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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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$120 - 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. : )