Art Show Entry and Sketches

The Life Drawing Group I belong to is having a group art show at The Heliconian Club, 35 Hazelton Ave. Toronto from Feb.2 - Mar.2. We are showing two paintings each that we painted while in session. These are 10 minute poses done on one 11x14" page. I do a lot of life drawing and it's great however, it doesn't teach any perspective... that's a whole other thing. So, I spent today doing speed sketches from a high angle. Here are a few...

noted

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I was drawn (no pun intended!) to the way these three people were situated around the high table. I also did a bit of scribble shading with my charcoal pencil. I think I'm going to explore this idea a bit more. 

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

the morning hour

I drew this at the Royal Ontario Museum here in Toronto, while out with the Toronto Plein-Air Painters, then painted it at home. Again, thinking about design, I wanted a nice drippy foreground wash.

$80 - 8x10" painting.

page turner

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I drew this at a cafe then painted it at home. I wanted to see if the chair in the bottom left foreground would work. Trying to think a lot more about design these days.
$60 - 5x7"painting with 8x10"mat.

considering green

I have been playing around with toning the watercolour paper first, in this case with gold green and viridian, then drawing with pen and painting on top. I'm having fun with the idea and it brings a unity to the piece.

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 : )

gotta run

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I was recently nominated to post '3 paintings a day for 5 days' on facebook. The challenge intended to flood fb with photos of art. It made me revisit some old paintings. So, being inspired by them, I thought I'd do some more horse race paintings. Please feel free to friend me on facebook!

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

2 minutes each

This week's Life Drawing Session was great, as usual, and this male model always does interesting poses. These are charcoal pencil on newsprint. Once the longer (5minute - 20minute) poses start, I use watercolour. My New Years Resolution is to do these quick poses with watercolour too... although getting a drawing and wash down that fast is tricky!! 

halftime

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I thought one of these cutie patooties deserved a close up!

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

haven

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

These cutie patooties were so fun to paint! Maybe because they seem to be living a wonderful relaxed life! I tried to put lots of colour in the black fur, like blue, brown and purple. 

page of pandas

It's still cold out there...! So today I checked out the morgue files, recommended by Carol Marine, for free photos. The website has tons of fun pics to work from.  Like adorable pandas!

9x12"/charcoal on newsprint.

a whole bunch

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We are having a severe cold spell here in Toronto. So, the only thing to do is stay inside evenings and paint flowers. The challenge here was to see if a bright orange background would work.
close ups -

gather around

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It's clementine season! They are one of the great things about this cold season, for both eating and painting.

$80 - 8x10"painting.

tiger studies

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I got a membership to the Royal Ontario Museum for X-mas, so I figured I'd start the year off sketching there. I drew this wonderful tiger from two different angles then painted it at home. I think I'll be going back soon!

$120 - 10.5x13.5"painting.

make the cut

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

The "Sharp" Daily Paintworks Challenge was a tough one this week. I decided to soften things up by adding a few delicate fresh cut flowers.

close ups - 

new days

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

Happy New Year!!! 

come by, we're around

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I drew this, while sitting in the park, with my favourite Micro Graphic1 art pen. It was a little chilly, so my lines are even wigglier than usual. ; )

I'm off for the Holidays!! See you all next year.

Happy Holidays and Happy Painting Everyone!

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

until next time

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

Snow shapes! And a few birds enjoying a quiet winter afternoon.

it's a big world

$80 - 8x10"painting

It's a good thing I love snow, both being in it and painting it... what with me being Canadian and all. : )

close ups-

let's walk

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

Well, we've had lots of snow! I love the way snow sits between the tree branches and on bicycle seats. It makes good shapes. Also, I wanted to see if I could get two thirds of the bicycle to 'work' in the foreground. I'm happy with this year's first winter scene.

group photo

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I just discovered Holbein's watercolour called Peacock Blue!! Mmm. Very turquoise. It makes lovely greens when mixed with Burnt Umber.

$80 - 8x10"painting

close ups - 

tickled pink

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I had forgotten all about this copper pot in my still life cupboard. I found it and was immediately inspired by it's orange colour. So, I grabbed pink flowers and a lemon to keep an analogous colour palette... and got to work.

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

email for personal checks.

cu's - 

old friends

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Here's my Daily Paintworks Challenge for this week. Love drawing old trucks!! Such wonderful shapes and colours... well actually, they were both blue so I made one red. I also omitted the wire fence and I pulled the shadows into the foreground. 

$80 - 8x10"painting

Self-Portrait in Silver

I had a great time painting my reflection in this little silver sugar pot. Also the first time I've painted blackberries!

Happy Creating Everyone.