doc

 - $60 original 6x8" painting in gouache

I felt like painting with green and purple today. Since the model was lit from both sides I thought I'd paint one side predominantly green and the other purple. I brought in some reds down the middle to warm up his lovely friendly face and bring it all together. I love the colours green and purple together. 

against the odds

  $60 6x8" original gouache painting on paper

First let me say thank you so much to everyone who came out to the show on Saturday. It was a big success with lots of visitors and yummy treats. I sold one of my favourite portraits (bottom painting), called ponder. 

The above flower painting is another gouache. Over the holidays I was given some cute colourful vases. These three purple friends look lovely contrasting the sunny yellow glass. More still life paintings with little vases are in the works....!

February's Flower - the violet

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

It's February, and despite the snow and cold, these pretty purple pals are here to cheer up your day. Check out my Instagram Account to see the slideshow of the process. (Sadly, I can't seem to upload it here on blogger.) 

And now, off to the opening of the Heliconian Life Drawing show. I'll be there from 1-2 Saturday February 9 at 35 Hazelton Ave., Toronto. Hope to see you there. 

thoughtful

  $60 - 5x7"gouache painting

Another small colourful painting to warm up the nooks and crannies of your home.  It's actually quite difficult to title portrait paintings. I had to give this one a lot of thought... which lead me to 'thoughtful'. ; ) 

Life Drawing Show!

This is just one of three portraits that I have hanging at the Heliconian Club in Toronto this month. Come by and say Hi at 35 Hazelton Ave. I'll be there from 1-2pm.

And here are a few charcoal studies that I did before completing the finished gouache painting. Hope to see you this weekend!

colour pop

  $100 - 5x7"original gouache with 8x10 mat.

Work Small, Learn Big! I think this credo is soooo true for artists. Sunday portrait sessions at the awesome Don Valley Art Club are starting to pay off with many small studies. I like small paintings, they warm up the nooks and crannies of the home. : )

heading out

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

Snow can't stop this little pup from enjoying his day!

balancing act

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

It's a balancing act trudging through all the snow we've had! People are skating in their boots.

winter rose trellis

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

I walk past this beautiful rose trellis often. It always makes me smile, no matter what the season. I especially enjoy it in winter with all the lovely snow shapes and the last remaining flowers. 

Bella

SOLD - $120 - 9x12"original watercolour painting

I've been painting this lovely model for 19 years now. I believe she was the first life model I ever drew. It's always a lovely surprise when she shows up for our session.
Meanwhile, portraits aren't getting easier... just different. Here's a detail - 

older and wiser

   $60 - 6x8"original gouache painting

A friend told me that she could see in my latest gouache portraits that I was really enjoying painting with gouache. I was thrilled with that comment, and she's right! I do love painting with it. Watercolour is awesome but sometimes it's nice to apply some thick paint.  ; )

Here's my set up. I use the same air tight (pretty much) palette that Lena Rivo uses. Check her out on Instagram if you're interested. Her gouache paintings are awesome.

Here's a close up. Trying to let lots of colours blend together, just like watercolour.

It's nice to look at the painting in black and white, to make sure the values are working together. 

I am now a firm believer that working with a different medium (gouache) for a while really enhances your knoweldge of your usual medium (watercolour). It's really informative to be able to make comparisons. : )

whisps

$60 - 4x6" original watercolour on 90lb paper with 8x10"mat

One of my favourite models! I painted this at my last life drawing session. It's small, which I think enhances it's lovely delicacy. I seem to enjoy painting small. I prefer paintings to find their way into the nooks and crannies of a home, as opposed to over the couch or mantel. : )

Here's a detail -

sam's scarf

6x8" original gouache painting

I loved painting this portrait. I went for it with bold colour, including lots of opera pink paint! 

NFS - This painting is now framed for an upcoming show.

it's a new year

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

The way the holidays fell this year, it seems like there's nothing but time! Time to paint. I'm enjoying switching between watercolour and gouache. I think the change helps me understand each of them better... make sense? : ) 

p.s. this painting has a nice white border around it. 

january's flower - the carnation

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

I love January. The start of a new year is always inspired by new year's resolutions and fresh ideas. This orange carnation is January's flower, bringing in the new year with lots of bold colour. 

Here are some close ups -

at home together

$60 - 5x7" original watercolour in 8x10" mat. Ready to frame!

These two make a cute couple. : )

looking forward to the new year

$60 - 5x7original watercolour painting with 8x10"mat.

Look below for the step by step process. I remembered to take pics along the way!

Enjoy. Happy New Year!!

Paint Over!

SOLD -  8x8" original gouache painting.

This second picture is of an old watercolour painting. I didn't like the charcoal lines, the lost shapes in the flowers or the boring flat red of the strawberries. So, I painted over it with gouache, which was a pleasure since the drawing was all done for me! The flowers ended up pink... I keep getting a lot of pink in my gouache paintings. Not sure why. Oh, I guess I'm using too much red. Haha.