jewels

$80 - 5x7"original watercolour painting with 8x10"mat

This is my second recent portrait with a model wearing sunglasses. It's fun painting eyes behind colourful glass! 

Here's the original sketch. 

Bendy Straw-Berry

$60 - 6x9"original watercolour with 9x12" mat.

It's a long weekend. Yippee and Yummy!

I hope you all find some creative time this weekend.

Cheers.

cascade

$100 - 9x12"original watercolour painting

Well, good 'ole watercolour, always demanding a big decision for the background. At least that's the challenge for me. I left the top right corner free of the wallpaper pattern and I'm very happy with the negative space. As always, the hair was a treat to paint! ; )

winter friend

$80 - original 8x10"watercolour painting

This red fox is showing off his distinctive dark pointy ears and lovely long profile. : )

subtle style

$60 - 6x9"original watercolour painting with 9x12"mat

The reference for this painting was from the awesome sktchy app. It is a wonderful free source that has lots of portraits to choose from. Check out the home page of paintings and then just swipe right to see the original photo. It's very inspiring and really cool to see what artists have done. : )

February's Flower

$60 - 5x7"original watercolour painting with 8x10"mat, ready to pop into a frame!

February's flower is the lovely purple violet. A fresh small flower for a fresh cool season.

divided

$60 - 5x7"original watercolour painting with 8x10"mat, ready to frame!

Day 2 of Inktober and the prompt word is 'divided'. This little critter is divided in markings as well as in a cuteness/smelly way! 😉

cut through

$60 - 6x8"original watercolour painting with 8x10"mat.

I love this little passage way. I've been meaning to paint it for awhile and today I got the chance. : )

not sad really

$100 - 8x10" original watercolour painting

The title of this painting is in reference to a conversation fellow artists and I were having during our portrait session. The model always looks so sad, but they aren't really. They're just lost in thought as they sit there, for 20 minutes at a time, having to be perfectly still. 

Meanwhile, I'm practising painting smiles and teeth from photographs since it's the only way to get someone to 'hold a smile'! ; )

the last short pose

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

It's tricky not to get carried away with a portrait when doing a figure study. I concentrate on the shapes of the face, and not details. That way, the whole piece balances. I think I still caught a subtle expression on her face within the loose style. ; )

reaching sphere

$80 - 8x10"watercolour original painting

I tried out a new palette during my life drawing class this week. I added olive green, a colour I rarely use, to balance the soft pinks. For this pose, the model held a blue ball which contrasted wonderfully with my red green palette. 

a subtle hint

SOLD

$60 - 5x7"painting with 8x10"mat

Things were nice and loosey-goosey when I painted these fresh pink flowers. The turquoise background was a big decision, but I'm very happy with it.

quiet thought

8x10" watercolour painting

Still pluggin' away and trying to find my place in the world of portraiture!

short bangs

I painted this at my last figure drawing class. The model was just wonderful!  

8x10"watercolour painting

reach out

$60 - 7x5"painting with 10x8"mat

Love lavender!

here are some close ups -

exploring

sold

I thought I'd challenge myself with a completely new subject matter this week. So the title, exploring, has two meanings. ; )

hidden door

$60 - 5x7"painting with 8x10"mat

Here's another one from Riverdale Farm. I saw this little hidden door and I thought it would be an interesting subject. I like paintings of door and/or windows. Below is a pic of my painting kit.

wee wee wee

$50 - 5x7"painting 

I went out plein-air painting with some friends to the Riverdale Farm which has the cutest little pigs. Super adorable! They were total sleepy heads... which made them a bit easier to capture with paper and paint.

Still working on how to paint bigger when out in the field. 

travelling along

SOLD

$60 - 5x7"painting with 8x10"mat

I spent the day plein-air painting with the Don Valley Art Club at the Toronto Botanical Gardens, also known as Edwards Gardens. Here is my step by step process...

I painted this waterfall, which I've painted before, but from the other side of the bridge. I worked from my trusty little paintbox. Here's the drawing in 6B pencil.

Half way there... I like to add darks early, so I can determine the values right from the beginning. Artists often do watercolour from light to dark however, when I do that it never seems to take forever to get dark enough...

All done. You can see the pink bulldog clip on the right of the box holding a rag in place. There's also a few paper towels, a compact mirror (to look at the piece in reverse while painting) and an 8x10"mat (under the box) to make sure it'll fit nicely into a frame when finished. Quite a challenge!

raspberry iced tea

$60 - 5x7"painting with 8x10"mat.

Today is a holiday Monday, Victoria Day, so I did one of my fave things to do... spent time observing and drawing people at a cafe. Now I'm heading out to dinner for this summer's first outdoor patio meal!