Slumming is the thing to do in Victorian England. A weak milky sun rises this morning over the slum tenements in the factory district. Slowly, the city wakens. The blackened buildings are still damp to the touch as the … Read More
Process painting of a recent pet portrait The process of painting a dog from photos involves much consultation with the client. (First published March 16, 2020.) In this case, Ted’s owner sent me a dozen or so photos of her … Read More
French Bulldog portrait commissioned for a friend. (Stout, the French Bulldog was first published in 2020.) When a pet dies, other pet owners and close friends know how painful it is to lose a little critter. Dogs and cats … Read More
A thirty year long wait for Mischa. Last fall, I received an email for a pet portrait of Mischa to be given as a Christmas gift from the client to her husband. Mischa is a very special dog (as all … Read More
“What I’ve learnt is: buy the damn shoes. Kiss the boy, You can lose a life in indecision, and regret is a waste of an emotion.” ~ Kate Lord Brown, The Taste of Summer. First published in 2016 and revised … Read More
Christmas is a magical time… To all my friends wherever you are around the world, and my family in Canada and elsewhere, I wish you the warmth and joy of being surrounded by loved ones. This is truly the … Read More
Santa’s shy helper was first published in 2016, and then again in 2017. It is a mixed media portrait using watercolour, ink, and coloured pencils. “Santa Claus is anyone who loves another and seeks to make them happy; who gives … Read More
Past and present poinsettias celebrate the festive season. Pretty poinsettias painted in past and in the present year are much more carefree than the real plants. You might remember that I wrote about my frustration with orchids that have a … Read More
Yoda, a very special companion “Yoda at Christmas” is especially dapper as he wears his bow tie while sitting under the Christmas tree. Those glass balls have lots of glitter on them which does not show up in this photo. … Read More
Whimsical feline portraits. How did Tigger manage to get that wreath around his neck? He is quite concerned…who will help him out of this mess? Sydney, on the other hand, has an innocent look about her. (First published in December … Read More
Free gifts may be the most memorable. This post has been previously published when I first started a watercolour journal in 2015. The text is edited in 2021. “Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a … Read More
Ozzy’s portrait is wrapped and ready to go. I started Ozzy’s portrait at the end of October and he is now sitting in a box on the counter, ready to be shipped to his owner. On average, a portrait … Read More
