sail on over

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$100 - 6x6" original oil painting on 1/8" panel

Reflections look sooo cool in metallic foil balloons. The colour on this dusty rose ballon sure changes with every bounce of light! Thanks again to Teddi Parker (awesome artist) for the #balloonchallenge 

the view from here

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$100 - 6x6" original oil painting on 1/8" panel

The 'flowers in a glass' series continues! Which is a big deal because, my 'series' usually don't make it past number 3, and I'm at number 7 with this one! Today I added a turquoise polka-dotted piece of paper onto the table, just for another element. I had a blast painting them in shadow and in light. Plus, they echo the violet's little yellow centres. Phew!

Mr. Lionfish

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$90 - 6x6" original oil painting on 1/8" panel.

Well! The great thing about being in an art group that has weekly challenges is... when the topic is FISH... this happens! I would never have thought to paint this fella' and I had the most awesome time doing so. I mean, he's even got polka dots!

p.s. I think Mr. Lionfish had this expression on his face well before March 15, 2020.
Be sure to check out my Instagram Page to see my two colour palette and painting process pics for this one - https://www.instagram.com/noramacphailart/

sun-kissed willow buds

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$90 - 6x6" original oil painting on 1/8" panel

In order to capture the little "whispies" of the willow buds, I used a toothpick. 

Sometimes, a brush just doesn't do the job.

Also, I don't normally paint like this but, when painting glass, it can be easier to just fill in the whole background.

Then I started to build up the glass. Normally, I do a drawing with burnt umber and a thin brush and work my way out. It was quite a challenge to take this approach but... always learning! Cheers. 

SOLD

$100 - 6x6" original oil painting on 1/8" board

I've been wanting to paint this scene for a loooooong time. But, I've been too chicken. Well, today I thought "I'm going for it"!! Soooo glad that I did. 

This is my second piece on the professionally gessoed Ampersand boards. As you can see from the pic below, it says 'smooth finish' - boy, they're not kidding. It was like silk!

the storyteller

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6x6" original painting on 1/8" board.

I love the shape of this oil bottle. It's got a kind of confidence about it. The tomatoes are certainly enthralled with what it has to say! 

I used the lovely Ampersand flat (1/8") panel, pre-gessoed, for this piece. They are wonderful to paint on! 

peachy keen

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$90 - 6x6" original oil painting.
This painting has everything I want in a painting! Colourful, confident clean brushstrokes and a splash of charm. It doesn't always work out but when it does... #phew. 
Sides painted to match.

birdbath buddy

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$60 - approximately 4x4" original oil painting

(... actually 11x11cm panel, not sure how that happened!) 

Another, but very different, little hummingbird painting. Their colour variations just astonish me. And of course the colours change as they turn their little heads in curiosity. 

This guy is number 2 of 3 so.... one more to come.

Sides painted to match.

Free shipping to Canada (to make up for the US$ exchange link)

little one

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$60 - about 4x4" (11cm x 11cm to be exact!) original oil painting

I painted this little bird for the Monday art dare challenge, which was to paint something starting with 'H'. I thought this cutie-patootie hummingbird would do the trick. They really are such remarkable tiny birds. The panel is approximately 4x4" which suits one of the world's smallest birds just fine!

I wanted a cool pink background to enhance the lovely purples in his face and neck. Here's a process pic, almost at the half way point.

sides painted to match background. 

swoop!

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$70 - 6x6" original oil painting on 1"deep panel/painted sides.

new - Free Shipping in Canada - to make up for the US$ link ; )

Painting the "swoop" of the sky, water and beach of this heart balloon was a blast!! These metallic balloon are so fun, and challenging, to paint. I think I achieved the metallic nature of this cute beach balloon more successfully than my last balloon. 

Daily Painting - Paint small, learn big... it's true!

Shout out to the awesome Teddi Parker for the #teddiparkerballoonchallenge. Her work (on Insta) is truly astonishing. She's no slouch and she takes on every challenge successfully!! 

email if you have any questions, or just to say Hi! - nora904@yahoo.com

sailing

SOLD

$60 - 6x6" original oil painting on 1" deep panel.

Today I decided to do something different... like Teddi Parker's Balloon Challenge. Her work is amazing and her stuff, like mine, is available through Daily Paintworks. Balloons made out of metallic foil are way more fun to paint than regular balloons, probably because the surface is so reflective. Fun!

to know

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$90 - 5x7" original oil painting on 1/8"panel.

Today's two colours were Coral Red and Turquoise. I wanted a warm/cool contrast plus, he was wearing a peach T-shirt, so I thought I'd use a fun premixed colour like Coral Red.

The photo reference came from the awesome RawUmberStudios. They post new photos on there 2 hour YouTube portrait session. Worth checking out. The photos have great lighting. 

inside joke

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$90 - 5x7" original oil painting on 1/8" panel.

Today's Two Colour Portrait was with Lemon Yellow and Dioxazine Purple, plus white for mixing. I'm getting the hang of this limited palette approach. : ) 

Secret

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$90 - 5x7" original oil painting on 1/8"panel.

Today's two colour portrait was done with a cool pink and a warm brown. Again I added white, of course, as well as some black for strong contrasts. I'm really liking this limited palette because then I can concentrate on structure and brush strokes. : )

night window

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$90 - 5x7" original oil painting on 1/8" panel

I used turquoise and violet for this two colour painting. It was a challenge to use the limited palette. I added white and black... but I'm still calling it a two colour portrait. ; )

Mary Beard

9x12" oil and charcoal pencil on gessoed board

Mary Beard sat for the final episode of the SkyTV Portrait Artist of the Week on Sunday. It was a challenging weekly project and I'm sorry to see it end, but onto other sources. : ) 

For this painting, I gessoed the back of a sketchbook cover (hence the perforations), and drew with charcoal pencil to start. I added her pearl necklace because for portraits, I find, it's nice to include the model's personal choices. 

the sky is the limit

click here to bid in auction or buy now - 

$90 - 5x7" original oil painting on 1/8" panel.

I loved painting these big pink glasses! And her expression is so cute. Thanks again to the awesome sktchy app for providing photos for all of us artist to paint from. Especially during these difficult times when portrait sessions are on hold.

: )

triumph

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$120 - 5x5" original oil painting on 1"deep panel/sides painted

I was waiting for a morning cab ride when I took the photo reference for this painting. The sky was just so triumphant! I haven't painted a stark tree against a beautiful sky before. Happy to have a chance to paint it today. : )

Values of Tube Colours

I thought I'd share my latest homework with you. ; )

In the left picture you can see that I placed a healthy brushstroke of every colour on my palette, fresh out of the tube, and put them down the centre of the page. Then, using ultramarine blue, burnt umber and white, I made greys to match the exact value of the colour. I got the first two wrong. Doh. But then I got the hang of it.

The picture on the right is a black and white photo of the same page. You can see I got most of my values right. (Phew). 

I learned that tube colours are a lot darker than I thought. Also, intensity, like the hot opera pink, is very misleading.

I did this exercise years ago and my repeating the exercise yesterday was long overdue. Very helpful!

glow

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$40 - 4x4" oil painting on 1" deep panel

I love these orange and pink flowers together. They just glowed under the light as I painted them in my studio. Also, these charming little 4x4" panels allow for a looseness that a bigger size doesn't always encourage. : )

values

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$90 - 5x5" original oil painting with 1" deep painted sides.

Well, I started this painting with a deep violet toned board. I love that colour of purple and I hoped the warm reddish/pink would enhance the cool flowers I set up to paint.

I put up a big "SQUINT!" sign. Thanks to Lisa Daria's awesome online workshop and the ongoing reminder to squint, squint, squint! It really does help see the values.

I like to paint the sides the background colour. : ) Cheers ya'll!

take 2

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$90 - 5x5" original oil painting on 1" deep panel

This painting is called Take 2 because... well, take 1 is pictured below. I was very happy with my little painting until I realized there was a fault line right down the middle of my canvas. Doh! and Argh! So, I grabbed a fresh board and painted the lovely pink and orange flowers again (above). I love the dark wine flowers, they really helps spruce up the mix. Thankfully, I'm equally happy with take 2. : )