Italian word art journal

Since I'm going to Italy in June, I thought it might be a good idea to practice my Italian.  I got this really cool APP for my IPhone that  has most common words or phrases used and verbally tells you how to say the word.  I'm the type of student that needs to hear and see the words or phrases.  So to help me, I decided to make a illustrated  Italian word art journal with words I need to know.  My journal started out as a simple side bound journal with 20 sheets of  140lb watercolor sheets.  Then I used Janpanese decorative tape to cover the stitching.

So my first word is Gelato.  In my opinion, Italians seem to have the best gelato in the world.  I could live on the stuff.  I used watercolor by Daniel Smith, tombow markers, and a sharpie pen to outline the gelato and cone.

Fruit in many colors

I really like using markers, especially Tombow markers.  They can be diluted with water and I can achieve a watercolor effect without having to bring out my watercolor palette.  This still life was done on 140 lb watercolor paper,Tombow markers, and black sharpie to outline.

Hydrangia flowers mix media

Who'd ever think that painting mix media could be so fun.  Painting this way really takes the inner critic away, allowing me to just paint and see where the painting goes.

Mix media flowers

This is my first mix media painting.  I started with a couple of stencils and sprayed on Tulip fabric paint onto watercolor paper.  I let that dry for about an hour.  Then I went back in with gesso.  After the gesso dried I started to drop in watercolor.  I didn't like how the watercolor looked so I decided to sketch in flowers with my black sharpie.  I then applied more watercolor to each flower to give it more definition.  When the watercolor dried I used my black sharpie to mark in more detail.  I can say that this was a fun painting to work on, which I did off/on most of the day.

Planter box of Roses

It's hard to believe that it's only February and here in Southern California and we're having nice warm,sunny weather.  My rose bushes are starting to show signs of blooming.  These roses are from last year.

A door way

I've been thinking about my trip to Italy in June..about all the different door ways that I'll see.  So I went through my Paris photos and came across this door way to paint.  Kind of getting me in the mood to discover all the different door ways of Italy.

Grove of aspens -- imagination painting

This was my last painting that I finished in my landscape watercolor class.  Today I finally got the book that my watercolor teacher was referring to in the class.   Painting landscapes from your imagination. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1929834020/ref=oh_o03_s00_i00_details

Tomorrow I'll try more of the examples in the book.

Waterfalls from imagination

Here is another painting that I completed in my workshop I took about two weeks ago.  This was so easy to do...Just get a large watercolor brush soaked with paint and just barely touch the paper and watch the paint spread into interesting designs.

I'm dreaming of Spring

I'm anxiously waiting for my tulips to bloom.  So in-the-meantime, I'll paint them instead.
Oil pastels on watercolor paper.

More wet-on-wet landscapes

These paintings are only  4 x 6 .

I'm going to Italy!!!

Yes it is true...I'm going to Fabriano, Italy for 2 weeks in June!  Diana Trout is doing a 9 day workshop in Fabriano, Italy.  Lots of things planned...like making paper, cooking class,watercoloring, journaling, day trips, and more.  It's really a fabulous trip...Go check out her blog for more details: http://dianatrout.typepad.com/italy_illuminated/

Happy Valentine's Day

Won't you be my Valentine???



Painting from your imagination

On Saturday afternoon I took a watercolor workshop at the Red Brick Gallery in Ventura.  The topic was painting landscapes from your imagination.  What I learned was how to paint wet-on-wet with a large flat brush and using a palette knife to scrap out color for whites.  My imagination had to work really hard to see these paintings.  It was a good class from me to learn how to paint more loose.  These vignettes were 4 small paintings on a 12 x 18 piece of Fabriano watercolor paper.  I probably did a total of 12 paintings with one large painting.

Carmel for the weekend

 My husband and I, along with our four dogs spent the weekend in Carmel-by-the-sea celebrating our wedding anniversary.  We couldn't of asked for better weather.  As you can see our kids were enjoying the beach.  Carmel is very dog friendly, with lots of hotels and restaurants encouraging you to bring your dogs.

My sister and her husband drove down on Saturday to spend the day with us.  They surprised us with a coconut cake and Kir royale, which we shared later that day.

I can't believe it's been at least 7 years since we last visited Carmel.  So much has changed during that time.  I think the economy has really had an impact on the town.  Lots of galleries that had been in Carmel for years were closed.  Favorite small gift shops were gone; and big galleries and stores on Ocean Avenue were moving to smaller locations.  There were still a lot of galleries and tons of restaurants, but just not as big. But the one thing that hasn't changed, everything was still over priced. 

This get-a-way was great because it recharged my artistic batteries.  Came home with lots ideas, that hopefully I'll put down on paper.  I did see a couple of artist working on paintings, one in particular using a palette knife and acrylic paint.  The canvas that the artist was working on was really big,which appealed to me; just need to find the space to work on that size.

I've always have loved Carmel and didn't realize how much I've missed the town.  My husband and I dream of moving to Carmel, hopefully it will become a reality some day.  In-the-mean-time, it's back to creating.

IF -- Forward

The sisters are moving forward to the trees.

Shih Tzu with a happy face

When I think of little Maddie, she seems to have this look on her face.

Shih tzu liver or champagne

When I first brought Maddie home, she had dark brown fur.  As she grew and got older, her fur changed from brown to a milky brown.  My breeder said that her fur color was "liver".  It wasn't until Xmas when other people saw Maddie that they said she looked more like champagne.  So instead of saying I have a liver Shih Tzu, I now can say she's a Champagne Shih Tzu.  Even dogs have problems with hair color...go figure!!!

Did you say Birds???

I'll be the first to admit, I can't draw birds, realistic birds.  I never seem to get their body portions right or their feet.  No matter how often I attempt to draw or paint them, I'm never happy with the results.  So I finally said to myself, the hell with it, and just draw birds...so that's what I've done.

Sidewalk cracks Polar bear

This little guy was inspired by cracks in the side walk.  It's been so cold for him, he just had to have a nice red sweater to keep warm.

Take me

This is the look my baby Maddie gives me when she wants something...like a cookie, a walk, or a ride in the car.  The look I was trying to achieve with just markers wasn't working, so I  used a combination of markers and colored pencils to enhance the drawing. 

Girl with the blue eyes ... manga style

I'm really having a lot of fun drawing these girls.  I love the big eye expression..

Manga girl

I've been experimenting with my Copic markers working on shading.  I've also been testing out various papers....Bristol, Copic marker paper,Bee artist marker pad, watercolor paper, and plain printer paper.  Out of all of them I really like the Bee artist marker pad.  The markers go on nicely and blend rather well on the paper.  Also no bleeding.

Markers anyone????

Happy New Year!

It was good to go home for the holidays.  My husband and my four dogs made the journey to Fremont to spend the holiday with my sister and brother-in-law.   A good time was had by all.  Santa was very good to me too!  During my visit, my sister and I drove up to Berkeley to Dick Blick art store.  WOW was I impressed.  The store was so large and there was so much eye candy, that I was overwhelmed.  But once I calmed down, I was able to load up my shopping cart with lots of art supplies.

While at Dick Blick I bought more Copic Sketch Markers to add to my growing collection.  I only need 76 Copic Sketch Markers and I'll have them all.  This year I plan to do portraits and thought

Copic Sketch Markers would be perfect.

I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos on people using copics to draw portraits and Manga characters. Not really familiar with these Japanese Comic characters, but after seeing a lot of YouTube videos I got the general idea of how they were drawn.  

This is my first attempt at a Manga girl.   I went from this to my Manga girl with purple hair.  I really learned a lot about shading of faces and skin. 

Merry Xmas

This is one of my favorite Cavalier moments.  I'll be going home for the holidays, so wishing everyone a Merry Xmas...hopefully Santa brings you all that you desire!!!

IF -- Separated

Separated from mom on the first day of school.

Today's my birthday...

Today is my birthday and I had to start the morning with  drawing Monet's waterlillies from a past trip to his garden.

wild purple daisys

On a recent walk, I noticed these purple daisy surround by tall blades of grass.

Rounded lobed hepatica watercolor pencils

I've been using my watercolor pencils to work on studies for possible larger paintings.  By doing this, I can see if the painting will work and what corrections I might have to do.

IF--Brigade

Jolie is ready for any emergency with her fireman bucket brigade.

watercolor pencil sketches

I've been working in my 8" X 8" handmade journal, using my watercolor pencils.  Since my watercolor pencils are so portable, I can end the day by sketching in bed...which is becoming my favorite thing to do.  I find that  20 minutes is very relaxing and I accomplish a lot in that short period of time. 

Handmade journal cover

I wanted to use different elements on the front of this small handmade journal.  I watercolored several 1" strips in various colors and then cut into 1" x 1" pieces.  Next I just placed randomly on the cover with double sided tape, framing the pieces with wasabi tape.  To make sure those 1" pieces would come loose, I applied strips of clear packaging tape on top.  The journal measures 4" x 6"--just the right size for small sketches.

Bella as a puppy

I've haven't been posting very much lately, but I've been busy drawing, painting, and making journals.  After making quite a few journals in various sizes and papers, I figure it was time to put pencil to paper.  I went through all my old photos and came across my beloved Bella sleeping when she was just a puppy.  This is a small drawing, first sketched in pencil and then I applied watercolor pencil for color.

IF: Round

Mom just cut off my allowance!

IF -- Round

Nothing like hula hoops to work on a girls round curves!

IF -- Vanity

Sophie didn't know which hat she looked best in, so she bought them all!

IF: Vanity

Nothing like having an audience on the catwalk to flaunt one's vanity

IF: Silent

IF -- Silent

I always remember as a kid seeing theses signs in the library.

IF: stripes

Another take on Illustration Friday Stripes.  This was created on my IPAD using sketchbookPro.

IF--Stripes

IF--Fuel

The bunny wasn't sure he had enough fuel to get home

IF -- Scattered

Nothing like a bunch of fall leaves to scatter

IF -- Ferocious

Only Muffy thinks he's ferocious!

IF -- Mesmerizing

Maddie was just mesmerized by her dog bone!

IF -- Boundaries

Skippy thought "if only there were no fences, he could be on the other side playing with his ball".

IF -- Mysterious

Max wasn't sure what this mysterious food could be!