Last Call...

Just a reminder that my contest closes tonight at 12am eastern. There's still time to enter though,  just send me an email with suggestions for subjects you'd like me to paint. It can be anything - an animal, an object, a landscape. The draw will occur early tomorrow morning.
Good Luck

waterinmypaint@yahoo.ca

Where Have All The Red Squirrels Gone?

Squirrel on a Log, 8x10

When I was a kid I loved to watch the squirrels running around my West Toronto neighbourhood. I especially loved the reddish squirrels spied in amongst the black and grey ones. Flash forward 20 years and there's not a red squirrel to be seen anywhere. Apparently they've been breed out by the exploding grey and black varieties (which in and of themselves are variations of the same thing).

I still keep my eyes open though, especially in large parks. I'm ever hopeful I'll catch a glimpse of elusive red fur.

http://www.waterinmypaint.etsy.com/

Bring on the Bunnies




Bunny in the Grass, 8x10


Aside from requests for custom pet portraits what I often get asked to paint are bunnies. And how can I refuse? Bunnies are great fun to paint - they're fluffy, expressive and have fabulous ears!! I plan to sit down next week and finish as many bunnies as I possibly can. I'll even give it the apt, if uncreative, name of 'Bunny Week'. Can't wait to get started.

Check out my Etsy store (http://www.waterinmypaint.etsy.com/) if you've got a thing for bunnies too!

Digital Experiment

The original watercolour

After some digital magic

I love to play around with Photoshop to create digital illustrations from simple pen and ink drawings. I was curious to find out what would happen if I started with a drawing done in simple watercolour instead of pen. I was pleasantly surprised to see how the shading from the original watercolour created lovely textured lines when Photoshop worked it's magic. I can't wait to see what else can be done with this technique.

CONTEST ALERT

To celebrate the launch of the new gift certificates in my Etsy store I'm running a contest. All you need to do is email me with a suggestion for a painting subject. It can be anything you'd love to see listed in my shop, from an animal, to a breed of dog, to a still life, to a landscape.

HOW IT WORKS:
Simply email me with your suggestions and I'll enter your name in a draw. For each suggestion I receive I'll enter your name i.e. 5 suggestions = 5 entries. Chances of winning depend on how many suggestions I receive. Contest closes Nov. 30. Draw occurs Dec 1.

EMAIL: waterinmypaint@yahoo.ca
(copy and paste this address if you use yahoo, gmail, hotmail etc.)

ETSY: http://www.waterinmypaint.etsy.com/

PRIZE:
The winner of the draw will win a $25 gift certificate to use towards any painting in my shop. I'll contact the winner the same day I draw the prize.

GOOD LUCK & get those suggestions flowing my way!

Faithful Friends

While cleaning my brushes this weekend I thought about how long I've had some of them. The 2 featured above have been with me the longest, since before my fashion school days. They've painted everything from conceptual costume designs to strange naked life models to Art Nouveau lamps to my old dog Schaffer.

The handles are a bit rough, chipped in places and cracked in others. The bristles are permanently stained turquoise, evidence of my favourite colour to paint with. But otherwise they're still in great shape and always ready to paint whatever it is I ask them to paint next.

http://www.waterinmypaint.etsy.com/

2 New Additions

 In the past few weeks I've added 2 new animals to the zoo. I'm now up to 6!!

I took in my sister's dog Tina because she just hasn't adjusted to my 1 year old nephew. What can I say, she's the jealous type.

Tina the Snoodle

Widget the cat was found on a construction site by my neighbour. He has some serious birth defects including an arched spine that forces him to hop like a bunny. He also has 4 (yes 4!) front paws. But you'd never guess he has so many problems - he's smart and sweet and happy. He's also very determined and just gets on with things. I admire him greatly.



Widget the Cat


http://www.waterinmypaint.etsy.com/

When Good Paintings Go Bad



Original portrait of Orange Peel, 8x10

Final Portrait of Orange Peel, 6x6

I adore orange tabbies and wanted to paint a portrait of my very own Orange Peel. All went well until I started to paint the ruff under his neck - and just kept painting and painting and painting!

And while Orange Peel IS growing his thick winter coat, the portrait made it look like his head was being swallowed by his neck!

I couldn't stand the painting the way it was so I decided to cut it down and focus on Orangie's face. Much, much better!

Orange Peel approves as well.

http://www.waterinmypaint.etsy.com/

Apple Love

Apple Love, 7x5   November 2010

The apples this Fall have been great - sweet, crisp and juicy just like they should be. I even got the chance just before Halloween to visit a farm and choose my very own bushel basket brimming with Macs.

I felt I should share my apple love with the world!

http://www.waterinmypaint.etsy.com/