hands in pockets

 

click link to purchase - 

$80 - 5x7" original watercolour painting on paper with 8x10" acid-free mat.

I love painting snow! It forms such fantastic shapes as it settles on cars and stairs, and even on the recycling bins. ; ) 

snowy alley

SOLD

$80 - 5x7" original watercolour painting includes 8x10" mat
I love painting snow! I use a wonderful thick black pen to make strong interesting lines. It's nice and contrasty compared to the white snow. This little alley, with the snow on the bikes, just caught my eye.
Details -

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.

favourite hat

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

Well, it seems the 'hat wearers' just keep on coming. Today's cafe moment features 2 people in hats, which are such a treat to paint. I don't think this woman knew I was drawing her, she seemed more excited that we were all enjoying the Passion Iced Tea. Her friend included. His just peeks out from behind his arm. 

: )

take a long lunch

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

I'm thrilled to be back at it with my cafe moments. I drew this on site during my lunch break. It's almost like 'train of thought' writing, where you just write without editing yourself. I draw as quick as I can, (before the customers get up and leave!), without overthinking it. Just let the line go go go! 

The works become like diary entries.

Here's another pic - 

I drew with the Jumbo 9000 Faber-Castell 6B pencil, my new fave. 

OneWeek100People2018 Challenge

 I had a few moments at my last life drawing class to capture some fellow artists. And below, people reading at a local bookstore. : )

Well, it turns out 100 people is a lot! ; )
These sketches are part of a drawing challenge going on this week (there's still time to join in), set up my the awesome Montreal urban sketcher Marc Taro Holmes. Post your drawings of people, with the hashtag #OneWeek100People2018 ,on Facebook, Instagram, your blog, wherever! It's fun... even if you don't quite make it to 100 by Sunday. Drawings can be super small and/or loosey goose, like mine. Cheers and Happy Drawing.
p.s. ipad photos... ; b

boxer booties

SOLD

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

This little boxer is leading the way! He's enjoying his walk in the snow while wearing his little red dog boots.  : )

Here's a detail - 

to make a short story longer

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

About 20 fellow Urban Sketchers and I went to a downtown park, with an outdoor cafe, for our last sketch outing. There are many urban sketchers groups and ours, called TOUSK (Toronto Urban Sketchers) is fantastic. Very friendly, very supportive and run by a wonderful ambitious woman named Marie-Judith. We meet up about twice a month. 

Here are a few photos of my painting kit.

The people in my cafe scenes don't look too much like real life, because of my style, and just in case it offends them. I save trying to get a likeness for my portraits. Also, I changed the colour of their clothes... to brighten things up. : )

I added a couple in the background, with soft cool colours.

That's me. Duh.

Berczy Park's cat

8x10" watercolour
I spent Saturday with the Toronto Urban Sketchers over at Berczy Park. The city just finished renovating the triangular park. About 30 life size dog statues now surround, and swim in, the three tier fountain. As well, there is one cat. That's what the girl in my painting is looking at. I think I'll boost up the colour and line of the foreground cat so she's a little bit more noticeable. ; )
In the last photo the fountain turned on, which was a nice sudden surprise! We really wished it was on when we first got there... a good reason to go back and paint it again.

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. : )

treat

SOLD

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

I saw this scene on my way home, as I was cutting down my favourite little lane. I stopped and drew it, although the man and his dog were long gone, putting them in from memory. They were both so cute. I'm sure the man enjoyed giving his dog the treat as much as the dog enjoyed receiving it. ; )

One Handed Palette and Water Holder!

My new watercolour palette and water cup holder. I saw one of these on Urban Sketchers, so I decided to make my own. : )

I got an inexpensive plastic corrugated board from the hardware store and flipped it over to use the back. I got plastic (not cardboard) so that it's WATERPROOF.

The water cup MUST have a lip on it. (dollar store)

Position the cup where you want it and trace it with a sharpie. Trace the BOTTOM of it! Make sure the hole is smaller than the lip.

I decided to cut a shape for the thumb hole on my palette too. (This is optional if you don't use a thumb hole.) A bulldog clip can hold your palette to the board.

 Ready to cut...

Cut with an X-acto knife. Ready to assemble...

I pushed the cup in only half way. Then added a bull dog clip, just for a little extra reinforcement. : )

 Don't forget the lid!

The space between the cup and palette holds an extra brush. 

All done. And my thumb fits into the hole perfectly so I can hold the board with one hand. This will work perfectly while I stand, or sit, when painting in life classes, urban sketching or plein-air painting. It's nice and light. Can't wait to try it out!

I've left an extra bit on the right so that I can clip a cloth/paper towel there.  Happy Painting Everyone!

sharing

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

I never tire of painting people at cafes. The goal is always to find two people who have interesting body language because they are actually taking and listening to each other, as opposed to people on their computers and phones. Not always easy to find these days.

hand in hand

$40 - 5x7"painting with 8x10"mat ready to pop into a frame.

Here's the drawing I drew while walking down the street. I added lots of watercolour once I got home. : )

past the hot dog stand

$40 - 5x7"painting with 8x10"mat

The walking while drawing sketches are so fun to do. I just draw what I see, impulsively, and hope it works out. Sometimes it does... sometimes it doesn't. Either way the line is nice and loose. At home, I add fresh watercolour.

; )