Annual Christmas Market Craft Sale

 

I know, I know... we haven't even had Halloween yet! But, the following Saturday, I'll have a table at the Annual Christmas Market Craft Sale. It's a super fun, affordable, crafts-y show. I'll have small paintings, crochet christmas tree ornaments and hand-painted cards. Lots to see on November 5th from 10-4pmET.

Toronto - 361 Danforth Ave. at Chester Subway Station. You'll see the big sign!

sharing a cookie

 

$100 - 

6x8" cradled panel - original watercolour painting. 

3/4"sides painted to match.

​Watercolour on Cradled Panel! I'm so please that I was able to safely adhere the 5x7" watercolour painting on paper to a 6x8" cradled panel. It's ready to go (see photo below). I painted the panel orange, which I think really adds to it, and then sprayed it with a watercolour friendly varnish. No more glass. Phew.

the walk home

 

click PayPal button to purchase -

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

Heading into a warm sunset after a cool snowy day. : )

hands in pockets

 

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$80 - 5x7" original watercolour painting on paper with 8x10" acid-free mat.

I love painting snow! It forms such fantastic shapes as it settles on cars and stairs, and even on the recycling bins. ; ) 

Latest Portraits!

(see the cat?!)

These are the latest oil sketches I've done... all on Zoom with my awesome Portrait Pals. : ) I call them sketches because the poses are short and the panels are about 7x9". Sometimes I touch them up but often, I leave them alone. They are what they are! : )

the favourite old suit

 

 click here to buy - 

$80 - 5x7" original watercolour painting with 8x10"mat

Today's coat is a lot different than yesterday's big yellow one! ; )

This is the first time one of my "In Conversation" paintings has the subjects standing. No one is sitting at cafes right now! #doh.

Another very splish-splash watercolour. There really is no medium like it.

The time-lapse film of this one is over on my Instagram page - https://www.instagram.com/noramacphailart/

be a friend

click here to buy - 

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

More and more I realize how much adding people's hands helps with expression. In this piece, they kind of mirror each other. One of my pieces for my ongoing "In Conversation" series.

an understanding

 

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$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'. 

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! ; )

Portrait Practise and... 8 years today!!

I spent this morning practising portraits with coloured pencil. A fun thing to be doing on the 8th anniversary of my blog!! 

Thank you all for the ongoing support and encouragement. I appreciate all your comments. Having a blog is a great way to working consistently, especially when the blog community is so inspiring. 

Cheers y'all ; )

doc

 - $60 original 6x8" painting in gouache

I felt like painting with green and purple today. Since the model was lit from both sides I thought I'd paint one side predominantly green and the other purple. I brought in some reds down the middle to warm up his lovely friendly face and bring it all together. I love the colours green and purple together. 

sketching on a thursday afternoon

This little sketch happened today. I'm enjoying making short videos of my painting process. You can see this one painted HERE on Instagram. The clips are 1 minute each because that's the length limit Instagram accepts. So... it's in two parts. ; )

a good read

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

It was so nice to see someone reading a book at a local cafe this morning. Instead of having their nose in their phone. When I first started drawing I captured people reading all the time. Now, it's a rare treat.

heading home with Saturday's shopping

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

I'm really enjoying painting this 'Toronto People' series. Everyone is so interesting! ; )

bunny sip

$60 - original 8x10"watercolour painting 

Little stuffed bunny wants a sip too. ; )

summer boots

$60 - original 8x10" watercolour painting

This dude is enjoying a cold drink on a hot hot day!

big blue umbrella

SOLD

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

A day at the beach! I went plein-air painting with the Don Valley Art Club over the weekend. They've got lots of outdoor painting excursions planned so, I hope to attend many of them since painting with pals is such a treat. I added a little pen line to this piece to make sense of all the wonderful blues. : )

all these years

$80 - 8x10"original watercolour painting

Well, here's my first contribution to the #30x30DirectWatercolor2018 Challenge set my Marc Taro Holmes. 30 paintings for the month of June. I thought this sweet couple that I drew at an outdoor cafe would be a nice place to start. 

We'll see how I do with this very challenging challenge.

favourite hat

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

Well, it seems the 'hat wearers' just keep on coming. Today's cafe moment features 2 people in hats, which are such a treat to paint. I don't think this woman knew I was drawing her, she seemed more excited that we were all enjoying the Passion Iced Tea. Her friend included. His just peeks out from behind his arm. 

: )