breather

SOLD

$90 - original 5x10" OIL (!) painting on canvas.

This little flower decided to step aside for a little breather. ; )

So, I decided to return to oil painting! I painted in oil for a few years before making the decision to stick with watercolour. A decade later... I've decided to play with oil again. Just for a change. Nothing definite. ; )

I thought I'd start with this bright little set up of fresh flowers, working in my studio with natural backlighting. A bit rusty, but I'm happy with the backlit glow. : )

wildcat - step by step

First I drew the lion, from a photo reference on pixabay (free image site), with a 6B pencil, trying to be as loosey-goosey as possible. I do try to keep the structure of the subject while making big confident lines. 

Next, I start with the eyes. I like to paint them together, not one at a time because eyes work as a pair. It's easy to get off balance if you focus on only one eye, then the other. Work the eyes together. I don't finish the eyes though... just get some darks and lights in them. 

Working down the page, darks and lights, transparent and opaques. I never liked painting washes in watercolour. I can never get the washes dark enough and contrasty enough. I end up having to do many washes... I prefer this more direct approach.

The whiskers wrap around the muzzle, helping bring the mouth forward. Saving the highlights in the eyes as I finish them up. Then, a few calligraphy marks and... my friend is finished!

heading home with Saturday's shopping

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

I'm really enjoying painting this 'Toronto People' series. Everyone is so interesting! ; )

bunny sip

$60 - original 8x10"watercolour painting 

Little stuffed bunny wants a sip too. ; )

summer boots

$60 - original 8x10" watercolour painting

This dude is enjoying a cold drink on a hot hot day!

first celebrity portrait

9x12" - charcoal drawing with watercolour

Well, as I stated in my last post, I've been working towards getting a likeness while still keeping things painterly. I'm not actually a huge fan of this celebrity (I leave you to guess who it is), he just has an interesting face. In fact, I google 'older men' images and he popped up, so I drew him. It seems easier to tell if I achieved a likeness by drawing people we all know... ; )