Sketchbook - animal pages

My March sketchbook is filling up nicely. I love to draw draw draw, but it doesn't leave much time to paint paint paint! ; )

close bunch of friends

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$60 - 5x7"painting with 8x10"mat. - Buy at DailyPaintworks. No need to sign in!

These pink flowers fell easily into the vase like a close bunch of friends.  I loooove painting flowers.

sketchbook

Here are a few pages from my March sketchbook. 

I use 6B pencil or .07mm mechanical pencil, depending on my mood that day. Except for the last page, I drew the portraits from life. 
I used to draw everything on newsprint, because the inexpensive paper kept my drawings loose. But now I've got random saved pieces of newsprint kicking about... 

As of March, I decided to keep a sketchbook. It seems to be forcing me to take more care with my drawings, which is great. I do believe that it's all about the drawing. And, being tight and specific in sketchbooks is helping me draw confidently and loosely when approaching watercolour paper. : )

a subtle hint

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

Things were nice and loosey-goosey when I painted these fresh pink flowers. The turquoise background was a big decision, but I'm very happy with it.

Willowdale Group of Artists

11x14" - watercolour

At the Willowdale Group of Artists we gather in groups of three, all at one table, to paint each other. Setting up this way means we are sitting VERY close to one another. No where else do I draw so close to the subject. It's makes one a bit self-conscious, but it also forces one to really look! It's great. This painting is one of my new favourites.

lost in thought

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$150 - 14x11"watercolour painting

I've been doing a lot of sketching this week for the #OneWeek100People2017 Challenge. The sketchbook pages below are what I have so far. I better get busy. I need 76 more people!

Sketchbook Pages-

cafe moments

Sketching Fellow Artists

Sketching from photos courtesy WetCanvas

simply there

$60 - 7x5"watercolour original with 8x10"mat - buy online through DailyPaintworks

This family of three lives very happily together. They're keeping an eye out for each other. ; )

a penny for your thoughts

$80 - 8x10"watercolour painting

I love the solemn thoughtful look in this portrait. This piece is a fellow artist who I painted in our Artist Posing for Each Other Painting Class.  : )

Buy Paintings through DailyPaintworks.

troublemaker

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

The Owl Festival happens every year during the first weekend in March. They are such fascinating birds with lots of personality. But, like this little troublemaker, they mean business!

I filled a page of my sketchbook before painting this one.

turquoise scarf

11x14" watercolour painting

I had so much fun painting this one! Especially the turquoise scarf. I had the painting on an easel and let the threads from her scarf just drip down the page. Painting her hair was lots of fun too although, as always, hair is tricky to paint. I try to see the shapes not the strands. 
; ) 

Homework: Eyes, eyes, eyes!

Homework's fun! Well... it is when you do a watercolour page of eyes. 

Actually, in my experience, it's not just the eyes that are so important in portrait painting, it's the mouth. The eyes are round and colourful, so they's interesting and fun to paint. But the mouth... one extra bit of line or colour can change the whole expression of the face. The mouth is tricky. So subtle. I don't think I should shy away from doing a page of mouths next. ; )

Red Prairie Lillies

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

I am continuing to work through all the provincial flowers of Canada in celebration of Canada150. These beautiful red and orange lilies can be found across the prairies of Saskatchewan.

All paintings are now for sale through Daily Paintworks. : )

7th out of 60!

I am thrilled to announce that my blog... this blog(!), received 7th place out of 60 watercolour blogs. Super Duper Happy about it. : )

Here's the LINK to check it out. There are lots of wonderful watercolour groups and individual artists on the list. I'm still going through them all! Very inspired. 

tigre

$60 - 7x5"painting in 10x8"mat, ready to frame!

I enjoyed painting this green eyed girl!

Portrait of Helen

I began this watercolour portrait at my last Life Drawing Session. There is never enough time... so I didn't quite finish. I was able to complete it at home while looking in a mirror and, as a result, Helen ended up looking a bit like me!

8x10"watercolour painting

Meerkats! - YouTube sketching videos

I've posted 4 quick videos (about 1 minute each) of me sketching on my YouTube Channel. Click here to see the others!
This is one of my favourites, of two meerkats! Enjoy.

Toronto Watercolour Society Portrait Demo

I had a great time at the Toronto Watercolour Society meeting last night. The awesome and hilarious Brian Smith did a portrait demo for us, with a big screen projecting his work. : )

NWT Mountain Avens

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

I painted these Mountain Avens, which are the provincial flower for the Northwest Territories in Canada, in celebration of Canada150! 

1 minute video of me sketching

Recently, while at a cafe, I made a little video of myself sketching with a 6B pencil.
I can't seem to get the video to upload here... so click the link and you can check it out on my instagram page! 
https://www.instagram.com/noramacphailart/
It's also on my Facebook page. Meanwhile, I'll figure out how to make the clip file smaller so blogger will accept it next time, since I plan to do more!  : p

Alberta Wild Rose

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

It's Canada's 150 Birthday this year! So, I thought I'd paint some provincial flowers. I started with Alberta, the province I grew up in.
close ups - 

Golden Rule

$150 - 11x14"

I love painting animals!!
I drew this with a charcoal pencil then added lots of watery watercolour!
close up - 

Sheila in Blue

This piece is from my first session back in portraits. Took a while to find my way again! I'm excited to see where my pursuit of portrait painting will take me this year!

bird's-eye view

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$40 USD - 5x7"painting with 8x10"mat
I saw these two cuties on pixabay, a site that has plenty of awesome free photos to work with, and they just spoke to me. I thought, hmm, I'm in the mood to paint birds. : )

close ups - 

sunny disposition

$60 - 7x5"painting with 10x8"mat

It's always interesting to paint dark colours in watercolour. Here, I decided to contrast some white flowers with a dark vase. I threw the clementines in there for a mid-value. : )
close ups -