Travel and Art based on Inktober 31 days=31 drawings fun challenge. Day 27 – Spark

Artist, ink, Uncategorized, Urban sketching, Voyage

The next Inktober prompt is Spark.

Ink drawing of spark on red embers. Barbeque might just be the most delicious food on the planet. We did it this fall in Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, Canada. Most people like to watch the flame cover, sparks gleam, firewood crackles and yammy barbeque will warm up you on a cold evening.

And I am ready for tomorrow’s Inktober prompt – Crispy.

Here is the official site with 2021 prompts and rules https://inktober.com/

Bon voyage! Stay healthy.

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.

You can visit my personal website pages here and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.

My favourite art store in Toronto Deserres, Spadina Ave

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Travel and Art based on Inktober 31 days=31 drawings fun challenge. Day 9.

Artist, ink, Uncategorized, Urban sketching, Voyage

The October 9th prompt is Pressure.

A rainy Saturday afternoon encouraged me to draw some sort of social ink drawing for Inktober 2021. Pressure and manipulation of public opinion to a person, pressure from a city, pressure from the employer…And it would be great to break the “fetters” from a manipulator and manage your life by yourself:)

And I am ready for tomorrow’s Inktober prompt – Pick.

Here is the official site with 2021 prompts and rules https://inktober.com/

Bon voyage! Stay healthy.

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.

You can visit my personal website pages here and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.

My favourite art store in Toronto Deserres, Spadina Ave

Travel and Art based on Inktober 31 days=31 drawings fun challenge. Day 4.

Artist, ink, Uncategorized, Urban sketching, Voyage

The October 4th prompt is Knot.

For this prompt I was doing a drawing with trees’ roots intertwined into knots in this enchanted forest. We visited Jones waterfall on Ontario, Canada and were impressed by it by view of these trees’ “knots”…

There is a raging and rumbling waterfall right in the forest. Well.. it was a combination of a scary fair tale’s feelings to overlook many huge intertwined roots in knots of gigantic trees on the edge of the abyss and at the same time a magic view of the waterfall.. I do recommend to visit this place to everyone:)

I added a little bit burnt sienna and peat brown ink for adding some autumn’s atmosphere for my drawing.

And I am ready for tomorrow’s Inktober prompt – Raven

Here is the official site with 2021 prompts and rules https://inktober.com/

Bon voyage! Stay healthy.

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.

You can visit my personal website pages here and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.

My favourite art store in Toronto Deserres, Spadina Ave

My Toronto. Stay home and Urban sketching. Travel and Art. November, Winter mood. Part 10

ArtTravel

This part as an addition of my month of October daily sketches.

City of Toronto has the winter period, with snow, wind, when you might sit at home and enjoy the view from the window, with ice skating and the festive atmosphere of Christmas and New Years.

All paintings in this post were done in previuos seasons.

Ontario Place, Toronto, winter. Oil painting. Very far away is …yes the CN Tower, you might see this 0.5 km height landmark almost from any point in the city.

https://pixels.com/featured/happy-holidayscanada-february-in-ontario-place-tamara-vitsenkova.html

The winter season of Toronto Music Garden downtown is very nice and shining neighbourhood with lots of lights, and a view of CN Tower. There are couple bright yellow summer beach chairs near frozen Ontario lake, waiting for the next summer season.

Queens Quay West street and Spadina. The streetcar is in hurry to the next year! This imaginary art includes the Toronto tram that is coming for next New Year with Christmas sled dears with gifts is in the air. The bucket of champagne is on the trams’ way. Happy Holidays will be welcoming … especially this year:)

https://pixels.com/featured/seasons-greetings-toronto-tramthe-bucket-of-shampaigne-christmas-sled-deers-with-gifts-tamara-vitsenkova.html

Another Toronto Music Garden’s warercolour painting. The snowman is sitting with CN Tower background and the silver christmas ball nearby. It was completed in previous winter when we had lots of snow even on the south of Toronto, nearby of Ontario lake. Not very often snow in this area of the city.

Maybe it was a family that had fun time together, playing in snowballs and making the snowman.


A beautiful frosty twilight of the downtown of Toronto with a view of featuring of the Financial district and its high risers, CN Tower and Thompson Hall. I added a gold powder to the painting.

Gold fantazy with the CN Tower and Thompson hall and large christmas balls.

The romantic holiday painting with the beautiful night view of Toronto, featuring cheerful downtown during the holiday season. Clock countdowns minutes to the New Year, Champagne is ready.

…and winter sunset skyline of Toronto downtown with CN Tower and Rogers centre. My dream shows lots of Christmas balls up in the air with my favorite places in Toronto – CN Tower, Rogers centre, Zoo, ROM Museum, Thompson Hall, Union station, AGO Museum, Pearson airport balls. Everybody can find their interesting places and buildings in the city.Watercolour painting with the landmarks and museums  of the City on the christmass balls, impressionism

Nightly blue colour of the Music Garden, Toronto

Blooming branch with flowers,drops of water. Impressionism.Still life

Hope that my posts about Toronto show the beauty and welcoming city:)

Bon voyage! Until the next travel:) Stay healthy.

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.

You can visit my personal website pages here and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.

Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Derwent watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)

My Toronto. Stay home and Urban sketching. Travel and Art. Music Garden, downtown. Part 9

ArtTravel

This the last part of my daily “travel and art” journey of my home city Toronto in the month of October. This post is about my neighborhood and the local piece of nature called the Music Garden.

The current unusual year with #stayhome and #lockdown is giving me opportunity to discover the bright and friendly place I live in.

This painting is mostly for fun:) Honestly the main subject is the bright yellow street note for the pedestrians to be careful – “Sidewalk maybe slippery”.

I used to go this way every morning to my office. Not this year…Almost all locals are working from home except our essential and frontline workers, thank you! This is the bridge on Spadina avenue at Front street.

The garden is still blooming, very warm autumn this year.

My fall “travel and art” in October’s Toronto ended. There are many lovely places in and around the city.

I did photo of some daily sketches this month, some editing tasks in my art “office”:)

Bon voyage! Until the next travel:) Stay healthy.

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.

You can visit my personal website pages here and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.

Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Derwent watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)

My Toronto. Stay home and Urban sketching. Travel and Art. Old Toronto. Part 8.

ArtTravel

My daily sketches’ journey in October 2020 is very close to the end. The next chapter is Old #Toronto.

Gooderham and Worts Distillery National Historic Site of Canada with industrial skyline of pitched roofs, turrets, chimney stacks and parapet.

There are abandoned buildings with modern city’s buildings as background. Paintings were done as mixed of watercolour pencils, watercolour paints and acrylic, above added oil to add some texture for bricks.

I added cum clouds for peaceful sky and keep the interest in the scene to substitute buildings’ pipes that do not smoke anymore.

Recreated the historical district, currently touristy place with preserved spirit.

Canada Malting Site .It is one of two remaining silos in Toronto’s Harbourfront in Ontario, Canada. It is almost 100 years.

The museum and house Sir William Campbell is a vibrant public space where members of Toronto’ communities giving life to the words “freedom of expression.” Painting was done as combination of fountain pen with watercolour paints.

Toronto CN Tower, its reflection on the downtown’s builfing , the landmark of the city for the last 45 years , it is old enough at least for our young country and city:). CN is originally referred to Canadian National, the railway company that built the tower.At more than half of a km (555 m) the CN Tower held the record as the tallest building, tower, freestanding structure for over three decades.

I decided to be original and painted this famous building CN Tower not directly, but as reflection  of the standing high risers nearby to the tallest landmark in Canada:)
I added deep blue with nice raspberry colours for some romantic feeling. The early dawn’s colour painting was done in the morning, before work hours.

Bon voyage! Until the next travel:) Stay healthy.

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.

You can visit my personal website pages here and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.

My favourite art store in Toronto is Deserres @Spadina avenue.

Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Derwent watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)

My Toronto. Stay home and Urban sketching. Travel and Art. Weird statues-2. Part 7.

ArtTravel

Daily sketches in downtown Toronto with some funny sculptures. In this post I am adding 3 interesting sculptures and architecture that are located at one park, very convenient for the artists, locals and tourists:)

Dog Fountain at Berczy park. 2020 new reality. I saw some disposable masks on the sculptures of dogs. It is still one of the favorite meet point for friends in the city:) I added coolers of sour cream, tobacco and cappuccino to add warmth of the last days of the Indian summer. 

Toronto downtown beautiful Flatiron building by architector Derek Besant. It has a narrow angle from one side, but I like its facade on Berczy park, overlooking the square, like the wrapped edges of autumn leaves. I using colors salmon + rose + vanilla

And another weird and fanciful sculpture of hands out of the ground. Maybe they are life-giving hands of the Earth?:) In my painting I used matte and very deep black with indigo, grass is an autumn shade of flax. The background is the peach-colored building Flatiron building at Berczy park.

Bon voyage! Until the next travel:) Stay healthy.

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission

You can visit my personal website pages here and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.

My favourite art store in Toronto is Deserres @Spadina avenue.

Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Derwent watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)

My Toronto. Stay home and Urban sketching. Travel and Art. Weird statues. Part 6

ArtTravel

My “travelling and art” journey in my city of Toronto, and the next chapter is some… weird sculptures:) The idea is to enjoy a city and study its history and architecture while walking around the city and making sketches.

“Between the eyes” Toronto street sculpture, Ontario. We know how the smile of the Cheshire Cat looks like from the book Alice’s Adventures popularized by Lewis Carroll. My guess that the sculpture shows how the Cheshire Cat’s eyes look like:) I added some silver powder to my painting with sea-colored and raspberry paints for the buildings on Yonge street.

Another weird and funny statue is “Rising” in downtown of Toronto, at University avenue. I would say that it is a combination of an animal …maybe an elk or.. a deer or… an elephant in combination with the branches of forest’ trees. The “Rising” like the Atlant carries on himself the whole colossus of a high rise building. I added spicy brown color to the wall that gives some warmth to the cold silver’s colour of the statue.

The next interesting composition called “Fair grounds”, consists of four pairs of stainless chairs in the middle of a street Wellington W. at John st. One pair of the chairs is “looking” in the same direction, representing a “familiar/family” relationship. The 2nd pair is “arguing” as they are set back to back, just like when two people don’t want to look at or talk to each other. The 3rd pair is “friends”: they are set facing each other, just like friends who sit down to have a chat. And the last pair is set near each other but they are looking in different directions – just like “strangers” would.

Some of these chairs are elegant, some are simple, and each has a unique style, just like people… Next time you walk by these, have a seat at this unique composition. It’d be interesting to see which pair of chairs you would chose: “Family”, “Arguing”, “Friends” or “Strangers”?:)

And adding the bright sketch of Red canoe. Why I am adding this drawing to the post with the weird statues? Because this red boat is standing on top of my neighborhood’s hill!:) Nice warm weather is helping for outdoor art. Enjoying the sun and fresh air and local sketching exersises!:)

Bon voyage! Until the next travel:) Stay healthy.

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.

You can visit my personal website pages here and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.

my personal site http://tamara-vitsenkova.pixels.com

Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Derwent watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)

My Toronto. Stay home and Urban sketching. Travel and Art. Ontario Place. Part 5

ArtTravel

Toronto daily sketches are continued…Mild autumn weather in Toronto helps my art activities.

Ontario Place is an artificially created island park in downtown with recreation area, on the territory of which there are venues for various festivals, an IMAX cinema, a Budweiser concert stage, well this year they are quite empty..

It has a small marina with snow-white yachts, and many pleasant paths for walking and cycling.

Lovely sunset in Ontario Place and its lonely standing windshare. It reminds me about its famous windmills near Amsterdam, or Cervantes Don Quichotte mills in Spain or a flour mill of my grandgrandparents as per our family’s legends in Belarus. Yes, I am missing so much our annual vacation in Europe, hope that this “stayhome” will be over soon…

Toronto’s fall is very soft and warm, so you can enjoy all this beauty, leisurely walking through numerous the local parks and the picturesque waterfront of Lake Ontario.

Beautiful maples, painted in bright red and gold, are planted along the Ontario lake’s parks.

Bon voyage! Until the next travel:) Stay healthy.

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.

You can visit my personal website pages here and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.

My favourite art store in Toronto is Deserres @Spadina avenue.

Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Derwent watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)

My Toronto. Stay home and Urban sketching. Travel and Art. Marine theme. Part 4.

ArtTravel

The marina theme of Toronto’s daily sketches is quite expressive. Ontario lake and Kawarta lakes are within an hour driving. It gives some rest during long summer weather from May until October. Yes, Toronto has 2 main seasons- summer and winter with short periods of spring and fall.

The city of Toronto is young, lively, developing, sometimes it is frightened as in current lockdown times.

Toronto downtown sketching was done one quiet morning with some boats near the Music garden near Ontario lake.

I painted this picture in the late afternoon at #Toronto #downtown, before another #downpour this evening.  It was quiet in the park – that perfectly calm feeling before the storm – with only lightly swaying boats creaking in rhythm on the waves. 


The scent of ozone signaled stormy weather so I ran away just before the rain started pouring- but I captured the atmosphere – see there are actual rain drops in the painting? I love summer storms.

#Ontario #Kawarta #lakes -This watercolour was done directly on the boat on a warm summer evening as my husband was fishing 1 foot away from me in the same boat 🙂

I aimed to catch the soft evening hues of the little cottage on the shore, and the surrounding green leaves and and the monochrome stones. The lake and two birches on the high lake shore reminded me of my motherland, the far-away #Belarus. 

Ontario Kawarta lakes- all bathed in the pre-sunset golden warmth. September forest, the season is called Indian summer. The painting was done on the boat.

Bon voyage! Until the next travel:) Stay healthy.

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.

My favourite art store in Toronto is Deserres @Spadina avenue.

Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Derwent watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)

My Toronto. Stay home and Urban sketching. Travel and Art. Marine theme. Part 2

ArtTravel

The journey of Toronto’s daily sketches is continued. Nautical motives of urban sketching in Toronto. 

Why I like sketching ? It is fun walking around the city, during which we make small sketches – of everything that attracts attention.

Toronto is located on the shores of Lake Ontario. The city also includes a group of small islands located directly opposite downtown, that these islands have recreation areas, summer cottages, parks, a lighthouse.

Queens Quay Station – Ferry Docks

Marina Quay West has a sculpture.. as per my opinion of the Steering wheel of a Big Ship, maybe it’s just my own interpretation of the sculpture:) It took my attention and I did watercolour painting with neon colour adding some silver powder. Interesting effect:)

October evening , doing some sketching of kayaks at Harbourfront #Canoe & #Kayak Centre at #Ontario lake, waiting for a new season, maybe next summer or Indian summer this year.

https://pixels.com/featured/torontokayaks-at-ontario-lake-tamara-vitsenkova.html 

It was July lovely summer weather, I was doing some sketching of  kayaking lessons at #Harbourfront #Canoe & #Kayak Centre at #Ontario #lake.

I was in the process of sketching while the students of the school learned the basics – and then they suddenly left the place!:) I was running after them to finish the sketch.

Bon voyage! Until the next travel:) Stay healthy.

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.

You can visit my personal website pages here and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.

My favourite art store in Toronto is Deserres @Spadina avenue.

Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Derwent watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)

My Toronto. Stay home and Urban sketching. Travel and Art. Part 1

ArtTravel

I am starting a new journey. This time it will be “travelling” in my own city. I am planning to do daily sketches of city of Toronto, showing my preferred places, sometimes bright spots on its streets, sometimes… weird sculptures:)))) , the multicultural megapolis that is in harmony with its people.

Woodpecker Column – Toronto, Ontario at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Metro Convention Centre’s woodpecker. This bird symbolizes construction, hardworking people of Ontario. It is prophetic bird, symbol of magical power, guardian of kings and trees. Even in mythology, the woodpecker is dedicated to Zeus (Jupiter), Ares (Mars), Sylvanu. In the eternal city of Rome, the woodpecker is said to have guarded Romulus and Remus, according legends.

Monument of culturalism. The statue of a man who uses all his strength to tighten the meridians of globe in this multinational city. On the “meridians” one can notice some birds perched up.

This is a place where residents or visitors of Toronto arrive or leave by subway, tram, bus, train, or airport. It is the heart of Toronto with its historical Union station. The statistics say that it has an average of 200,000 passengers passing through it each day. However, during the lockdown, that number was only 10% of its usual stat. In my hope for the best (and healthy) future, I captured the moment when the sky har  the mixture of chocolate and rose hues. To complement it, I added some shades of coffee and vanilla to the sculpture.

Bike share Toronto. Who doesn’t know these famous bicycles in the streets of Toronto the colour of green apple? There are stations all over the city, including near the Harbour Centre, CN Tower and Rogers centre. You can rent a bicycle and spend a great time cycling for example near Ontario lake.

Bon voyage! Until the next travel:) Stay healthy.

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.

You can visit my personal website pages here and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.

My favourite art store in Toronto is Deserres @Spadina avenue.

Tools used for my painting Watercolour used Charvin and Van Gogh brands, Derwent watercolour pencils and Faber Castell artist pens. Paper Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)

For all the coffee lovers.Toronto, still life and urban sketching.Coffee and breakfast in megapoles

ArtTravel

Even a regular #Mondaymorning could be enjoyable and relaxing, especially when #workingfromhome. This is a view from my home in downtown Toronto, with a dark rye sandwich with salmon, a small cup of coffee – what else could an artist need? And a watercolour painting on another morning…

Paintings with oil pastel: A small cup of coffee for a busy-morning breakfast.

Paintings with oil pastel. Coffee aromas come in all different flavours: fruity, caramelized, sometimes nutty and even burnt; it always energizes me.  I take a few moments every morning to enjoy my coffee while watching the vibrant young Toronto get about its daily hustle and bustle

A cup of coffee and flowers, what could be better in the morning..? Adding some bright and delicate colours to the grey downtown city landscape #Toronto. Wild summer flower bouquet in a vase.

Bon voyage! Until the next travel:) Stay healthy

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.

You can visit my personal website pages here and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.

My favourite art store in Toronto is DeSerred. Address is 130 Spadina ave, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Summer vacation, lakes, boats and travel in Ontario, Canada

ArtTravel

Summer vacation is for rest and fun. What do you need to do some watercolour painting outside? just some simple art tools.

Below is my favorite art bag with the travel brush, small watercolor paint box and album for sketching. A silk scarf is just for beauty…or you might use it as a mask.. it’s up to you:)

I painted the picture below in the late afternoon at #Toronto #downtown, on #Ontario lake before another #downpour this evening.  It was quiet in the park – that perfectly calm feeling before the storm – with only lightly swaying boats creaking in rhythm on the waves. 

The scent of ozone signaled stormy weather so I ran away just before the rain started pouring- but I captured the atmosphere – see there are actual rain drops in the painting? I love summer storms 🙂

#Ontario #Kawarta #lakes -This watercolour was done directly on the boat on a warm summer evening as my husband was fishing 1 foot away from me in the same boat 🙂

I aimed to catch the soft evening hues of the little cottage on the shore, and the surrounding green leaves and and the monochrome stones. The lake and two birches on the high lake shore reminded me of my motherland, the far-away #Belarus. 

Bon voyage! Until the next travel:) Stay healthy.

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.

You can visit my personal website pages here and find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings; purchase canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.