to long friendships

$100 - 8x10" original watercolour painting

These flowers fell together like an old bunch of friends. 

I love the little brown cup, which I've had it for some time and painted before. I'd forgotten about it and, stumbling across it this morning, I though small pink flowers would look cute in it.

: )

just a stone's throw away

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

This is the first time I've put stones in my still life set up. I love the dark and light contrast as well as the texture differences.

some sketches

Here are a few recent sketches. Two are drawn with 6B pencil and the middle one is a watercolour with no drawing first. Just went for it with pink and green paint, which is very rare for me. I don't normally use much green in faces, but after doing that piece, I've added green to my palette.

N.B. I am away for a short vacation. : ) All purchased paintings will be shipped on Tuesday April 25th. Thanks for your patience. 

a subtle hint

 

$100 - 6x11"watercolour painting

A few white buds amongst some strong pink friends.

spring forward

SOLD

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

Happy Easter Weekend Everybody.

I painted this Hydrangea up close and personal. : ) They are such a beautiful flower and quite fascinating before they completely bloom.

older and wiser

The title of this painting doesn't just refer to the model... it refers to me as an artist too. ; )

8x10"watercolour painting.

at your side

$80 - 6x8"watercolour painting with 8x10"mat

Flowers have such a beautiful abstract quality. They really are a joy to paint. And this turquoise vase is one of my favourites.

just a touch of a smile

Well, this is my first attempt at painting teeth. Since the models can't hold a smile for 25 minutes, a lot of my finished paintings are of serious looking people. During this portrait session, the model just naturally held her mouth slightly open. It was a welcome challenge! In the future, I'd like to paint portraits for people other than models, and they won't all be serious. So, I'd better start practising painting teeth... 

the other half of it

$80 - 8x10"original watercolour painting

I used the same objects but in a different configuration for this one. Drawing with charcoal pencil is great. It's a bit sticky and gets even darker and smudgier (!) when it gets wet. : ) So it just doesn't allow for a 'tight' drawing. 

lost and found

$100 - 8x10"watercolour painting

I've been doing a lot of drawing lately however, I'm a bit worried about tightening up as a result. So, I enjoy this still life for it's loose-goosey quality. : )

Daily Paintworks!!

I've now got all of my paintings for sale over at Daily Paintworks!

I was with Etsy, but the site is a bit clumsy and complicated to manuveur. Etsy makes everyone sign in, create a password and have an account. Ugg.

At Daily Paintworks, a simple click on the PayPal button and you're good to go! No signing in required. You can register if you want, they have lots of amazing artists to check out, or you can just put in your shipping region/country and make your purchase. : )

I think my clients and I will be much happier at DPW with a simple PayPal/Credit button!

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

SOLD

$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

SOLD

$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

SOLD

$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. : )