Barbara Spurll's Blog, page 19

Painting a Day 260314

March 26, 2014, ©Barbara Spurll

Painting a Day 250314

March 25th, 2014 ©Barbara Spurll

My first 'Painting a Day" in inks

My adventures with Dr. Martin's india inks started several months ago. I love working with watercolours and dyes, but the dyes ( which add brightness to the watercolour's more natural earthy quality) are not very lightfast causing my originals to fade in time. So I decided to try these inks which are both bright and lightfast. But I've gotten to the point of tearing my hair out with this new medium. The inks dry permanently on the palette (and can't be simply resurrected by adding water as in watercolour and dye), then I have to keep mixing new batches of colour until I run out of palette space. What's the answer, buy more palettes? Work faster?

Then I saw a Facebook post by an artist who started doing a painting a day, just a small one in oils but one a day, with remarkable results. Surely this is the way to learn anything new, drawing, skating, dancing, new software etc. Just 20 minutes a day… So it inspired me to do the same thing, because I'm not ready to give up on these inks yet. Subject matter? Anything really, but better if it has a figure or a face in it, because I want to use this technique for painting the figure.

For the first one I found a photo in a dance magazine. Here's my first Painting a Day:

March 24, 2014

Images of Paris at Gallery Hittite

Last night was the opening of Images of Paris at Gallery Hittite. Spent the evening enjoying various artist's interpretations of fabulous life painting model, Paris Black, and chatting with friends, family and Paris himself.











L to R: Welland Sin, David Sin, myself, Alana Young










L to R: Alana Young, myself and Giovannina Colalillo in front of my 2 paintings

Paris paused for a picture with us (one last shot to email to daughter Vicky in the UK).

The show runs until March 29th, so if you're in or around Yorkville, check it out!

Paris is back!

Paris was modelling at the studio on Sunday. (My hubby nick-names him Fabio because of his long hair and ripped body.)
This was my second painting of the morning. I pulled out the watercolour dyes to get some brighter colours going on, which is the direction I really want to go in with these life paintings.
My next goal is to try using inks because they are more lightfast.

Have your ELVES a merry little Christmas!

It was great fun to illustrate a festive package again this year for Toffifee chocolates! Designed exclusively for the Canadian market, the new package features Santa’s elves frolicking in the snow.

Happy holidays, everyone!

Red, new painting

Red Another background study, painted from life. 
Watercolour on 140 lb. Strathmore cold pressed, 9 x 12 inches.Image copyright Barbara Spurll.

Background Study 1 - new painting

Background study 1
Hazel was a beautiful model with an aura of calmness surrounding her. 
Watercolour on 140 lb Arches cold pressed, 12 x 16 inches.Image copyright Barbara Spurll.

Emma book bags now available!

Good news! Emma the feisty hen is now on book bags! Follow this link to find out more: http://www.storybuddies1.com/

BLUE RECLINE

Sweptmedia.ca, a Toronto and GTA news and events e-zine, featured my watercolour painting, Blue Recline, in its Local Lit column. http://sweptmedia.ca/on-the-night/
Image copyright Barbara Spurll