Regal Profile

 

SOLD

$150 - 6x6" original oil painting on 1/8"board

Painting this model's portrait was a very zen experience for me. It was early on a Sunday morning and as I painted, I listened to a fellow artist with not only a British accent, but also a buttery voice. It was just wonderful. I kinda zoned out while I relied on all of my past painting experience to get it right. Very happy with this one (and it's pair posted next!)

looking up

 

click here to purchase - 

$80 - original oil painting on 1/8" canvas panel

Today I drew the model (from a zoom session, super fun) with cerulean blue. Then I mixed up some lime green and some purple and just used those two colours, plus white of course. It turned out to be a challenging but very modern palette. It took me a while to warm up to it but now, I love the way it looks.

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. ; )

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'. ; )

sunhat shadows

$200 - 8x8" original oil painting on 1" deep panel

Well, this girl was quite a challenge! I loved exploring the shadows falling over the top half of her face, and balancing it with the lights on her cheeks. Also, I worked with a green and purple palette which created some helpful guidelines. I'm very happy with her!

painted 1" deep sides

fixings...

Usually when people talk about 'fixings' on American Thanksgiving, they mean food. Well, I'll be doing some fixing today... not with food but with these three portraits. ; ) 

I'm so happy with parts of them but...

it's the eyes, eyes, and eyes. Perhaps they are a bit far apart...

perhaps they're too small...

perhaps they are... well actually there's lots of probs with this one. So today, I'm at the easel fixing 3 portraits. Hopefully a few brush strokes will bring each one to it's finished state. : )

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.

bushy brows

12x6" original oil painting

Here's my paintbox with lots of white oil paint on my grey painter's palette pad.

Blocking in with yellow ochre and figuring out the shadow side first.

Trying to keep the paint on my grey painter's palette more organized!

Palette eventually gets kinda messy on the right hand side... oh well...: )

And here's a detail of the face. Cheers!

natural beauty

8x10” original oil painting on 3/4” deep panel

I’m very happy with the end result of this one, with all the cool green light bouncing around. I really wanted to do the model justice. I’m adding lots of colour on the light side, like I do with my watercolours, and still keeping it harmonious. Each portrait really is it's own learning process. 🙋🏻

zone

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

This model was so gracious. It's funny, models can be perfectly still and be in their own zone but still be giving so much energy to the artists.

#OneWeek100People2019 Challenge

The challenge started today! So, off I went to life drawing class with pencil in hand.

I always try to capture one good little pencil portrait for my sketchbook. 

Below are some gesture drawings. I added the artists... (I have to get to 100 somehow!)

The challenge was started by Marc Taro Holmes, a wonderful fellow urban sketcher and awesome artist. Below are a few of the 2 minute gestures. 

Anyone can join in the fun. Give it a go, see the facebook page and hashtag it #OneWeek100People2018 

That's 22 people sketches. (Let's agree that drawing the same person counts.)

Bella

SOLD - $120 - 9x12"original watercolour painting

I've been painting this lovely model for 19 years now. I believe she was the first life model I ever drew. It's always a lovely surprise when she shows up for our session.
Meanwhile, portraits aren't getting easier... just different. Here's a detail - 

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. ; )

Payne's Gray

Drawing with a charcoal pencil then adding Payne's Gray was a new approach for me yesterday. I was at my weekly life drawing session and thought I would give this combination a try. I love Payne's Gray however artists stay away from it because it doesn't blend well. But it's such a lovely gray! So, I decided, the heck with it, and I purchased Winsor Newton Artist quality Payne's Gray. 

Well... it doesn't blend nicely. It's sticky and doesn't want to cooperate. I'm happy with my results but it was a real struggle. 

Also, after spending money on the artist quality stuff, it turns out I much prefer the Cotman student brand of Payne's Gray. It's a lot less of a "pains gray". 

; )

pigtail buns

SOLD

$100 - 8x10" original watercolour painting

I love this hairstyle. Pigtail Buns! So cute.

I posted a sketch study of this same model a few posts ago. 

in thought

$100 - 8x10"original watercolour painting.

One of my favourite models, I love her classic thoughtful look.

I made a quick slide show of the painting process for this portrait, which you can see on my Instagram page!

portrait in progress... or finished portrait.

16x20"original watercolour painting

Well, at our Sunday portrait session at the Don Valley Art Club, a fellow artist wore this lovely scarf over her head. I intended to paint it however, since each sitting is only 25 minutes, I didn't get to it in time. Now I'm not sure if I should paint it. I love the painting as it is. Then again, the scarf was quite beautiful and I have a photo to work. But, it's never the same as from life. Hmmm. Thoughts?

; )

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. ; )