afternoon outing

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

Well, here's my second piece from the day at the beach. I looooove painting boats (even little ones!) and plan to paint more of them this summer. They are colourful wonderful shapes. Here's a pic of my paintbox. You can see people standing by the boats but I added the little knapsack. : )

big blue umbrella

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

A day at the beach! I went plein-air painting with the Don Valley Art Club over the weekend. They've got lots of outdoor painting excursions planned so, I hope to attend many of them since painting with pals is such a treat. I added a little pen line to this piece to make sense of all the wonderful blues. : )

boxer booties

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$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 - 

purple tresses

 $80 - original 8x10" watercolour painting
I've been experimenting with my new Fude fountain pen. It's got a bent nib!

The nib allows you to move sideways across the paper with a thick strong line. It's actually quite heavy to hold, but it's wonderful. I got it on amazon. It's called The Duke.

The ink I used was not waterproof, so it's a bit tricky adding watercolour. It's from Scriptus '17 which is a Pen and Writing show held every year here in Toronto. The Confederation Brown was this show's handmade specialty ink. It's beautiful. It's olive green when drawing with it then a slight brown warmth emerges when it gets wet. Lovely stuff.

I believe waterproof ink in a fountain pen can cause it to clog up the nib, due to the shellac that is in it (which makes it waterproof). So, it was challenging to add water and colour to this free flowing ink. Fun though.

I got the photo ref from the awesome app called Sktchy.

rosie glow

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

I really relaxed into the pen markings with this one. ; )

just calm

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

It's cloudy today so my mood took me in this direction. I'm trying to respond to the colours, which I put down first, when adding the simple pen lines. Previously, I've always drawn before painting and this reverse process is really stretching my artist muscles.

sun mountain

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

I'm really enjoying making beautiful colourful washes, that only watercolour can make, with a new pad of cold-pressed paper. I'm still devoted to the hot-pressed that I've used for years but, to be honest, it doesn't take washes well. However, it does keep the incredible vibrancy of watercolours. I started watercolour painting with cold-pressed, as most artist do, and it's a treat revisiting it! 

; )

pink trees

 

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

I was creating watercolour washes on some new paper and the next thing I knew, this happened! I'm super happy with it and I'm super duper excited about a new direction in my work. : )

underwater

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

I found this awesome free reference photo at Pixabay. 

For InkTober I've been painting animals and that means painting from photos, which has it's pros and cons. Otherwise all my work is painted from life. 

The bonus is, finding a fun photo like this!

; )

poison!

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$60 - 7x5"original watercolour painting with 8x10"acid-free mat!

Well, Inktober Day 3 and the prompt word is poison! Since I'm on an animal kick I thought this spotted creature was a good choice. Careful... he's angry! 

; )

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! 😉

swift

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

Well, Inktober 2017 is underway and the first day's prompt word is 'swift'. I think this little cutie charging through the flowers makes for a running start!

lunch for 3

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

I drew these 3 guys with a strong gestural ink line then added a wash of colourful watercolour paint. I was very selective about what I left white. I wanted to do something a bit different and I'm very happy with the end design. : )

prairie ride

SOLD

$60 - 5x7" original watercolour painting with 8x10"acid-free mat. : )

This painting symbolizes freedom, depicted through a rider galloping across the open prairies. 

Hand Studies with Tiggs and Elly

I found some new cute finger puppets which I've named Tiggs and Elly. ; ) This is a continuation of a hand studies series I started some time ago. I'm happy to be back at it. 

: )

Close ups - 

snowy path

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

Finally! Lots of snow for me to paint! I love painting snow, it's nice and 'contrasty'.

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. : )

afternoon stroll

$40  - 5x7"painting with 8x10"mat
Well, my new Micron purple Brush Pen is now my new favourite drawing tool. Also, I'm revisiting my 'walking while drawing' idea. If people can text and walk, why can't I draw and walk! ; ) 
Here are some close-ups.

whispers

$60 5x7"painting with 8x10"mat

I managed to squeeze one more pen and wash painting in for Inktober 2016!

reach out

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

Love lavender!

here are some close ups -