Two Pups

 

$100 

10"x10" cradled panel with 8x8" original watercolour painting.

I drew these two pups, which were sooooo cute, while at a cafe enjoying a sunny day. I love the striped shirt vs. the flower shirt, not to mention the contrast with the checkered chair backs. Lots of fun stuff to paint!

This is my new way of presenting my paintings. It took some time to perfect it, but the painting is completely adhered to the panel, painted with gouache. I love painting a strong vibrant colour for the background. It's like it's own frame so, it's ready to hang. Varnished too!

sharing a cookie

 

$100 - 

6x8" cradled panel - original watercolour painting. 

3/4"sides painted to match.

​Watercolour on Cradled Panel! I'm so please that I was able to safely adhere the 5x7" watercolour painting on paper to a 6x8" cradled panel. It's ready to go (see photo below). I painted the panel orange, which I think really adds to it, and then sprayed it with a watercolour friendly varnish. No more glass. Phew.

for your info

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

Enjoying a Friday off with a coffee, a treat and today's news.

catching up on some thinking

 

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

It's always nice to sit with a cup of tea and catch up on some thinking. Or in my case, some drawing... ; )

a good read

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

It was so nice to see someone reading a book at a local cafe this morning. Instead of having their nose in their phone. When I first started drawing I captured people reading all the time. Now, it's a rare treat.

all these years

$80 - 8x10"original watercolour painting

Well, here's my first contribution to the #30x30DirectWatercolor2018 Challenge set my Marc Taro Holmes. 30 paintings for the month of June. I thought this sweet couple that I drew at an outdoor cafe would be a nice place to start. 

We'll see how I do with this very challenging challenge.

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. 

sharing a piece of chocolate cake

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

It's the holidays! I spent my first afternoon off at a cafe, drinking a hot chocolate and drawing some people. These two lovely women took a break from shopping to share a piece of chocolate cake. : )

1 minute video of me sketching

Recently, while at a cafe, I made a little video of myself sketching with a 6B pencil.
I can't seem to get the video to upload here... so click the link and you can check it out on my instagram page! 
https://www.instagram.com/noramacphailart/
It's also on my Facebook page. Meanwhile, I'll figure out how to make the clip file smaller so blogger will accept it next time, since I plan to do more!  : p

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.

tea and cinnamon

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

I drew this while enjoying a tea with cinnamon myself. 

close ups-

hanging out on Sunday

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

Well, I think the title says it all.

just enjoying the day

I do enjoy drawing at cafes! 

$80 - 8x10"painting.

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!

on holiday

Spent some time at a cafe doing a little people sketching. I used a 6B pencil. Both men were relaxed and I wanted to capture the way they were draped onto their chairs... hence the title of the painting.

Then I added a bit of line work, finding the darks with a Micron Brush pen. After a while, the main fellow put on a scarf which I happily added. 

And of course, I added watercolour. The thing that attracted me to the sketch in the first place was the way the hands, shoe and legs all lined up. It was like a game of Twister! Fun to draw. : )

extra caramel

SOLD

The challenge for this painting was, given my love for lines, trying to leave selective areas alone, letting the pencil marks stand on their own. : )

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

close ups -

aroma

SOLD

I was inspired by the Daily Paintworks Interiors Challenge for this one, which I drew while enjoying my morning tea. I usually ask for a little steamed milk with extra foam on my tea, just to jazz it up a bit. ; )

$50 - 5x7"painting with 8x10"mat.

a Tuesday in April

SOLD
I spent this rainy Tuesday urban sketching in a dry cafe, drawing people.
$40 - 5x7"painting with 8x10"mat.
Here's my process - 

I drew with my 6B pencil on a small hot-pressed watercolour pad.

You can see my tiny palette, that was once an eye shadow kit! Very unobtrusive!

Also, my small water container, a rag and my size 14 watercolour paint brush.

Another customer sat down, so I quickly added her, left of the blonde woman.

Happy with this one... and onto another. : )