ANNIE'S KIT CLUBS - FLORAL MANDALA AFGHAN Step by Step

 

Soooo, after making a 36 flower chain in kit 2, I had to make sure that it attaches to the mandala circle perfectly, for kit 3. Each flower takes up 6 stitches, for a total of 216 stitches. (Flower 6 stitches, times 36 flowers = 216 stitches). I put markers and strands of thread every 6 stitches on my colourful mandala circle just to be sure! I'm so glad I took the time to do this. #highlyrecommend Here's a pic from their website. This is where I'm heading. More to come!

all together

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

I loved painting the little circles on the vase! This low strong lighting, (an idea I got from the awesome dailypainter Lisa Daria) is really cool. Such wonderful contrasts! Check out pics below...

older and wiser

   $60 - 6x8"original gouache painting

A friend told me that she could see in my latest gouache portraits that I was really enjoying painting with gouache. I was thrilled with that comment, and she's right! I do love painting with it. Watercolour is awesome but sometimes it's nice to apply some thick paint.  ; )

Here's my set up. I use the same air tight (pretty much) palette that Lena Rivo uses. Check her out on Instagram if you're interested. Her gouache paintings are awesome.

Here's a close up. Trying to let lots of colours blend together, just like watercolour.

It's nice to look at the painting in black and white, to make sure the values are working together. 

I am now a firm believer that working with a different medium (gouache) for a while really enhances your knoweldge of your usual medium (watercolour). It's really informative to be able to make comparisons. : )

looking forward to the new year

$60 - 5x7original watercolour painting with 8x10"mat.

Look below for the step by step process. I remembered to take pics along the way!

Enjoy. Happy New Year!!

sketching on a thursday afternoon

This little sketch happened today. I'm enjoying making short videos of my painting process. You can see this one painted HERE on Instagram. The clips are 1 minute each because that's the length limit Instagram accepts. So... it's in two parts. ; )

morning bears and smokey eyes

Inktober Day 4 and 5... the fun continues! I spilled a spot of tea on my husky drawing, right on his little snout. Fortunately, the wash of watercolour hides it. 

; )

charcoal and watercolour

Charcoal Drawing

Adding a second (and final) layer of watercolour

Some charcoal added to the shadow side

Last Tuesday's portrait night at Don Valley Art Club ended off our summer sessions just right. : )

I drew the model in charcoal, painted it with watercolour then brought it together with a layer of charcoal. The final charcoal, on the shadow side, didn't blend like I anticipated it would, I think because it was sitting on top of the watercolour. I like it, but I think it looks a bit 'rough' and I may save this technique for a male model next time. I'm happy that I played around and tried something different, which I guess is what it's all about...

wildcat - step by step

First I drew the lion, from a photo reference on pixabay (free image site), with a 6B pencil, trying to be as loosey-goosey as possible. I do try to keep the structure of the subject while making big confident lines. 

Next, I start with the eyes. I like to paint them together, not one at a time because eyes work as a pair. It's easy to get off balance if you focus on only one eye, then the other. Work the eyes together. I don't finish the eyes though... just get some darks and lights in them. 

Working down the page, darks and lights, transparent and opaques. I never liked painting washes in watercolour. I can never get the washes dark enough and contrasty enough. I end up having to do many washes... I prefer this more direct approach.

The whiskers wrap around the muzzle, helping bring the mouth forward. Saving the highlights in the eyes as I finish them up. Then, a few calligraphy marks and... my friend is finished!

Doodlewash Interview!

Charlie O'Shields, who initiated #WorldWatercolorMonth as July starting this year, has interviewed me for his blog. Super thilled about it. It was very gracious of him and I'm extremely happy with the interview! 
Link HERE at Doodlewash to read it!