snowy bicycles

 

 click here to bid/purchase - 

$120 - 6x6" original oil painting

Snow creates such awesome shapes! Like the fun bits on the bicycles. Snow almost outlines them. I love winter! To be honest, this painting was suppose to be about the bikes but it was the little quick brushstrokes for the footprints that were the most fun!

early autumn

SOLD 

$40 - 5x7 with 8x10"mat

I'm having a blast with this new water-soluble pen that I've been using for Inktober (#inktober2018) It's called the Elegant Writer Pen and it releases green and a bit of pink ink when wet. You can see two videos of me painting it on Instagram.

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!

take a long lunch

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

I'm thrilled to be back at it with my cafe moments. I drew this on site during my lunch break. It's almost like 'train of thought' writing, where you just write without editing yourself. I draw as quick as I can, (before the customers get up and leave!), without overthinking it. Just let the line go go go! 

The works become like diary entries.

Here's another pic - 

I drew with the Jumbo 9000 Faber-Castell 6B pencil, my new fave. 

to make a short story longer

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

About 20 fellow Urban Sketchers and I went to a downtown park, with an outdoor cafe, for our last sketch outing. There are many urban sketchers groups and ours, called TOUSK (Toronto Urban Sketchers) is fantastic. Very friendly, very supportive and run by a wonderful ambitious woman named Marie-Judith. We meet up about twice a month. 

Here are a few photos of my painting kit.

The people in my cafe scenes don't look too much like real life, because of my style, and just in case it offends them. I save trying to get a likeness for my portraits. Also, I changed the colour of their clothes... to brighten things up. : )

I added a couple in the background, with soft cool colours.

That's me. Duh.

school's out

I was out with my trusty paint box recently. : ) Here's the result.

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

peak through

SOLD

A friend and I spent the day at the lovely Guild Inn. It used to be an artist retreat but, sadly, it closed. The grounds and gardens are still open to the public, with lots of statues and stone facades to paint.

$70 - 8x10"painting

Here's my trusty paint box which holds up to an 8x10" painting and sits on my lap, a table or the ground.

turtles and fishies

Next month I'm teaching a third session of classes for the Cawthra Art Group here in Toronto. They are enjoying my exploration of animal drawings lately and asked for a few classes about animal anatomy. Although somehow, last time I opened up my animal sketchbook, I ended up doing a page of turtles and fish! It was fun but I think we'll be stickin' with mammals : )

colour spots

SOLD

I was very inspired by this week's Daily Paintworks Challenge, a scenic view not typical in my Toronto setting! I added a few flags, some friends sitting on the rocks and colourful floaters on the boats.

$70 - 8"x10"painting

PayPal or email me for personal cheque.

close ups-

many moons ago

SOLD

My goal was to put down a gestural loose drawing with my charcoal pencil, then add lots of colourful paint. I thought they looked like planets circling around a light! Thanks Daily Paintworks Citrus Challenge.

If you do not want to purchase through Etsy, email me for a Daily Paintworks link instead. : )

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

fencing gestures

Click images to enlarge.

I googled "people fencing" under images, got my newsprint pad and a charcoal pencil and had some fun!

warm cookies

SOLD

I am very happy with this painting. It was a great challenge to keep the outside snowy day cool and the inside friendly cafe warm.

$50 - 5"x7"painting with matt. Ready for your 8"x10" frame!
close ups - 

6 orange knitted mittens

SOLD

This woman was wearing orange knitted mittens and so was her dog! I think she must have knit them herself, unless the stores sell matching dog/people mitts now... So cute!
$50 - 5"x7"painting with 8"x10"matt.
Close ups - 

breeze

I chose the word 'breeze' and used lace and twink to draw this week's Zentangle Challenge#150-one little word. I'm finally figuring out how to do Zentangles that suit the way that I draw. I prefer this looser, messier and lighter one pictured above. My first attempt is pictured below, which I like, but is not the way I like to draw.

a quiet moment

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

This time I tried to capture a quiet moment in the conversation. I've enjoyed this little series of two people talking. Tomorrow, onto something new...!

talk to

SOLD

My series of two people in conversation continues. Again, trying to capture body language and not get caught up with portrait. Also aiming for an energetic line and lots of colour!

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

snow song

SOLD

I turned one of my value sketches, from my previous post, into a colourful winter wonderland.

$30 - 4"x6"painting with 8"x10"matt.

know a thing or two

SOLD

When I saw these two motorcycles, they just struck me as things that wanted to be painted. So...

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