inside joke

click here to purchase - 

$90 - 5x7" original oil painting on 1/8" panel.

Today's Two Colour Portrait was with Lemon Yellow and Dioxazine Purple, plus white for mixing. I'm getting the hang of this limited palette approach. : ) 

Values of Tube Colours

I thought I'd share my latest homework with you. ; )

In the left picture you can see that I placed a healthy brushstroke of every colour on my palette, fresh out of the tube, and put them down the centre of the page. Then, using ultramarine blue, burnt umber and white, I made greys to match the exact value of the colour. I got the first two wrong. Doh. But then I got the hang of it.

The picture on the right is a black and white photo of the same page. You can see I got most of my values right. (Phew). 

I learned that tube colours are a lot darker than I thought. Also, intensity, like the hot opera pink, is very misleading.

I did this exercise years ago and my repeating the exercise yesterday was long overdue. Very helpful!

all together

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

I loved painting the little circles on the vase! This low strong lighting, (an idea I got from the awesome dailypainter Lisa Daria) is really cool. Such wonderful contrasts! Check out pics below...

new heights

SOLD

6x8" original oil painting on 1" deep board

I just went for it with the glass jar (see detail below). I'm super happy with the brush strokes. I really tried to just respond to what I saw. Now... to keep painting this loose. Hmm. ; )

I really do like turquoise with pink and orange. 

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. 

; )

One Handed Palette and Water Holder!

My new watercolour palette and water cup holder. I saw one of these on Urban Sketchers, so I decided to make my own. : )

I got an inexpensive plastic corrugated board from the hardware store and flipped it over to use the back. I got plastic (not cardboard) so that it's WATERPROOF.

The water cup MUST have a lip on it. (dollar store)

Position the cup where you want it and trace it with a sharpie. Trace the BOTTOM of it! Make sure the hole is smaller than the lip.

I decided to cut a shape for the thumb hole on my palette too. (This is optional if you don't use a thumb hole.) A bulldog clip can hold your palette to the board.

 Ready to cut...

Cut with an X-acto knife. Ready to assemble...

I pushed the cup in only half way. Then added a bull dog clip, just for a little extra reinforcement. : )

 Don't forget the lid!

The space between the cup and palette holds an extra brush. 

All done. And my thumb fits into the hole perfectly so I can hold the board with one hand. This will work perfectly while I stand, or sit, when painting in life classes, urban sketching or plein-air painting. It's nice and light. Can't wait to try it out!

I've left an extra bit on the right so that I can clip a cloth/paper towel there.  Happy Painting Everyone!

Doodlewash Interview!

Charlie O'Shields, who initiated #WorldWatercolorMonth as July starting this year, has interviewed me for his blog. Super thilled about it. It was very gracious of him and I'm extremely happy with the interview! 
Link HERE at Doodlewash to read it!

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. 

breathe easy

Happy Easter Weekend Everyone!

I've rediscovered the joy of painting grapes!?! And working with Winsor Newton Magenta.

$100 - 8x10"watercolour painting. This painting is now framed.

Watercolour Classes - a few spots left!

I'll be teaching Watercolour Classes, here in Toronto, starting in 3 weeks! We'll do classes in Hand Studies, Animals and Abstracts.

contact Adele at wgaworkshops@gmail.com

Only $55 for non-members. : )

Hope to see you there.

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.

canopy

SOLD

I found another Cherry Blossom Tree! This one was peeking out from within all the green trees along Philosopher's Walk.

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

And, of course, here's my paintbox.

a Tuesday in April

SOLD
I spent this rainy Tuesday urban sketching in a dry cafe, drawing people.
$40 - 5x7"painting with 8x10"mat.
Here's my process - 

I drew with my 6B pencil on a small hot-pressed watercolour pad.

You can see my tiny palette, that was once an eye shadow kit! Very unobtrusive!

Also, my small water container, a rag and my size 14 watercolour paint brush.

Another customer sat down, so I quickly added her, left of the blonde woman.

Happy with this one... and onto another. : )