over the shoulder

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

Well, the last figure painting session of the year was today and I managed to capture this lovely little portrait of the model. Her melancholy expression matched mine as the last session came to an end. : )

Drawing the Bangarra Dancers!!!

 

 

I had an absolutely awesome time with the Toronto Urban Sketchers on Friday. We were invited to draw the Bangarra Dancers, from Australian, as they warmed up the morning of their performance. Then, some of us returned that evening for the actual performance, called "Spirit", which celebrated their 30 years as a dance company. 

I used charcoal pencil and newsprint and just drew as fast as I could! They did not stop moving. Their idea of an hour warm up was a work out like I've never seen. Truly spectacular dancers! Very inspiring. 

bushy brows

12x6" original oil painting

Here's my paintbox with lots of white oil paint on my grey painter's palette pad.

Blocking in with yellow ochre and figuring out the shadow side first.

Trying to keep the paint on my grey painter's palette more organized!

Palette eventually gets kinda messy on the right hand side... oh well...: )

And here's a detail of the face. Cheers!

slender elegance

5x7" original watercolour painting with 8x10" acid-free mat

Our figure painting model was just lovely today. She had such a subtle slender elegance. Drawn with a strong contour pencil line, then warm red and cool green watercolour added.

triangulate

$60 - 5.5x7.5" original watercolour painting

The dynamic shapes that the human figure can make, especially when you aim for design, are always a unique pleasure.

in thought

$100 - 8x10"original watercolour painting.

One of my favourite models, I love her classic thoughtful look.

I made a quick slide show of the painting process for this portrait, which you can see on my Instagram page!

honorarium

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

shapes and splatters

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

I drew this during a life drawing session, with a strong contour line and added my new favourite palette, pink and olive green. I've been working with these two colours now for awhile, and I'm really liking the way the cool pink plays off the warm green. I then added a few decisive shapes... and not so decisive splatters. ; )

a few more

$80 - 8x10"original watercolour painting

"mixed colours" above and "resting warrior" below are both from longer poses during two different life drawing classes. I'm trying to achieve an interesting line with lots of colour, and I think this same palette choice works with the two very different poses. 

$30 - 8x10"original watercolour painting on 90lb paper.

parallels

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

Here's another piece from my last figure drawing session. Same model, same palette. 

criss cross

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

I'm finding my way during figure painting classes lately with a rose and olive watercolour palette. Since the poses are quick and I'm working 'on the fly', I find deciding on the paper size and the colours I'm going to use, before the class starts, gives me the opportunity to just concentrate on getting an interesting line then putting in select values.

whiz

$30 - 9x12" original watercolour painting on 90lb paper.

Today's life model was full of energy when posing for short poses. I think I captured his spark in this charcoal drawing as he whizzed around from pose to pose. Then I added splashes of turquoise, purple and red.

reaching sphere

$80 - 8x10"watercolour original painting

I tried out a new palette during my life drawing class this week. I added olive green, a colour I rarely use, to balance the soft pinks. For this pose, the model held a blue ball which contrasted wonderfully with my red green palette. 

Portrait in Profile

 

11x14"

Still plugging away at portrait painting on Sundays. : )

Profiles are really challenging and I think rarely done. The most famous one is probably Whistler's mother. Or, it's the first one I can visualize easily. Profile are kind of harsh and, since it's not the way we look at each other, they don't seem to capture the person as we know them. Still, I'm happy with the result.

I drew this one, took a pic of it with my iPhone, then painted it in watercolour.

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.

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!

short bangs

I painted this at my last figure drawing class. The model was just wonderful!  

8x10"watercolour painting

cheerful model

11x14"watercolour painting on paper

Tuesday's Portrait Session went very well thanks to our very patient and cheerful model Jerry.  Once I brought the piece home and looked at it, I decided to add a bit of orange to the background to balance his shirt. Plus, I added some splatters, of course!

that far right eye...

Well, I know how hard it is to draw the far right eye on a model when you can just barely see it. Next time I'll be sure to adjust my seat to the right for a profile or the left, so I can really see the eye. However, I got so caught up in the lovely shape of the model's hair that I just started drawing. I'm actually happy with it and although the hair may look unfinished, I chose to leave it, and the shirt, this way and I consider this portrait study finished. : )

11x14" watercolour painting

Well, you'd think I'd learn my lesson and shift a bit... but this time I was caught up in the red shirt. I'm happy with this one too and I believe I got the far right eye in proportion. Still, a very frustrating angle...

This time I got rid of the white on the face, starting with a pink and grey wash, let it dry, then focused on the features. : )

9x12" watercolour painting

Don Valley Art Club Portrait

At the Don Valley Art Club, a bunch of artists get together and pose for each other for 25 minutes. The session is 3 hours so I normally do 5-6 portraits a session (depending on whether or not it's my turn to pose that day). By the time I get to painting number 4, I've loosened up and get more carefree. That's what happened with this painting. I like it because I was so relaxed while painting it. It's a bit 'sloppier' which, I think, worked out well for this one. : )

11x14"watercolour painting