Watercolour and the Nude

These were painted last May in a course called "Water Colour and the Nude" at the VAC.  We had two models one day....that's a rare occasion and pretty lucky!  It is an interesting challenge to get a decent flesh tone and the lights, midtones and darks down in a short pose of about 20 minutes.  

Foray into Pet Portraits

The top one is not really a portrait;  it's my brother's dog, Penny, on the beach at Goose rocks last summer.  The cat is Kingston, our crazy black cat.  These were done some time in the winter, from photographs.  It sure has been awhile since my last posting!  I have been busy painting, though.  Hope to catch up with more postings soon!

"Jugathon"

 Three Jugs, original water colour on Arches Aquarelle

 Jugs, original water colour on Arches Aquarelle

 Five Jugs, original water colour on Arches Aquarelle

Jugs in Order, original water colour on Arches Aquarelle

Winter Scenes

House in the Woods, water colour on Arches paper

 Storm on Victoria, water colour on Arches paper

 Nighttime rooftops, water colour on Arches paper

Trees in Winter, water colour on Arches paper

Using a Limited Palettte

Rockport Seascape, 8"x8" watercolour on Arches Aquarelle paper

Paperwhite bulbs, 8"x8" watercolour on Arches Aquarelle paper

It is quite amazing to see the range of colours you can get when limiting your palette to three colours.  The way the colours mix when you work wet-in-wet is quite magical!

Kitchen Confidential

 Robin Hood Inversion, 16"x16" oil on stretched canvas

Mixing Master, 16" x 16" oil on stretched canvas

When in search of something to paint, check out your kitchen!  There are lots of curious shapes and fun stuff to use as still life inspiration, whether it's food or utensils and other objects. 

Tea Time!

 Cup and Saucer, 10" x 12", oil on canvas

Cup, Saucer and Coffee Pot, 10" x 12", oil on canvas

Seated Figure

Seated Figure, original watercolour on Arches paper.  I love painting the figure in any medium!  This was painted using a very limited palette.

Barn: a landscape in oils

Barn, 12"X12" oil on masonite
This was painted using a Canadian Tire auto body scraper...really great for loosening up as you can't fuss with the details but a messier process than using paint brushes.  There was a companion painting, a view of another building, but that one sold in the "Square Affair" fundraiser for the Visual Arts Centre....I was thrilled and I hope the person who purchased it is enjoying it!

Oil painting is the opposite of water colour;  it is very interesting to jump back and forth between the two worlds.  Interesting and very challenging!

Squash and Pomegranite

 Squash, 12" x 12" watercolour on Arches paper

Pomegranite, 12" x 12" watercolour on Arches paper

It has been a long time since I have posted any work, but I was painting all autumn in both water colour and oil.  I got too busy with painting, which was a lovely delight!  I will be posting a selection of paintings over the next little while.