Mary Jo

$100 - 5x7" original oil painting on 1/8" panel

This little birdie likes long flights through the park, sweet berries and Jake Gyllenhaal movies. ; )

red rocks

5x7" original oil painting on 1/8" panel

I love painting with red. It's such a warm wonderful colour. For some reason, it's kind of scary to use... but it often works great!

Award of Excellence for Portrait

The Don Valley Art Club Show opening went great last night. Tons of people showed up. Thanks to everyone for all their support. It was wonderful to see all of you! 

I was thrilled and honoured to receive an Award of Excellence in Portrait. There were 15 awards given amongst over 100 paintings. Also, my painting sold. So all in all a wonderful evening!

Art Show!

Tomorrow Night is the opening of the Don Valley Group Art Show. I'll be there 7-9pm. Over 100 paintings from as many artists. Phew!

May 8th at 67 Pottery Road Papermill Gallery, Todmorden Mills. Toronto. Come by and say Hi!

natural beauty

$240 - 8x10” original oil painting on 3/4” deep panel

I’m very happy with the end result of this one, with all the cool green light bouncing around. I really wanted to do the model justice. I’m adding lots of colour on the light side, like I do with my watercolours, and still keeping it harmonious. Each portrait really is it's own learning process. 🙋🏻

slender elegance

5x7" original watercolour painting with 8x10" acid-free mat

Our figure painting model was just lovely today. She had such a subtle slender elegance. Drawn with a strong contour pencil line, then warm red and cool green watercolour added.

milk n' berries

5x7" original oil painting on 1/8" gessobord

These awesome strawberries were bouncing light and reflections all over the place! ; )

honey bear n' berries

OIL - 5x7"original oil painting on 1/8" gessobord

HAPPY EASTER from Honey Bear!

sparkly

$200 - 6x12"original oil painting on board

I painted this bright 'sparkly' model at last week's portrait session. Her hair was so cool, and fun to paint. Again, not sure why but, I love this long thin board size for faces. It gives everyone a kind of graceful long look. ; )

brain food

OIL - 5x7"original oil painting on 1"cradled panel 

When we were kids we loved smarties, or as we called them, brain food! I still love them. They're not only tasty but also fun to eat, sorting by colour and sharing. I still eat the red ones last ; ) 

Painting sides are painted a lovely purple to match the background colour.

the time is right

OIL - 5x7"original oil painting on 1/8" gessobord (panel)

I painted these fruity friends with lots of loosey-goosey brushstrokes and topped them off with dabs of hot pink! #superfun

triangulate

$60 - 5.5x7.5" original watercolour painting

The dynamic shapes that the human figure can make, especially when you aim for design, are always a unique pleasure.

zone

$60 - 5x7"original watercolour painting with 8x10"mat

This model was so gracious. It's funny, models can be perfectly still and be in their own zone but still be giving so much energy to the artists.

#OneWeek100People2019 Challenge

The challenge started today! So, off I went to life drawing class with pencil in hand.

I always try to capture one good little pencil portrait for my sketchbook. 

Below are some gesture drawings. I added the artists... (I have to get to 100 somehow!)

The challenge was started by Marc Taro Holmes, a wonderful fellow urban sketcher and awesome artist. Below are a few of the 2 minute gestures. 

Anyone can join in the fun. Give it a go, see the facebook page and hashtag it #OneWeek100People2018 

That's 22 people sketches. (Let's agree that drawing the same person counts.)

first

$60 - 5x7"original gouache painting with 8x10"mat

I looooved painting these bright determined pink flowers. And the contrasting dark vase just helps them 'pop'! Plus, backlighting, my favourite way to light a still life. : )

music dude

8x10" original oil painting on a 1" deep wooden cradled panel

I am very happy with the likeness I captured of this model, who is a real music buff, hence the title. ; )
It's a new challenge for me to block-in a painting with shapes, as opposed to lines, as I have done with watercolour for years.

 I cropped the model's head out of the shot for his own privacy... although you can see what he looks like from my painting! Haha...

After a 3 hour session, I was pretty happy with the painting. Just a little touch up back in studio (hence the different easel). I only spent about a half hour on it  to keep the freshness of the life session. 

piece by piece

SOLD

Let me first say how much I love this 6x12" size for portrait. I chose it on a whim as I was heading out to Don Valley Art Club's portrait session and I'm sure glad I did. Especially once I saw this awesome model. I took one look at his long beard, then my long canvas, and thought... perfect!

Below is a pic of my pochade/paint box hard at work. : )

Here's a close up. The oil painting is actually on a 1" deep cradled board for easy hanging. This oil painting experience was definitely a break through for me!