Portrait of Me from a Friend!

Hey, I thought I'd share this watercolour painting that a friend did of me. I just love it! I sat last Sunday at our portrait painting session, for 25 minutes, and I really think she captured me. : )

Portrait Sketch

$100 - 6x6" original oil painting on wooden panel

My collection of 6x6 inch portrait paintings is growing. They look cool hanging in 9 by 9 rows. Groups of paintings always ask the viewer to make comparisons that you might not make when looking at only one painting. And, I'm having a wonderful time painting them. ; )

Annual Life Drawing Exhibit

Come by this Saturday February 8th!  

Over 20 artists are in the life drawing show.

I'll be there with my three portraits from 1-3pm. 

35 Hazelton Lanes, Yorkville, Toronto.

Cheers ya'll!

quiet dignity

6x8" original gouache painting on toned paper

The Strathmore toned paper is wonderful to paint on however, for this piece, I decide to darken the background a bit with some lovely purple. I think it helps her white hair 'pop'. ; )

Hot Pink

8x10" original gouache painting on artist quality gray paper

The model's lovely pink shirt bounced colour into her cheeks, forehead and hair. It was tons of fun painting with Opera Pink which is pretty much the 'hottest' pink around. : )

Harry's Hat

 
$60 - 6x8" original gouache painting
I love it when the model wears a hat. The light, or should I say shadow, ; ) that falls on the model's face is quite a treat to paint.

portrait on blue and 'table easel'

Here's my latest 6x8" original gouache painting on Strathmore toned blue mixed media paper, which I told you about in my last blog post. I love it. The blue paper (really a cool gray) certainly helps the lighter colours pop.
Also, here are a few pics of my new paintbox and painting materials. 

I just bought this cute little 12x10" decorative suitcase. It's perfect as a table easel and the lid stays propped open.

 

Here it is, fitting all my supplies perfectly. It's about 3"deep. I've been looking for a table easel and this one is a lot more fun, and practical, than the wooden ones. Most importantly, I can balance it on my lap for painting outdoors. 

I've got a pad of 5x7"paper resting in the 1" deep lid, gouache paint kit, water container, paper towels, brushes and a gray paper palette for mixing. Since the lid is 12x10", it fits an 8x10" pad too. (That's just a piece of foam core board behind the paper). Perfect!

sweet smile

SOLD

$60 - 5x7"original watercolour with 8x10"mat, ready for store bought frame. 

I painted this lovely model during a life drawing session, using complimentary colours red and green. I love her subtle expression.

a couple of portraits

Two 11x14" watercolour pieces (with a couple of details) from my last life painting session. : )

today at life painting

 1 minute gesture painting

 2 minute gesture painting

5 minute painting

First day back at life painting! Here are a few paintings from today, of my favourite model. I used charcoal pencil to draw, added green and warm/cool reds, then a splash of turquoise. I tried to stay loose and as gestural as possible. Soooo fun. If you haven't tried drawing from life, I highly recommend it. You never know what might happen when you're under the time pressure.

The Challenge of Portrait

 9x12" original watercolour painting

Well, this portrait was a tough one. 
The spot light on the model put his face half in shadow, so the darkness fell right down the middle of him. I didn't want to wash out the right side completely, (although that can be very dramatic.) I almost left the piece as a pencil drawing but, I still had 2 hours left of the 3 hour portrait session and leaving it felt a bit safe. So, although the pencil drawing was a really good likeness, I got out my watercolours and tried to find some balance in it. 
I learned A LOT with this one and I think I'm a bit closer to where I want to be with portraits... The struggle continues, happily. ; )

pensive in pink

11x14" original watercolour

Today's model has a very intense pink sweater on. So, I used good 'ole "opera pink", which is a wonderfully hot pink. I added the same colour in the background, her hair and in her cheeks to balance everything. She was so still and pensive! Wonderful model. 

orange glow

$80 - original 8x10"watercolour painting

This lovely life model had a beautiful stillness about her, that I hope I captured. I was a bit nervous when I chose the lime green contrasting background but now I'm glad I went for it. ; )

Monday's Model

SOLD

$80 - 8x10"original watercolour painting

Yesterday's model was just lovely. It was our first week back in the new year and it was a great way to kick things off. Here are a few details of her portrait and hair. Hair is tricky! Big brush, confident strokes and leave it alone! ; )

Portraits at Todmorden Mills Gallery

The Don Valley Art Club show at Todmorden Mills Gallery ends this weekend. Last chance. ; ) 

We spent our Sunday portrait session at the Gallery instead of our usual studio. It was wonderful and challenging to be in this new setting. The space includes an auditorium so, during intermission, many of the audience members wandered past us as we plugged away at our 25 minute portrait sessions. It was great to combine all the arts together. The Don Valley Art Club is my faaaaaavourite art group in Toronto!

shazam t-shirt

 I finally remembered to take photos of my watercolour process. I drew him with a 6B pencil, which allows for a dark and light contrasty line. I drew him as quickly as I could while still watching for accuracy.

 I always start the drawing and the painting with the face. It seems I need to get that down first before the rest can follow.

 I like emphasizing shadows on the floor to really ground the figure. Without them, the person can look like they're 'floating'.

12x16" - original watercolour painting

Here's the finished product. I did his portrait first (last post) then, realizing how cute his t-shirt was and how interesting his seated body language was, I decided to do this much looser full figure.
And finally, here is a close up of it.

walking man

11x14" original watercolour painting.

I painted this portrait yesterday at a Sunday Painting Workshop. The model went for walks during his break, (every 20 minutes) because it was such a lovely day. So, he returned for each sitting with his cheeks slightly pink. : ) He wore a pink/red shirt so, it all went together nicely.
Here are two more photos, of the drawing and one of the model in the background.

a song

SOLD

A second portrait from life drawing this week. 

$50 - 5"x7" watercolour painting with 8"x10" matt.

passion iced tea

CLICK HERE TO BUY

Unlike yesterday, today's model wasn't very inspiring. So I painted my friend across the studio from me. He also likes Starbucks Passion Iced Tea.

$20 EACH - 7"x9" and 8"x10" watercolour paintings

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Amanda

The awesome life model Amanda.

SOLD

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