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

SOLD

6x8" original gouache painting with 8x10"mat

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

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 -