on the look out

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$90 - 6x6" original oil painting on 1/8" board

These lemons are working together, with an eye in each direction in case, you know, there's trouble. ; )

Here's the black and white 5 value study that we did in the awesome Sarah Sedwick Online Oil Level 2 Class on Saturday.

It was really helpful to do this! I often do a value sketch with pencil or charcoal first however, doing it in oil first really made a difference. 

Here's my set up, very similar to my iPad view during the Zoom class, so Sarah could see. There were about 18 of us and Sarah shared her screen, so she had her demo and her palette showing. It was really an excellent workshop. Very informative.

And here I am, sneaking into the photo. Cameras love to make one of my eyes wonky. #shrug

Cheers Y'all and Be Well. 

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. : ) 

morning side street

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$40 - 5x5" oil painting on 1" deep panel with painted sides. 

I drew a sketch for this sky study first (below) however, painting with oil is such a different experience than drawing with pencil that I'm not are how much the drawing 'helped'. Besides, I strayed quite far from the sketch composition.
Having said that, I do intend to keep doing sketches first. ; )

perky pink in copper pots

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$100 - 6x8" original oil painting with painted 1" deep sides.

Earth Day Pick Me Up!!

afternoon nap

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6x6" original oil painting on 1" deep wooden panel

This pretty little poppy is on the inside looking out. Like all of us these days. ; )

sides painted

hidden corner

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$60 - original 6x6" oil painting on 1"deep wooden panel

My first piece since returning from the breathtakingly beautiful Nova Scotia. This beautiful turquoise boat was hiding behind a lovely gray building at Peggy's Cove. Such a mesmerizing place. 

Details - 

three sisters

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$40 - 6x6" original oil painting on 1"deep wooden panel 

Light bouncing through glass always creates wonderful patterns on the table. This is another one from the little colourful glass bottle collection.​
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stand up to sit down

6x12" oil painting on 1"deep wooden panel.

When the model couldn't make it to our last portrait session, a fellow artist stood up to the occasion and sat for us. : ) 

I went for a high key palette (very light, like pastel colours) and really thought a lot about adding greys. 

polka dot reflections

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I had a blast figuring out the many reds in this little set up. The warmth of the red glass and the little polka dots challenged me for hours! The sides are painted pink too. Also with little polka dots. : )

Pics below show my process and my materials. 

morning chickadee

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$100 - 5x7" original oil painting on 1/8" panel.

This little chickadee loves to sing in the morning, sit high upon the tree tops and she pours lots of chocolate sauce on her sundaes. ; )

rail operator

8x8"original watercolour painting

I think my hard work, as I plug away at portraiture, is getting me closer to what I'm trying to achieve. Daily practise (or close to it) really is the answer.

tortoise shell glasses and a grey cat

$100 - 8x10"original watercolour painting

I love the way this portrait, or should I say portraits, asks the viewer to move their eyes back and forth from the woman to the cat, to the woman, to the cat, to the woman... well you get the idea. ; )

burst

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

A burst of flowers for the end of January. Already anticipating spring...!

afternoon shadows

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

Friends and I, from the Toronto Plein-Air Group, headed out to paint at Riverdale Farm yesterday. It's fun there however, after lunch we decided to wander across the street to Toronto's historic Necropolis Cemetery. It opened in 1850 and is full of old interesting gravestones as well as huge gorgeous trees. Such a beautiful and peaceful place. 

Below is a pic of my work in progress. I drew it with charcoal pencil then used lots of variations of green!

Bayview Watercolour Society

A few evenings ago, I did a Watercolour Demo for the Bayview Watercolour Society. First I spoke about my work as a daily painter, then about learning to draw from life drawing sessions and finally about being an urban sketcher. After the break I painted a small still life set up, which you can see in the bottom right.

Great wonderful intimate group. Thanks to everyone that attended!