Inktober - Gargoyle, Scurry and Bouquet

 So far, I'm having a blast participating in Inktober 2022

For the month of October, artists are encouraged to do a daily drawing with ink.

By following the prompt list, I end up painting a lot of things I might not paint.

I'm using the Elegant Writer Pens by Speedball. They're watersoluble so, the dark ink bleeds as I add watercolour, a look I enjoy for this project.

great hair!

 

$80
7x5"original watercolour painting includes 8x10"mat 

Great Hair! I used a two colour palette, a warm and and cool, to explore the many beautiful tones in this model's skin. Very happy with her! Check out the pics below of the original drawing. Cheers. : )

Portrait Drawing Practical Tips... Again!

The Portrait Class on Zoom went so well... it's Back! For those who missed it last time, I hope to see you THIS TUESDAY EVENING on Zoom! All the information is here for you. Click the PayPal BUTTON when you're ready to register. 

FULL

PORTRAIT DRAWING Practical Tips

TUESDAY JUNE 29, '21

6pm - 8pm EST

$40 CAD 

PayPal will convert currency for you, if necessary. Email me for e-transfer or personal cheque. nora904@yahoo.com  

😀

 In this Zoom class we will explore portraits

using a practical approach

with lots of helpful tips!

An easy-to-remember block-in method

using lots of measures of facial features,

as well as using comparisons to find a likeness,

will all be demonstrated.

Get your sketchbooks out and your pencils ready,

as you draw-along with me

learning many portrait tips along the way!

Some portrait drawing experience is suggested.

Please be familiar with Zoom before attending.

Questions? Just ask - nora904@yahoo.com

SUPPLIES

 I will email you a line drawing 

that you need to print out (or trace) three times.

A sketchbook (9x12") or Newsprint Pad,

Your favourite dark pencils or pens,

(I'll use 6B pencil and charcoal pencils)

A few coloured pencils

PDF

You will receive an email with a PDF 

of all the handouts that I cover,

after the class.

PLEASE NOTE: I will communicate with you through the email address you use with your PayPal account unless you tell me otherwise.

Double Check your Time Zone.

Email confirmation sent out after you Pay. (It will include a line drawing you'll need).

This class is not recorded (just like real life 😉).

Waiting Room opens at 5:45pm EST.

See you on Zoom!

an understanding

 

click button to buy - 

$80 - 5x7"original watercolour painting in 8x10"acid-free mat.

My 'in conversation' series continues. This is number 20! I love the body language that can happen between two people listening only to each other. I managed to capture him 'thinking'. 

in thought

9x12" oil painting on the back of a sketchbook cover. ; )

Today's Two-Colour Portrait was done with Light Magenta and Burnt Umber. I chose a warm and cool colour, thinking the pink was the warm, (since it's in the red category) only to quickly realize the brown is the warmer of the two. #doh I mean, burnt umber is orange right...?! 

I gessoed the board with a white and black gesso mix in order to see my values. 

Next is another picture of the whole piece, (on a black background so you can see it) I love the perforations and I let the orange and yellow, from the original board, show up. (I sanded the gesso off the edges to bring that colour back). I added a little brush mark of my original palette, the two-colours... and white of course, to the bottom right hand corner. ; )

Here's my preliminary sketch in charcoal, also 9x12".

  

And here's my palette. I don't usually mix colours first, but for these two-colour portraits I do, so that I can really get a handle on the three values I'm using.

I take a black and white pic of my palette, before I start painting, to see if the values are right. See how the light values match each other, and the mid values match each other, as well as the grey paper palette I use. 

By the end of it, my three value painting is really five values. I bring in a few mid-lights and mid-darks. I try to keep it to three, since three value paintings are nice and clean, and easy to 'read' from across the room. But sometimes, for portrait structure, a few more values are necessary.

Thank you for stopping by! I appreciate your time. Take care ya'll. : )

fella with hat

click here to purchase - 

8x10" original drawing in charcoal on warm grey Canson paper. 

And now for something completely different! I used to draw on this lovely warm Canson grey paper all the time, using charcoal with light pink ​pastel highlights. It's a very satisfying approach because the paper is cool and the greys are so warm and soft. I love the harmony and I thought, for my Sunday Portrait, I would revisit this style. : )

Portraits Workshop - APRIL 25, '20

SATURDAY APRIL 25, 2020!

I'll be teaching a Portraits Workshop here in Toronto with the Willowdale Group of Artists. I'm really looking forward to it. 

Here's the description - 

PORTRAITS

with Nora MacPhail

In this workshop we will explore an approach to portraits using an easy-to-remember way to block-in. This method includes using measurements for finding facial features, as well as using comparisons to find a likeness. Common mistakes and how to improve them will also be reviewed. No more struggling with egg heads and wonky eyes. ; ) 

I will do demos using photographs. Artist will be doing lots of drawing (bring your sketchbooks!) and we will be painting with watercolour. 

CONTACT ADELE - wgaworkshops@gmail.com

MEDIUM - Watercolour (and Drawing Materials).

PHOTOS - Bring your copyright free reference photos of adults (no children - those measurements are different). Try to find photos that are close ups of the head and shoulders with contrasting lighting. I will bring extra photos for participants to work from.

MATERIALS - 

Bring painting supplies you like and what you’re used to. Materials list is attached.

You can check out my work on Instagram at noramacphailart or my online art gallery at -  https://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/nora-macphail-1599

SEE YOU THERE!

a friendly face

$60 -8x10" original watercolour painting.

Lately, I've been missing watercolour. The look is so light and fresh. So, here's today's daily painting.

Drawing the Bangarra Dancers!!!

 

 

I had an absolutely awesome time with the Toronto Urban Sketchers on Friday. We were invited to draw the Bangarra Dancers, from Australian, as they warmed up the morning of their performance. Then, some of us returned that evening for the actual performance, called "Spirit", which celebrated their 30 years as a dance company. 

I used charcoal pencil and newsprint and just drew as fast as I could! They did not stop moving. Their idea of an hour warm up was a work out like I've never seen. Truly spectacular dancers! Very inspiring. 

Lines!!

This portrait sketching exercise is about drawing fast, using as few lines as possible (I tried to stick to 20...) and using both the point and side of the pencil. I loved this process. I wish I did them on artist quality paper. They are on newsprint and I have yet to learn the lesson, always use good paper! ; )

Prismacolor Coloured Pencils

Some fellow artist and I from, the Toronto Plein-Air Group, met at the awesome Riverdale Farm to do some sketching. In order to take colour out of the equation and get back to basics, I decided to draw with Prismacolor Coloured Pencils on newsprint. 

 I used Sepia because it's a nice warm brown (although it's a bit hard to tell with my location photos). Newsprint is equally good and bad. It's soft so it's lovely to draw on. It 'takes' so many drawing media, like pencil, coloured pencil and charcoal, so nicely. But, it yellows over time since it isn't acid-free. Very  frustrating! So, I'm on the search for a paper than is smooth like newsprint and allows erasing as easily. I guess I'll have to go back to my favourite place... the art store. ; )

 Here's a detail. 

So great to be back out there plein-air drawing. I've only been twice this summer. That'll have to change!