life drawing gestures

Back to life drawing. I drew with a 6B pencil and I had a few pools of watercolour at the ready on my palette for these 3 minute gestures.

$90 

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191

if wishes were horses

I am the Featured Artist at the Daily Paintworks News Blog this week! The interview questions really helped me think about my art, where I am and where I want to go.

SOLD  8x10 painting

back on track

A friend of mine at Trafalgar asked me to sit at their Italy Tour promotional booth and be a  "Venetian painter", like on the streets in Italy. It was so fun! A few people came right up and said hello but mostly they just peeked over my shoulder. 

SOLD

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189

Forest Hill Art Show

I participated in the Forest Hill Art Show this weekend! There were about 20 artists and we had a steady stream of guests... and I sold 2 paintings! The masonite panels we use, which have holes for hooks, is a genius idea.

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troublemaker

SOLD

$80 - 8"x10" painting

I had a blast painting this little cutie for this week's Daily Paintworks 'Close Up Animal' Challenge.

Fernando

The lovely Fernando sat for us at last night's portrait session.

$40  5"x7" painting with 8"x10" matt.

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of course

I found some inspiration from my Italy pictures from last September!

SOLD 

185

at the bend

This is the 5th painting in my 'Stomping Grounds' series. I think this project will happily last me a long time!

$40  5"x7" painting with 8"x10" matt.

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184

lucky friday

Today I decided to take on the challenge of working from a photograph.  My three goals were, to add an interesting light source, give the background depth and have fun painting plaid. 

$70  8"x10" painting

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studio coatrack

SOLD

$70 - 8x10"painting

The bad news is, I was late for life drawing and I had to sit in the back. The good news is, there is a wonderful coatrack at the back!

half sweet hot chocolate

Today I drew on 8"x10" watercolour paper instead of the usual discreet 5"x7" pad. Everyone was so involved with their book, computer or friends, they still didn't notice me drawing them!

SOLD

181

Targus and Retsy

Happy Long Weekend!

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180

Hey Neighbour

My painting series called "Stomping Grounds" continues, as I walk through the wonderful streets of Toronto.

SOLD  CLICK HERE  for ZOOM IN feature!

5"x7" painting with 8"x10" matt.

179

blush

I love tulips, the first sign of spring. I painted this lovely little guy from paintanddrawtogether.

SOLD

178

window light

Well, the bulb on our model's spotlight is out... but that didn't stop us!

177

Winsor Read

SOLD

I do like having this new red on my palette!

$30 - 5"x7" painting includes 8"x10" matt.

176

petals

I just discovered Winsor Red! What a wonderful colour. It was perfect for the vase with these little guys, which I painted for the challenge at A Nos Pinceaux.

SOLD  5"x7" painting with 8"x10"

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175

short poses

plain as day 
4"x6" $35

go figure
5"x10" $50

Today I worked with 6B pencil and watercolour. I almost didn't bring my watercolours, but at the last moment I grabbed them. Phew.

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I was just passing by

SOLD  5"x7" painting with 8"x10" matt.

173

think it through

This is my third 'Cafe Moment' in this style. I've been working on adding pattern and shading to my drawing, without obliterating the contour line.

$60

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172

easy afternoon

It was a relaxing day so, I thought I'd capture it.

$35

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170

transfixed

Today's Cafe Moment. 

$60

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169

take the tree lined street

The weather outside is still fantastic!

SOLD  5"x7" painting includes 8"x10" matt. Ready to frame.

168

spring forward

Today at my life drawing class I used a 6B pencil and a Doodle Newsprint Pad which comes in fun colours... like pink!

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167

follow me home

Using the photo reference from Terry Miura's Challenge, I splashed watercolour onto paper, let it dry, then added the pen contour drawing. I usually draw first and paint second, so this was quite a refreshing change.

SOLD  5"x7" painting with 8"x10" matt. Ready to frame!

166

all said and done

There is nothin' like watercolour!
4"x6" painting includes 8"x10" matt.

165

it's only me and you

Today's cafe moment. I had fun adding a bit more pattern and shading to my usual contour drawing.

$60 

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164

cut up 'cutie pie' kiwi

I kept this looking as much like watercolour as possible. Lots of water! Lots of paint!  For Paint and Draw Together.

SOLD  5"x7" painting with 8"x10" matt.

163

Frank

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Looking very Western Canadian with his cowboy hat on!

$80 - 6"x9" watercolour painting

162

Here Kitty Kitty Kitty...

I added a water-soluble pen to my usual pencil drawing for this tiger painting. It creates a lovely gray, which is a bit unpredictable when mixed in with the watercolour, so it kept me on my toes. (like a wild cat might!) For the Blog Painting Challenge at Studio Atelier.

SOLD 5"x7" painting includes 8"x10" matt.

161

walkin' along... singin' a song...

SOLD

I drew this while walking down the street enjoying the wonderfully mild winter we're having.

$30 - 4"x6" painting including 8"x10"matt. Ready to frame.

pink rose

My rose for the Painting Challenge from the blog A Nos Pinceaux.

SOLD  5"x7" painting includes 8"x10" matt. Ready to frame!

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159

fun at the mall

SOLD

Drawing is way better than shopping!!

$60 - 8x10 drawing

Louie

I went out to a Tuesday Portrait Painting Session last night and painted the lovely Louie.

$35 5"x7" painting includes 8"x10" matt.

157

Polka Dot Pals

I love polka dots!

SOLD 5"x7" painting includes 8"x10" matt. Ready to frame.

156

a little somethin' somethin'

Snack time.

SOLD 5"x7" painting includes 8"x10" matt. 

155

juice box and a cupcake

SOLD

I've been going through the drawing exercises in an amazing book called Drawing Projects: an exploration of the language of drawing. Today's sketch is one of the results.

$60 - 8x10 drawing

154

have a heart, or two

Hey, who ate two of those hearts before the painting was done!

Happy Valentine's Day.

SOLD

153

This is life drawing!

My set up for life drawing with watercolours. You can see the model's platform in the middle of the room, with a heater to the right.

Across the room, fellow artist Mark Thurman's set up for gouache.

The talented Canadian children's book illustrator Mark Thurman up close! You can see his quick gesture paintings drying on the back table.

Fellow artist James, sitting at a drawing horse doing beautiful conte drawings.

The artists during break time.

You can check out Mark's website at markthurman.ca.  Lots of life drawing in watercolour, gouache, pastel, coloured pencil... Awesome!

I hope these pictures answer the many questions I've been getting about life drawing (click on them to enlarge). It's $9 for a 2.5 hour class of short poses which consists of 1, 5, 10 and 20 minute poses, with breaks every 20 minutes. Bring your own supplies. Tables, easels, boards and horses are there for us and set up by a monitor who hires the model and collects our money at break. No talking during poses. No photos of the model.

Check out your local art school for sessions. It's a blast!

Happy Painting!!
152

same dude, different pose

I'm getting lots of questions about life drawing, so next session I'll take some pictures of my set up and the studio! 

This painting was a 20 minute pose which I drew with 6B pencil then painted with watercolour during the session. I do not change or add anything once I am home. The direct painting approach I take (completed in one sitting) means, it is what it is!

151