sailing

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$60 - 6x6" original oil painting on 1" deep panel.

Today I decided to do something different... like Teddi Parker's Balloon Challenge. Her work is amazing and her stuff, like mine, is available through Daily Paintworks. Balloons made out of metallic foil are way more fun to paint than regular balloons, probably because the surface is so reflective. Fun!

to know

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$90 - 5x7" original oil painting on 1/8"panel.

Today's two colours were Coral Red and Turquoise. I wanted a warm/cool contrast plus, he was wearing a peach T-shirt, so I thought I'd use a fun premixed colour like Coral Red.

The photo reference came from the awesome RawUmberStudios. They post new photos on there 2 hour YouTube portrait session. Worth checking out. The photos have great lighting. 

inside joke

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$90 - 5x7" original oil painting on 1/8" panel.

Today's Two Colour Portrait was with Lemon Yellow and Dioxazine Purple, plus white for mixing. I'm getting the hang of this limited palette approach. : ) 

Secret

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$90 - 5x7" original oil painting on 1/8"panel.

Today's two colour portrait was done with a cool pink and a warm brown. Again I added white, of course, as well as some black for strong contrasts. I'm really liking this limited palette because then I can concentrate on structure and brush strokes. : )

night window

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$90 - 5x7" original oil painting on 1/8" panel

I used turquoise and violet for this two colour painting. It was a challenge to use the limited palette. I added white and black... but I'm still calling it a two colour portrait. ; )

Mary Beard

9x12" oil and charcoal pencil on gessoed board

Mary Beard sat for the final episode of the SkyTV Portrait Artist of the Week on Sunday. It was a challenging weekly project and I'm sorry to see it end, but onto other sources. : ) 

For this painting, I gessoed the back of a sketchbook cover (hence the perforations), and drew with charcoal pencil to start. I added her pearl necklace because for portraits, I find, it's nice to include the model's personal choices. 

the sky is the limit

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$90 - 5x7" original oil painting on 1/8" panel.

I loved painting these big pink glasses! And her expression is so cute. Thanks again to the awesome sktchy app for providing photos for all of us artist to paint from. Especially during these difficult times when portrait sessions are on hold.

: )

triumph

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$90 - 5x5" original oil painting on 1"deep panel/sides painted.

I was waiting for a morning cab ride when I took the photo reference for this painting. The sky was just so triumphant! I haven't painted a stark tree against a beautiful sky before. Happy to have a chance to paint it today. : )

Values of Tube Colours

I thought I'd share my latest homework with you. ; )

In the left picture you can see that I placed a healthy brushstroke of every colour on my palette, fresh out of the tube, and put them down the centre of the page. Then, using ultramarine blue, burnt umber and white, I made greys to match the exact value of the colour. I got the first two wrong. Doh. But then I got the hang of it.

The picture on the right is a black and white photo of the same page. You can see I got most of my values right. (Phew). 

I learned that tube colours are a lot darker than I thought. Also, intensity, like the hot opera pink, is very misleading.

I did this exercise years ago and my repeating the exercise yesterday was long overdue. Very helpful!

glow

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$40 - 4x4" oil painting on 1" deep panel

I love these orange and pink flowers together. They just glowed under the light as I painted them in my studio. Also, these charming little 4x4" panels allow for a looseness that a bigger size doesn't always encourage. : )

values

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$90 - 5x5" original oil painting with 1" deep painted sides.

Well, I started this painting with a deep violet toned board. I love that colour of purple and I hoped the warm reddish/pink would enhance the cool flowers I set up to paint.

I put up a big "SQUINT!" sign. Thanks to Lisa Daria's awesome online workshop and the ongoing reminder to squint, squint, squint! It really does help see the values.

I like to paint the sides the background colour. : ) Cheers ya'll!

take 2

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$90 - 5x5" original oil painting on 1" deep panel

This painting is called Take 2 because... well, take 1 is pictured below. I was very happy with my little painting until I realized there was a fault line right down the middle of my canvas. Doh! and Argh! So, I grabbed a fresh board and painted the lovely pink and orange flowers again (above). I love the dark wine flowers, they really helps spruce up the mix. Thankfully, I'm equally happy with take 2. : ) 

city sky

SOLD

$100 - 6x6" original oil painting on 1" deep panel

I captured a pic of the morning sky (back with traffic looked like this) knowing I'd oil paint it one day. Like today!!! 

myPAOTW - Will Young

8x8" original oil painting on panel.

Here's my oil painting of Will Young for this week's Portrait Artist of the Week Challenge. It was just awesome painting along with the SkyTV live stream. Artist Christian Hook was this week's painter and the conversation between these two was riveting - and funny. 

It was the first time I painted a portrait from the computer screen, as the subject talked (and moved a bit). 'Getting to know' Will, as he spoke about his life, must have influenced my painting of him - certainly different than painting from a photo. I did not use Christian's technique, I painted as I do, but watching his piece progress was very educational. 

The live weekly challenge is on the SkyTV facebook page every Sunday morning. Then it replays all week. Cheers.: )

portrait in blue

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6x6" oil painting on1"deep panel

I'm thrilled with the outcome of this portrait in blue. Thanks again to the awesome Sktchy site where people upload photos of themselves to be painted. Cheers Alanna Jewel!

follow your heart

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

Gestural lines made with charcoal pencil is how this painting started. Then I flooded in a colourful deep background to contrast the light pinks of the flowers. These two flowery friends have been inseperable. : ) 

okey-dokey

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5x7" original - watercolour and charcoal pencil.
This little hedgehog is trying to escape. Or that's what I thought... Turns out he was on his way to his new home. He was purchased as soon as I posted him on Instagram! And I found the perfect purple frame for him, to match his pink belly. ; )

my PAOTW - Rankin

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$100 - 8x10" original watercolour painting on paper. 

Here's my contribution to week 3 of the skyTV Portrait Artist of the Week Challenge. I tried to capture the lovely smile of the photographer Rankin. It was so nice to get back to watercolours. Hmm... jumping back and forth between oil and watercolour enhances my skill at both but, at the end of the day my first love, watercolour, will always be my preferred medium! 

myPAOTW - Bernardine Evaristo

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8x8" original oil painting on panel with 1"deep painted sides.

Here's my portrait of the beautiful colourful Bernardine Evaristo for the second week of the Portrait Artist of the Week Challenge. She's the writer of Girl, Woman, Other which won the Booker in 2019. SkyTV is continuing the Portrait Artist Challenge and now, everyone can join in on the fun every Sunday (uk time) over on Facebook. She sat staring at the computer and talking to the host for 4 hours (while thousands of people painted her), including this week's artist that skyTV chose. So... 3 screens happening for the show! So fun!

feather earrings

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$60 - 6x6" oil painting with painted sides to match background.
I used the awesome Sktchy App to find this lovely model's photo. I changed her earrings, which were big white distracting shells, and made them feather earrings. Remember those? I just thought they'd suit her 'look'. : )

6:38am

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

At 6:38am this morning, this is what the sky looked like. : )

Here are some more pics...