you are thinking of joining us, act now.

As promised, here are some of the paintings I did at Plein Air Easton.

I'm back in Peterborough. I didn't win any prizes, but I did sell four paintings, so I made a profit on the trip, even with commissions. I will post pics of some of my paintings later. Here's a couple that sold and I didn't have a chance to do better photos.

If you're going to be in Toronto this Friday, Saturday or Sunday, drop by the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair and see me at my booth. It's a great chance to see art from hundreds of Canada's best artists, and my art. lol I'm near the centre of the event, booth A45. Not only am I in this show, I'm also launching my new art website. The new site is dedicated to selling prints of my work. www.keiththirgoodartist.com

I'm still looking for somewhere to stay in downtown Toronto during the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair. The event runs from 10am Friday until 5pm Sunday. I have to start loading my booth and art in between 7 and 8 am Friday, and it's over two hours from Peterborough. I'm hoping one of my artist friends has a place I can stay Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. It would be a lifesaver. If you can help me out, please respond in the comments.... I could also use a friend to drop by my booth so I can take a short lunch break. Unfortunately, I have no significant-other, or children who can help me that way. Drop by, look at the art and help me get lunch. LOL

It's less than a week before the start of my Ottawa Valley Art Retreat. Due to a last minute cancellation, a couple of spots just opened up. If you've been wanting to join us but thought it was too late, now's your chance. http://www.wilsonstreetstudios.com/ottawa-valley-retreat-20

On June 24, I am giving a workshop at the Cavan Art Studio. This month the workshop is on: "Composition: The Key to a Successful Painting". Visit www.cavanarts.ca to sign up or find out more. This is a painting by Frank Charles Hennessey, which demonstrates a strong "S" composition.

Today Neil, Daniel and I are mounting our 3-man show. The Canadian Shield Through the Eyes of an Artist". The show opens this Saturday, with the official opening party this Sunday, June 3, from 1 to 5pm. If you can, drop by and say hello.