spring circle

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

These friends are enjoying early spring! 

I chose white flowers because I was in the mood for a dark background. And I added a few cherries to keep them company. 

; )

towards the sun

 

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

I think I'm starting to like yellow... : )

It's a difficult colour in watercolour and it doesn't have the value range of other colours, but it certainly suits the arrival of spring. 

spring over to the purple side

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$60 - 5x7" Original Watercolour Painting with 8x10"mat, ready to frame!

These are the same flowers as yesterday only from a different angle. : ) 

The awesome Lisa Daria, whose dailypainting workshop I hope to take in August, talks about the importance of daily painting and just 'showing up for the job' of being a painter. Not an easy task... For some reason, with the arrival of spring, I've been even more inspired by her working method than I already was! 

Dogs, Dogs, Dogs!

click on arrow for a 7 second slideshow ; )

As you can see, I've been sketching and painting dogs lately.

The slideshow was fun to put together, with help of the free slideshow app, although it's a bit tricky to line the photos up nicely, let alone remembering to take them along the way! It's not a great video, so I may upgrade to a better slideshow app...!

The four drawings were done in my sketchbook with 6B pencil.

Happy Year of the Dog!!

old soul and slide show!

click on arrow for 10 second slideshow. : )

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$120 - 11x14" Original Watercolour Painting

I just discovered this awesome app called Slide Show, which creates exactly that. So, while painting this beautiful German Shepherd, I took photos of my progress. I just kinda eyeballed it as far as making my photos all the same size.

It's a super easy app to use, it allows you to save the slide show in iPhotos, and then simply upload it to Instagram, Blogs and Facebook. : )

sketching 100 people challenge continued

Well, not quite 100. And not quite a week, as the challenge was a 'work week' and ended today. 

thinking about design and line...

portraits of a dude

across the cafe and wearing plaid

The above sketches were drawn with Prismacolour Colour Pencils, mostly with Black Grape, which is an awesome colour. Very smooth pencil, especially on newsprint. And below, 6B pencil (my favourite). 

dog treats

making interesting shapes

These photos were taken with my iPadPro where they look great. It turns out, they don't look so good here... Hmm.

You can see even more of my sketches of people on my Instagram page! Check it out.

OneWeek100People2018 Challenge

 I had a few moments at my last life drawing class to capture some fellow artists. And below, people reading at a local bookstore. : )

Well, it turns out 100 people is a lot! ; )
These sketches are part of a drawing challenge going on this week (there's still time to join in), set up my the awesome Montreal urban sketcher Marc Taro Holmes. Post your drawings of people, with the hashtag #OneWeek100People2018 ,on Facebook, Instagram, your blog, wherever! It's fun... even if you don't quite make it to 100 by Sunday. Drawings can be super small and/or loosey goose, like mine. Cheers and Happy Drawing.
p.s. ipad photos... ; b

burst out

SOLD

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

These pink and green friends are determined to fight the winter blues and show off their lovely colours and shapes.

Actually it's kinda sunny outside, here in Toronto, but still chilly. Perfect to work in my studio with natural light. Cheers!

Figure Drawing with Conte!

quick gesture with dark brown conte on newsprint

sienna conte for a quick portrait gesture 

20 minute figure study

20 minute portrait study

1.5 hour pose in conte with white pastel

The model at yesterday's life drawing class was just sensational. I had never drawn him before and a new model is always a treat. He had a really interesting face and he kept very still. Instead of my usual watercolour, I decided to use conte, a tool that allows for big loose strokes (lots of freedom!) and 11x15" newsprint, for it's smooth and unintimidating qualities. Lots of fun. 

Now, back to my anatomy books to brush up!

honorarium

I'm very proud that my painting titled "criss cross" just received an honorarium at this year's Heliconian Drawing Show. Yippee! 

Bendy Straw-Berry

$60 - 6x9"original watercolour with 9x12" mat.

It's a long weekend. Yippee and Yummy!

I hope you all find some creative time this weekend.

Cheers.

Sketchbook Portraits

I've been drawing a lot this year, mostly with 6B pencil and some charcoal with chalk. Here are a few 8x10" pages of portraits from my sketchbooks. : ) 

winter walk

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$60 - 5x7"original watercolour painting with 8x10"mat. Ready to frame!

One of my favourite streets. I've walked it many many times and watched it change dramatically through the variations of the seasons. But, the trees are always there, standing proud.

cascade

$100 - 9x12"original watercolour painting

Well, good 'ole watercolour, always demanding a big decision for the background. At least that's the challenge for me. I left the top right corner free of the wallpaper pattern and I'm very happy with the negative space. As always, the hair was a treat to paint! ; )

winter friend

$80 - original 8x10"watercolour painting

This red fox is showing off his distinctive dark pointy ears and lovely long profile. : )

subtle style

$60 - 6x9"original watercolour painting with 9x12"mat

The reference for this painting was from the awesome sktchy app. It is a wonderful free source that has lots of portraits to choose from. Check out the home page of paintings and then just swipe right to see the original photo. It's very inspiring and really cool to see what artists have done. : )

makin' shadows!

HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY!

This is a little cartoon I've had in my head for a few years. It was one of my New Year's Resolutions to get it onto paper this year! 

; )

February's Flower

$60 - 5x7"original watercolour painting with 8x10"mat, ready to pop into a frame!

February's flower is the lovely purple violet. A fresh small flower for a fresh cool season.

burst

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

A burst of flowers for the end of January. Already anticipating spring...!

crush on you

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

Soda Pop Cans are so fun and colourful. I really love painting them. It's an original subject for a still life I know, but just goes to show, everything wants to be painted! ; )

portrait in progress... or finished portrait.

16x20"original watercolour painting

Well, at our Sunday portrait session at the Don Valley Art Club, a fellow artist wore this lovely scarf over her head. I intended to paint it however, since each sitting is only 25 minutes, I didn't get to it in time. Now I'm not sure if I should paint it. I love the painting as it is. Then again, the scarf was quite beautiful and I have a photo to work. But, it's never the same as from life. Hmmm. Thoughts?

; )

little friend

 $60 - 8x10" original watercolour painting with 8x10"mat.
Ready to frame.

It's the Year of the Dog. What a wonderful excuse to paint this soulful eyes of this little Daschund.
Here's a close up -