Beach Party: 31-01-2015

Beach Party

watercolor, ink on paper

31-01-2015

To close out the month of my Art-A-Day project, I found a quick sketch I had made in September from the 10th floor condo balcony at Myrtle Beach. I re-sketched it and added the watercolors. Nice way to end a cold January by remembering warmer times! 

Desert Storm: 30-01-2015

Desert Storm

watercolor on paper

30-01-2015

Only had a few minutes today so just played a bit of mixing and matching with the M. Graham paints: Alizarin Crimson, Ultramarine Blue, Azo Yellow. 

Lonesome Pine: 29-01-2015

Lonesome Pine

watercolor pencil on paper

29-01-2015

Rather than explain, I am just going to let this image stand on its own. It can be anything you want it to be...

Afternoon Snack: 28-01-2015

Afternoon Snack

watercolor on paper

28-01-2015

A quick sketch of a bowl of popcorn. I tried to just sort of splash on the colors but once again I have difficulty 'painting outside the lines' if you know what I mean. I try to be loosey-goosey but in order to get any depth of color with the paints I have to keeping adding layer upon layer until it looks solid.  And I am using the new, upscale M. Graham watercolors!

Bloomin': 27-01-2015

Bloomin'

watercolor pencil on paper

27-01-2015

This is my take on an acrylic painting I saw at an art gallery in Myrtle Beach. I was attracted to the colors. My try doesn't do justice to the vibrancy of the original.

I have to say that the black I used is from a less expensive set of watercolor pencils and I can tell the difference! The color got very watery very quickly. You can see that it didn't cover as well as the 'good' ones. I would like to blend the black at the bottom a bit more but I think it will just get goopier and goopier. 

The red is a waxy watercolor crayon and its color is quite rich. I never would have gotten that red with one of the pencils in my set.

I may let this one rest and come back to it with a few tweaks. I am not sure if that will hurt or help... 

Girl in Red Hat: 26-01-2015

Girl in Red Hat

watercolor pencil on paper

26-01-2015

This is another image from the book Watercolor Pencil Magic. 

I have the girl's hat sitting too high on her head, but I like the way her face turned out. For the skin color, I layered a medium brown, yellow, a touch of red and orange and blended them. After the image was dry, I added a little more brown for shadow and cheek definition. I need to make her hair and eyebrows much darker.

Palm Tree: 25-01-2015

Palm Tree

watercolor pencil on paper

25-01-2015

Inspired by Kathy's seaside art retreat. This palm tree is from the instruction book, Watercolor Pencil Magic by Cathy A. Johnson.

I have discovered that going back and just touching the already wet image with a color pencil gives a nice rich color for contrast. That is how I created the shadows on the trunk and the lower fronds - dry into wet. And then, no more water.

In the Gloaming: 24-01-2015

In the Gloaming

watercolor on paper

24-01-2015

This is another try at a landscape, Moorland, I did on 14-01-2015 using watercolor pencils. This time I used watercolor paints and I like it better. I don't know what the name of the dark blue color is but it is gorgeous. It was just a glob I had in my palette and I think someone at some time must have given me a squeeze of it to try. 

I am trying very hard to get Contrast in my paintings. The reddish streaks in the sky, a happy accident, came through from the background of the prepared paper for the sketchbook.

Here is the photo of the watercolor pencil piece:

Initial Art: 23-01-2015

Initial Art

Watercolor pencil on paper

23-01-2015

Here I am just working with a design for gifts for two children. The finished product will be on a chunk of wood (maybe 4"x4") from the end of a two-by-four and will be painted using acrylics. The block on the left is for a little girl whose name begins with C and the one on the left for a young boy whose name begins with J. 

I am just playing with the colors and objects to go on the finished pieces. I am wondering if I could do objects that begin with the initial letters? That may be complicated and a strain for my drawing skills! I just want bright colors (obviously the purple blob on the C block will have to go) and simple objects from nature.

Tropical Blossom: 22-01-2015

Tropical Blossom

watercolor pencil on paper

22-01-2015

I copied this image from the lid of the watercolor pencil tin. I am discovering that I need to use a heavy touch with the pencil and a light touch with the water. Also, a small flat brush seems to work better for me than the small rounded one I have been using. It seems to move the water/pigment around better.

Ringlet: 21-01-2015

Ringlet

Black ink on paper

21-01-2015

I love this typeface. I copied it from my Dover book of Victorian Display Fonts. I used a calligraphy pen (2.5) but actually the curlicues should be much thinner. Anyway, it makes for a lovely 'sampler'.

Meditation Lake: 20-01-2015

Meditation Lake

watercolor pencil on paper

20-01-2015

This is another exercise from Quick and Clever Watercolor Pencils. In morning meditation I have been envisioning the calmness of still water. And then this image showed up in the book. I am happy with the shadings and contours of the mountain. The sky, however, looks bruised and not what I was going for. The dark green blob on the right is supposed to be the bank. Once again, the photo shows up many flaws.  

Garden Tao: 19-01-2015

Garden Tao

watercolor on paper

19-01-2015

Believe me, this doesn't look anything like the sample lesson in The Tao of Watercolor. This second technique is supposed to use 'blooms' to create blooms. There is much more detail in mine than in the example in the book and the colors are nowhere near as vibrant. I finally just gave up and quit playing with it. 

The Tao of Trees: 18-01-2015

The Tao of Trees

watercolor on paper

18-01-2015

This is from a lesson in The Tao of Watercolor by Jeanne Carbonetti. First a wash on wet of yellow and green. Let dry and spray and add a second wash of blue, green and yellow. Let dry. Paint in the tree trunks and branches (on dry) with small brush and rigger. Splatter.

I like the mystery of the open space and how the splatters give the impression of foliage. And how the trunks just appear and disappear. It makes me feel as if I am lying on my back and staring up through the leaves. It is a little dizzying!

May Queen: 17-01-2015

May Queen

watercolor pencils on paper

17-01-2015

This is from a poster that has hung in my kitchen forever. It is sort of Picasso-ish. I just like that she is wearing flowers in her hair. Not my best, but fun to try. In my version, she looks a bit pensive or perplexed.

This is the original:

Classical Pose: 16-01-2015

Classical Pose

watercolor pencil on paper

16-01-2015

This is another image from the Quick and Clever Watercolor Pencil book by Charles Evans. Per his instructions, I sketched in the figure and first filled in the blue background leaving the 'negative space' of the woman. Working from the outside in.

It's funny how I see things in the photo that I don't always see in the original...such as that mess on the edges on the left side of the blue wash/background. I think I can go in and smooth that out. 

I don't do many figure studies. I am pretty happy with how this turned out even though her right shoulder has been overworked. I couldn't quite get the curve.  Actually, in the example in the book, the blue background didn't go around her entire body like I have it. The area behind her shoulders and head was left white.

An Apple A Day: 15-01-2015

An Apple A Day

watercolor pencils on paper

15-01-2015

This image is from a YouTube instructional. I watched it this morning and then tried to replicate the apples this afternoon. There are two or three layers of watercolor pencil which I am learning that it takes to get the some vibrancy. That dark shadow behind the apple on the left is some of the background showing through from the prepared sketchbook page. 

Note: For some reason, I can't upload photos from my phone today to my blog posts. Yesterday, no problem. I am ready to toss my computer out the door. So frustrating. I have been having trouble with it all day. I finally figured out how to get this shot from a Picasa album. I have photos everywhere and yet can't find them when I need them. 

Moorland: 14-01-2015

Moorland

watercolor pencil on paper

14-01-2015

This is an image I copied from a instruction book, Quick and Clever Watercolor Pencils, by Charles Evans. I followed step by step but wasn't pleased with the results. Then I started messing around with the painting to add more contrast and then put in those squiggly black lines in the foreground. I guess that is why they call it 'messing around' as it makes a mess. Oh, well. His book is quite helpful. He lightly pencils in the image he wants with a soft grey watercolor pencil and those lines disappear when he adds water in making the painting. I will try another one another day.

Bird with Blossom: 13-01-2015

Bird with Blossom

pencil on Arches text wove

13-01-2015

This is my drawing of an image from the book, How to Paint the Chinese Way, that I checked out of the library yesterday. In the book, all the images are fashioned with brush and ink. I used a simple mechanical pencil. I sprayed the finished drawing lightly with hairspray and hope that will keep the graphite from rubbing and smearing.

Letting the Mind Rest: 12-01-2105

Letting the Mind Rest

Brush pens on watercolor paper

12-01-2015

After the overstimulation of the art workshop weekend, I needed to draw something simple and straightforward. This is a variation of an Art Deco stained glass window design. 

Secret Writing: 11-01-2015

Secret Writing

Watercolor as ink and calligraphy nib

11-01-2015

This was the result of an exercise done in the workshop "26 Letters" this weekend. We were to just keep our hand moving and the pen on the paper (except when 'dipping'). It was then glued into an accordion book that we made from Rives BFK which is a wonderful paper. The actual writing was done on Arches text wove. The solid colored strip at the bottom was torn from another exercise. 

Here is a photo of my jewel-encrusted calligraphy pen:

B is for Belle: 10-01-2015

B is for Belle

pencil and watercolor

10-01-2015

I am in a two-day art workshop this weekend called '26 Letters'. We are working with one capital letter and doing some fun things with it and also some other text. This is a quick one I did that is a work in progress. Perhaps I will add some 'illumination' or perhaps I will leave it as is. I do like the colors. 

The instructor convinced me to buy good quality watercolor paints (I was just using tubes that came in beginner's sets). 

These are the three she suggested I buy:

I wish they would just name them red, yellow, and blue. There are so many choices! I was glad she was there to guide me. We are working with a palette limited to these three and having fun mixing our own colors. It is amazing what combinations some in the class come up with. 

Flower Power: 09-01-2015

Flower Power

watercolor and ink

09-01-2015

Not sure what I was 'feeling' here. Just playing with color; started with purple flower petals with splashes of green and then added the red centers. They sort of remind me of the Flower Power images of the '60s! 

Oh, well. They can't all be masterpieces! 

Girl in a Big Hat: 08-01-2015

Girl in a Big Hat

pencil/ink on watercolor paper

08-01-2015

I drew this image from one in a book called The Yoga of Drawing by Jeanne Carbonetti. I like the simplicity of the lines. It is very Matisse-like. The background swirls already on the paper perfectly spotlight her face and add color to her hat and blouse. A happy accident!

The Happy Rock: 07-01-2015

The Happy Rock

pencil/watercolor pencils

07-01-2015

Here is a photo of the actual rock:

Unfortunately, I can't show that it rattles when I shake it. Makes me happy. I did remember this time to put in the shadow. I just traced around the outside of the 'rock' and then drew the leaf and was a little loose with the colors! Artistic license.

peace: 06-01-2015

peace

ink on watercolor paper

06-01-2015

This design arrived in the post as a Christmas card from the company that takes care of the trees in my yard. I put it in the circle. I love its simplicity and the starkness of the black limbs against the white paper. And doesn't that little redbird just make you want to sing?

Wedlock: 05-01-2015

Wedlock typeface

calligraphy pen 2.0

05-01-2015

I love this typeface. It is very elegant. The "S" is especially attractive. These alphabets are fun to do. They look easy in the book but are often difficult to imitate. 

"The line has a beginning, a middle, and an end."

                           ----Laurie Doctor, instructor

Soft Swirls/Hard Lines: 04-01-2015

Soft Swirls/Hard Lines

Black ink on watercolor

04-01-2015

Just a quickie today. Felt the need to purchase a compass and protractor! I like the feel of tools in my hand. Started with the circle then divided it in half. Drew in some swirly lines and then contrasted with straight, angular ones. My own take on the Zentangle. 

Missing Colors of Fall Today: 03-01-2015

Missing Colors of Fall Today

watercolor pencils

03-01-2015

It was such a gloomy, rainy day I wanted to put some color into my Saturday! 

I love working with watercolor pencils. I am learning some tricks such as going back over the dried colors to give them more oomph. I get to draw and color both which I find very satisfying.

Art Deco Stained Glass: 02-01-2015

Art Deco Stained Glass

watercolor pencils, watercolor

02-01-2015

I just let the background watercolor swirls become part of the colors in the design.

Art On!-A-Day Project: 01-01-2015

Just for fun, I committed to sketching, doodling, coloring, printing, or painting something every day in January. Thirty days of Art On, Sister!

Of course, I fiddled around trying to make the perfect sketchbook. I created some pages out of a large sheet of watercolor paper and slapped a black cover on it, but it isn't bound yet. I don't have an embroidery needle or thread to accomplish that right now, but I can't let that stop me from picking up pencil or brush.

Here is my first masterpiece. It is a whirligig taken from a book of Pennsylvania Dutch folk art patterns. I call it Stop Spinning!

Stop Spinning!

watercolor pencils

01-01-15