Halloween Fun!

 

Another great Zoom Portrait Sessions. WooHoo! I think the whole group of artists, who pose for each other for 20 minutes, are all getting really good. This weekly practise is really paying off. Everyone has improved!! And today, being Halloween, the costumes made things super fun. Happy Halloween Y'all!!

Portrait of Me from a Friend!

Hey, I thought I'd share this watercolour painting that a friend did of me. I just love it! I sat last Sunday at our portrait painting session, for 25 minutes, and I really think she captured me. : )

Latest News!

First of all, it turns out that there was an article about our art show in the Toronto Observer, including a pic of me and my art table! Here's the link. 

Second, I decided to use gouache at our Don Valley Art Club portrait session. 

Gouache (opaque watercolour) creates a mat finish of very intense colours.

These 25 minute poses, at 5x7" each, are fellow artists. It's challenging to grab hold of a bit of likeness in the short time allowed. I'm going to keep playing with this medium. 

We'll see... ; )

our fearless leader!

6x12" original watercolour

At our portrait session last weekend, I decided to create 6x12" paintings. Mostly because I had paper that size and I wanted to use it up. ; ) I drew a loose energetic line with charcoal pencil then added lots of fresh watercolour paint.

On most social media, like Facebook and Instagram, you can only post pics as a square. So, here's the complete painting.

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.

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". 

; )

sun hat

5x7" original watercolour painting

As I said in my last post, it was Hat Day at Portrait Drawing on Sunday so here's another painting of a fellow artist wearing a... well you know. ; )
I won't be approaching dots on the face (to represent the light coming through a hat) in this manner again. It's not working for me. And that is exactly what short poses are all about, figuring out what works and what doesn't. Paint Small and Learn Big.

pensive in pink

11x14" original watercolour

Today's model has a very intense pink sweater on. So, I used good 'ole "opera pink", which is a wonderfully hot pink. I added the same colour in the background, her hair and in her cheeks to balance everything. She was so still and pensive! Wonderful model. 

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?

; )

cute bangs

On Sunday, at the awesome Don Valley Art Club portrait session, I got about half way with this one. I thought, just get the drawing right in the 25 minutes we have, since I can always finish painting it at home. Usually, as is the exercise, I try to completely finish the painting in the allotted 25 minutes.

I am very happy with the finished portrait. However, despite having a photo to work from at home, I really think finishing the painting from life at DVAC is the better choice. I think some slight kind of energy or freshness escaped the portrait. So, for now, I'll finish from life whether I have 25 minutes or 3 hours... ; )

Portraits at Todmorden Mills Gallery

The Don Valley Art Club show at Todmorden Mills Gallery ends this weekend. Last chance. ; ) 

We spent our Sunday portrait session at the Gallery instead of our usual studio. It was wonderful and challenging to be in this new setting. The space includes an auditorium so, during intermission, many of the audience members wandered past us as we plugged away at our 25 minute portrait sessions. It was great to combine all the arts together. The Don Valley Art Club is my faaaaaavourite art group in Toronto!

there's something'...

I'm very happy with this portrait, done from life last week. It's not quite a likeness but I captured somethin'.... I think I got the intensity that the model was putting out there. He didn't just sit, daydreaming or getting bored. Being an artist himself, he knew how to give us painters an interesting energetic, although still, pose. : ) 

parallels

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

Here's another piece from my last figure drawing session. Same model, same palette. 

whiz

$30 - 9x12" original watercolour painting on 90lb paper.

Today's life model was full of energy when posing for short poses. I think I captured his spark in this charcoal drawing as he whizzed around from pose to pose. Then I added splashes of turquoise, purple and red.

that far right eye...

Well, I know how hard it is to draw the far right eye on a model when you can just barely see it. Next time I'll be sure to adjust my seat to the right for a profile or the left, so I can really see the eye. However, I got so caught up in the lovely shape of the model's hair that I just started drawing. I'm actually happy with it and although the hair may look unfinished, I chose to leave it, and the shirt, this way and I consider this portrait study finished. : )

11x14" watercolour painting

Well, you'd think I'd learn my lesson and shift a bit... but this time I was caught up in the red shirt. I'm happy with this one too and I believe I got the far right eye in proportion. Still, a very frustrating angle...

This time I got rid of the white on the face, starting with a pink and grey wash, let it dry, then focused on the features. : )

9x12" watercolour painting

Don Valley Art Club Portrait... still at it!

I've now painted our Don Valley Art Club organizer three times. Every portrait of him looks different. I've posted all three if you scroll back and look, (Aug 23rd and 14th... although you might not be able to tell!) He's got a great expressive face and, although I'm happy with all of the paintings, each captures a different aspect of him.

11x14" watercolour painting.

Don Valley Art Club Portrait

At the Don Valley Art Club, a bunch of artists get together and pose for each other for 25 minutes. The session is 3 hours so I normally do 5-6 portraits a session (depending on whether or not it's my turn to pose that day). By the time I get to painting number 4, I've loosened up and get more carefree. That's what happened with this painting. I like it because I was so relaxed while painting it. It's a bit 'sloppier' which, I think, worked out well for this one. : )

11x14"watercolour painting

hand studies with a friend!

I had a friend help me out with my hand studies this week. : )

A few portraits

Here are a few watercolour portraits from my last Life Drawing Session. The model was wonderful, but hard to capture. These short poses, about 5-10 minutes, were drawn with pencil, then I added watercolour to the shadow side, trying to keep it all one interesting shape. 

life drawing session

A few pages from my last life drawing session. Short poses in pencil and one long pose in watercolour.