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!

afternoon outing

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

Well, here's my second piece from the day at the beach. I looooove painting boats (even little ones!) and plan to paint more of them this summer. They are colourful wonderful shapes. Here's a pic of my paintbox. You can see people standing by the boats but I added the little knapsack. : )

living amongst the trees

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

I spent the day at the wonderful High Park here in Toronto, plein-air painting with a friend. We had a great day amongst all the green (!). Can you spot the little duck swimming by. There were lots of them keeping up company. : )

Making progress and trying to keep the greens interesting and true. The house is there... it's just 'amongst the trees', hence my title. : ) 

My little paintbox has served me well over the years. Placed on my lap as I work, it includes my palette, brushes, pencils, water container, a compact mirror (to look at the painting in reverse) and a rag clipped to the right side. It's just great!

the brook

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

It turns out that the James Gardens in Toronto is quite the hidden gem! A bunch of us from the Don Valley Art Club went painting there on Saturday only to discover hidden brooks, a beautiful duck pond, and lots of frogs and turtles. The place is a painters dream.

Here's a pic of my paintbox with my watercolour palette in it and a 6x8" watercolour pad bulldog clipped to it. I've done a lot of plein-air painting and urban sketching in this trusty little box. 

; )

I heart opera pink

$60 - 6x8"original watercolour painting with 8x10"mat. 

'Splish splash paint fast' was my philosophy when painting this one. : )

anticipation

SOLD

This is my second painting done today with the Toronto Urban Sketchers, at the Leslieville Farmer's Market. I promised myself I'd do a painting capturing the people there. Then, once I arrived and set up, I lost focus with all the activity, people, food, kids, etc. and I tried to do a painting with everything in it! I mean everything! Needless to say, it didn't work. I think keeping it simple while on location is best for me, until I really get the hang of it. So, here's the second one, which I'm very pleased with. ; )

$100 5x7"painting with 8x10"mat
Painting box and close ups - 

paint box

I've been doing a lot of urban sketching/plein-air painting with my trusty little paintbox. : ) It fits my Winsor & Newton travel watercolour palette perfectly and I can clip watercolour paper, up to 9x12", onto it. : ) It sits on my lap while I sit on a cheap aluminum camping stool. A lot more discreet and lightweight than a big easel. 

hidden door

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

Here's another one from Riverdale Farm. I saw this little hidden door and I thought it would be an interesting subject. I like paintings of door and/or windows. Below is a pic of my painting kit.

Sheraton Centre Hotel

I went urban sketching with the Toronto Urban Sketchers (TOUSK) yesterday. About 15 of us ventured over the to lovely Sheraton Centre Hotel which has a wonderful courtyard full of plants, rocks and a waterfall. The rooftop view is quite grand, but unfortunately it was surprisingly chilly yesterday. I happily remained warm and painted the plants and pond. 
I'm also trying to work bigger lately, so this one is 11x14".
Other news: I'm now on Instagram for those who like to follow! 

it's about time

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

The Toronto Distillery District is a wonderful historical area that has a slew of Victorian Industrial Architecture. It was once a brewery and all of the old machines are still intact, while cafes and shops built up around them. It's cool with lots of subjects to draw. I was there with the cheerful (and hilarious!) Don Valley Art Club Plein-Air Artists.

the gate at Philosopher's Walk

$60 - 6x8"painting 

The stone gate at Philosopher's walk has wonderful, slightly wacky, street lamps on it that I've been wanting to paint for some time. I found a shady spot during a warm afternoon and did this with charcoal pencil and watercolour.

Here's a pic of my paintbox, which is still holding up well considering it's just a thick paper mache box from the art store. It gets wet as I splash watercolour paint all over it, and it's slightly warped now... but it's still awesome.

colour happy

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There wasn't much sunshine on these echinacea so, I went with lots of colour instead! Below is a pic of my paintbox, which sits on my lap. Lots more examples of me using it on my Flickr Page.
$50 5x7"painting with 8x10"mat.

edge around

SOLD

Back out there! I love painting at the Toronto Botanical Gardens with the lovely ladies, (well... yesterday it was all ladies) from the Toronto Plein Air Group. Here is a pic of my trusty paintbox which sits on my lap. I may try to do this one larger in studio.
$50 - 5x7"painting with 8x10"mat.

let's go for a walk

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I had a wonderful time yesterday with a new group of artists, called Toronto Urban Sketchers. (Very much like the Toronto Plein-Air Painters.) Painting outside is a blast and I highly recommend trying it!

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

Here's a shot of my trusty paintbox.

with a splash of cranberry juice

SOLD

I painted this waterfall at the lovely Toronto Botanical Gardens with the Toronto Plein-Air Painters! I'm so happy that I joined this group since it takes all the intimidation out of painting outdoors.

The camera angle of my paintbox always makes it look like I was super far from the subject, but I wasn't really...

gems

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This is the second painting I did on Saturday at the Spadina Museum. A fellow plein air artist bought it right on the spot! I plan to go back and paint this greenhouse bigger. Well, 11x14", which is bigger for me!

Paintbox holding a 6x8" watercolour paper block and resting on my lap.

between

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My new favourite place in the world to plein-air paint! Spadina Museum and it's lovely garden.

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

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This little painting kit is just a strong cardboard box with my Winsor Newton palette in it, along with water cup, water spritzer, and a bull dog clip holding a rag. The watercolour block fits inside the lid nicely.