Sunday, December 30, 2018

at home together

$60 - 5x7" original watercolour in 8x10" mat. Ready to frame!
These two make a cute couple. : )

Friday, December 28, 2018

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!!

Monday, December 17, 2018

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.

Monday, December 10, 2018

button

$60 - 5x7"original gouache painting
Well, I'm plodding along with gouache. I haven't given up on watercolour, that's for sure, just shakin' things up a bit. A couple of these portraits have gotten a bit too pink... I'll have to watch out for that.
p.s.
I did enjoy painting that little button. : )

Wednesday, December 05, 2018

December already!

https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/nora-macphail/december-already!/714049
$60 - 5x7"gouache sketch with thin border, includes 8x10"mat.

I tell ya', this gouache stuff is so vibrant, silky... and tricky. It's not watercolour and it's not quite oil. I'm having lots of fun figuring it out though! Meanwhile, how is it already December?! #onlythreeweeks #goodprice ; )

Monday, December 03, 2018

Gouache Portraits

SOLD
$150 - 5x7"original gouache painting in warm brown 8x10" wooden frame.
Here are my latest two gouache portraits. I'm very happy with the one above.  Since it's from a photo from the sktchy app I had more time to spend on it (compared to our 25min sittings at the art club.)
There's a slide show of this one on my Instagram page if you want to check it out!

Friday, November 30, 2018

just looking

$60 - 5x7" original watercolour painting with 8x10"acid-free mat.
Ready to pop into a store bought frame.

These colourful friends are looking around, just checking things out. 

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

sweet smile

SOLD
$60 - 5x7"original watercolour with 8x10"mat, ready for store bought frame. 

I painted this lovely model during a life drawing session, using complimentary colours red and green. I love her subtle expression.

Monday, November 26, 2018

Latest News!

First of all, it turns out that there was an article about our art show in the Toronto Observer, including a pic of me and my art table! Here's the link. 

Second, I decided to use gouache at our Don Valley Art Club portrait session. 
Gouache (opaque watercolour) creates a mat finish of very intense colours.

These 25 minute poses, at 5x7" each, are fellow artists. It's challenging to grab hold of a bit of likeness in the short time allowed. I'm going to keep playing with this medium. 
We'll see... ; )

Friday, November 23, 2018

for your info

$60 - original 5x7"watercolour painting with 8x10"mat
Enjoying a Friday off with a coffee, a treat and today's news.

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Toronto Arts and Crafts Show 2018

 Thanks so much to everyone who came to the show. It was a great turnout. One of our best ever! I think the recent snowfall got people in the Holiday Spirit!
 Lots of my hand-painted cards have found a new home. Many customers plan to frame them instead of give them away. 
My crochet birds were a new item this year. I just wanted to have a fun little surprise on my table, and returning customers certainly were pleased!

Friday, November 16, 2018

Toronto Arts and Crafts Sale 2018

One-Long-Line Drawings
I'm all prepared for the show tomorrow. I'll be selling my original watercolour paintings and my One-Long-Line Drawings. They are so fun to draw. I just keep my pen on the paper and let the line wander. 
This is my 7th year in the show. I love it! Come by my table on the main floor and say Hi.

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

early holiday shopping

$60 - 5x7" original watercolour painting with 8x10"mat
This little critter can't help getting some early holiday shopping done. Berries for everyone!

Sunday, November 11, 2018

grazing the day away

$60 - 5x7"original watercolour painting with 8x10"mat
This beauty is spending Sunday afternoon grazing the day away. 

Friday, November 09, 2018

Arts and Crafts Show - Sat. Nov. 17th

One week away!! Saturday Nov. 17, 2018. One day only!
This arts and crafts show is one of my favourites. There are LOTS of artisans and plenty of cool handmade items to choose from. I'll be there for the 6th year in a row. I'm on the main floor with my watercolour paintings, a few oil (!) paintings and a NEW surprise item! Come by and say Hi! It's free, from 10-5am at 310 Danforth near Chester. Yippee!

Wednesday, November 07, 2018

dappled grey

$60 - original 5x7" watercolour painting with 8x10"mat
Grey horses can be born any colour (!) and then their coat lightens as they mature. In fact, they usually end up being white horses. Cool! Of course, this dappled beauty will be grey forever. : )

Monday, November 05, 2018

Star

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

This little friend was a pleasure to paint. It's a good life being a horse... and being an artist! 

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

just a nibble and... back to originals!

SOLD
5x7"in an 8x10"mat

Well, that's it for another Inktober. Working with the Elegant Writer Pen was an absolute joy. It's water-soluble nature made the dark colourful inks merge with the watercolour beautifully.

Thursday, October 25, 2018

sketching on a thursday afternoon

This little sketch happened today. I'm enjoying making short videos of my painting process. You can see this one painted HERE on Instagram. The clips are 1 minute each because that's the length limit Instagram accepts. So... it's in two parts. ; )

Thursday, October 18, 2018

early autumn

SOLD 
$40 - 5x7 with 8x10"mat

I'm having a blast with this new water-soluble pen that I've been using for Inktober (#inktober2018) It's called the Elegant Writer Pen and it releases green and a bit of pink ink when wet. You can see two videos of me painting it on Instagram.

Friday, October 12, 2018

Inktober continues...


Rhino's Day Out
You can see a video of this guy being painted, which turned out a little better than the last one of my lion, over at Instagram and Facebook
Unfortunately, Blogger won't unload the video here.
Last but not least my hungry friend bear... 
Friendly, but Hungry

Tuesday, October 09, 2018

Monday, October 08, 2018

heavy soul

SOLD
6x8" pen and watercolour
You can see a short video of me painting this big cat over on my Instagram account - Click here 
or on my Facebook account - Here.

Saturday, October 06, 2018

morning bears and smokey eyes



Inktober Day 4 and 5... the fun continues! I spilled a spot of tea on my husky drawing, right on his little snout. Fortunately, the wash of watercolour hides it. 
; )

Wednesday, October 03, 2018

Antelope and Donkey

A couple of cutie patooties for Inktober Day 2 and 3!