cattails

$40 - 8x10"original watercolour painting.

I painted this sketch of cattails at the wonderful, very green, Corktown. Fellow pleinair painters and I set up our easels at this lovely lily pond, however it was the cattails that caught my eye. (Although fellow artists called them bulrushes). They actually remind my of my childhood since there were plenty of them in my neighbourhood and we always thought they were so cool!

climb

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

Not sure how this pic ended up so angled... but here's my drawing in my paintbox which sits on my lap. : )

Good 'ole Winsor Newton travel palette with my choice of tube paints squeezed out. I change and/or add colours as my style changes over the years. Although the warm cool staples remain the same. 

The path didn't go in that direction, but I added it since there was just so much greenery around the base of the little building. I know everyone says green is a difficult colour. Not sure that's true, it's just that there's always so much of it! I decided to call this one 'climb' for two reasons, the little ladder and because the flowers are climbing towards the sun. : )

rocky stream

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

Fellow painters and I spent the day at the wonderful Toronto Botanical Gardens called Edwards Gardens. While under a shady tree, I painted this rocky stream, which was moving quite fast from all the rain we've had. There were about 10 of us from the Don Valley Art Club there and we all had a great sunny day. Below are a few pics of my trusty paintbox. ; )

1/2 way there...

through the garden gate

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I spent Saturday at the Toronto Botanical Gardens with fellow artists from the Don Valley Art Club. It's a place I've painted at many times before however, this time, I stumbled across a hidden garden archway. I think I'm finally getting the hang of plein-air painting. It's soooo challenging. 
$160 - 8x16"painting
Here's my set up - 

and here's me!

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.

wee wee wee

$50 - 5x7"painting 

I went out plein-air painting with some friends to the Riverdale Farm which has the cutest little pigs. Super adorable! They were total sleepy heads... which made them a bit easier to capture with paper and paint.

Still working on how to paint bigger when out in the field. 

Daily Painting

I'm thrilled to be included in Carol Marine's new book called Daily Painting, which is about exactly that! TONS of great instruction and advice with a wonderful personal touch. 

Avail on Amazon.

come on over

I painted with the Toronto Plein-Air group today at the awesome High Park. A beautiful little red tree was behind me, so I invited it over to my painting to jazz up the shoreline of Grenadier Pond.

$60 - 7x5"painting with 8x10"mat.

ivy window

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

A friend and I spent the day at the wonderful Rosetta McClain Gardens here in Toronto. I'm loving this 'never ending' summer!!!!

virdian

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Here is the last of my urban sketches from Toronto's Distillery District. The wonderful old buildings are made of stone with green accents. I'll go back for more inspiration soon!

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

keep on truckin'

Today's urban moment. I've included a pic of me on-site, at a coffee shop way across the street, with my eye makeup holder/palette.

$30 - 5x7"painting.

courtyard corner

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I couldn't wait until September to get back out there and paint! I cycled over to the University of Toronto's Knox College and painted in the beautiful courtyard today.

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

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

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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.

over the Humber

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When people and cars cross this bridge, over the Humber River, you can just see their little heads and car tops go by.

$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.

front yard friend

I've been painting outdoors this summer and since there's so much green out there, I've decided to put myself on a 7 Day Tree Challenge. This is Tree 1.

sunny but cool

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

It's been a wonderful sunny but cool summer. I had a blast painting this motorcycles. I just let the red paint ooze all over the place!

So, back outside to paint.

with a splash of cranberry juice

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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...