Thinking of Spring

Paper 53

Paper 53 is such a cool APP.  I'm finding that as I practice sketching, it's getting easier to use.  

More lilies

Just another view of lilies.

Tiger lilies

I always have problems with painting Tiger Lilies.  Used the side of the brush for the branch.

Dancing flowers

I used black watercolor paint for the stems and orange for the flowers.  These flowers remind me of someone dancing very gracefully.

Orange flowers

I'm using a watercolor brush a # 4 round to create this Chinese Brush painting.

Leaves

Today practicing my leaves in Chinese Brush.

Cat -- Mao

Animals are always fun to paint in Chinese Brush.

More Chinese brush flowers

I like to experiment with different types of paper, other than traditional paper used for Chinese Brush.  On this painting I used watercolor paper 140lb.

IF -- Talent

Which butterfly has the most talent?

Chinese brush flowers

I've been taking Chinese brush classes for over 2 plus years.  If anything I've learned...it's about the water on the brush.  Too much water, you get blobs; to little water, the paint skips.  Having the just right amount the painting, paints itself.

My new Schmincke gouache and watercolor set

I finally ordered some good gouache by Schmincke.  I have seen on flick this watercolor tin by Schmincke filled with 12 watercolors 1/2 pans.  I liked the size and thought I'd be able to combine both my gouache and watercolors together in one case.   To be honest I only bought the watercolor set for the watercolor case.  I have a large set of Schmincke watercolors and I've used them, but I'm really loyal to my Daniel Smith watercolors.   In the picture below, on the two top rows are my Schmincke gouache.  On the bottom two rows are the 12 watercolor 1/2 pans of Schmincke that came in the set.  When I go to the bay area in two weeks I'll take the combined set of Schmincke gouache and watercolors to test drive the combo set.  But as a backup I'm also taking my Daniel Smith watercolor paints too.  Today I'll finally get to use the good gouache.

Working in ink

I started a new small passport journal with the goal of sketching in ink only on a daily basis.   Each day I pick a subject and use my Lamy fountain pen to sketch.  At first, I found it a little intimidating because I'm so use to using pencil and if a make a mistake or wrong mark, I could always erase and redraw.

Macaroons anyone???

Lately I've been fascinated by patterns or I should say the repeating of patterns.  I thought macaroons would lend themselves to repetition of patterns. 

Free flowing flowers

Another painting of two colors mingling together...wet-on-wet.

Daffodils

I can't wait for Spring to arrive; that's when my daffodils will bloom.  

Tulips

I never get tired of painting flowers and dropping paint.  Wet-on-wet and mingling of several colors.

Primroses

 These days I'm trying to use my paint brush to draw and add color.  Basically the mingling of two colors and allowing them to bleed together.

I Love Roses

I've always have loved roses.  I have many bushes in my backyard and front yard.  This is just a sampling of some of those roses.

Pitcher full of roses

I just love playing with Paper 53 on my mini Ipad.  I think the Paper 53 is one of  the easiest drawing app that I've used.  I did buy the different brushes that Paper 53 offered.

Palette knife tulips

I've been doing a lot of experimenting lately, trying to get out of my comfort zone.  Sometimes I like the results and sometimes I don't.  With this small watercolor I used acrylic ink with a palette knife to do the line work.  Then I went back in with a wet brush and moved the color around.  I then went into Photoshop and poured in the green background.

IF -- Whisper

Great crested fly catcher

For the longest time I stayed away from drawing birds, but after watching birds play outside my bedroom window, I decided I needed to overcome that fear.   I painted this guy on mix media paper, using gouache by M. Graham, Winsor Newton, Caran d'ache, and Holbein.  The M.Grahams, W/N, and the Caran d'ache seem to re-wet with no problem;but the Holbein...it's kind of hit or miss.  I'm planning on buy a set of 

Schmincke Horadam gouache this weekend.  I guess it's time to spend the money on good quality gouache and Schmincke seems to get great reviews.  I also have been playing around with Photoshop using the gradient feature for the background.

Balzer Designs Ava template

It started with this template from Balzer Designs and created the painting below.  I liked the template because it gave me basic portion sizing and from there I could create my own face.

Mendocino...a day trip

I always loved going to Mendocino for the day.  Mendocino is a quaint  seaside town up north on High way 1 in Northern, California.  The town is filled with quaint side streets to explore.

From a river up north

When I lived in Northern California, I had to pass over bridges to get to my house on the coast.  This is a typical scene I would see on the way home.

Paper by Fifty Three App for IPad

I had purchased Paper 53 when it first was introduced.  I was using a stylus to draw and paint my pictures, unfortunately, I wasn't getting the results I wanted...you know the kind of strokes you get with a paint brush. It wasn't until I came across a Sensu  portable artist brush and stylus.  It looks like a paint brush and it allows me to create with ease.  The stylus is a bit pricey around $40, but is well worth every penny.

Carolina Chickadee

I've always though Chickadee's were such cute little birds.  I didn't realize that there were many varieties.  I think I might work on a series for note cards.  I sketched him out then used my Daniel Smith watercolors on mix media paper.  When I scanned it in Photoshop  I thought I would drop in background color.  I'm just amazed at all the things one can do with Photoshop.

Crayola paint brush pens

I've been playing around with portable ways to carry a limited palette of watercolors.  I bought this cheap crayola no drip paint brush pens to see if they might be a quick way to apply color with limited colors on the go.

So here is my drawing just using the Crayola paintbrush pens.    I applied the color and then used my water brush to blend in the color.  I think it's a fun way to doodle when I don't have all my watercolor supplies with me.  You should try it out.  

IF -- Wool

I was suppose to go to an Alpaca ranch last weekend, but it was raining and rather cold.  So I decided to paint a baby alpaca from an old photo that I had taken up northern several years ago when I went to an Alpaca show.

flower of the courtyard

In the hotels outdoor patio, the wall was lined with planter boxes of blooming flowers.

Colors of the sky at dusk

This was how the sky looked one summer evening as the sun was setting.  Toned paper using gouache.

It started with a hand craved stamp

When I was in Fabriano, Italy the road ways were lined with these tall trees.  I hand craved a image of the trees and then applied the impression to toned paper that I had already dropped color on.  Once the ink was dry on the trees, I went back in with sap green gouache to finish off the painting.

The Italian skys

One of the many impressions of a beautiful warm Italian summer day.  Toned paper using gouache.

Italian wind surfer

Impression of  wind surfer in Italy.  Toned paper using gouache.

Day at the beach

This is from a wonderful day at the beach in Italy.  Toned paper using gouache.

IF -- Storm

Trying to weather the storm here in California.

Parrots....

All I can see and paint lately is Birds.  Trying to master the art of bird drawing and painting.

Red trees

I've seen lots of old master painters paint impressionistic paintings of trees down some lonely European lane. This is my take on a lane I saw in Italy last summer.   Size 16 x 20.  Golden acrylics.

Vase full of flowers

For the longest time I've put off painting large in acrylics.  So I took the plunge and painted large.  

Size 16 x 20; golden acrylic paints.

Birds on my walk

When I going walking in the morning I'm sometimes surprised with beautiful and cute little birds.  This is the guy I saw this morning.

Pretty as a picture

I'm really pleased with this bird painting.  I think I'm finally getting the hang of drawing them.  I always seem to get the body of  the bird to round or long and the feet way too big.

Puffin

I've been going through my various journals looking for paintings that needed to be completed and I found this guy.  I just needed to add a few more touches and he was done.  When I look at him, he makes me smile because he's so cute.

Flower and butterflies

I came across these two butterflies fluttering around the bud of this pinkish orange flower.

IF -- Wheel

Thomas Jefferson created a Wheel Cipher that was used to encode and decode messages during the American Revolution.

Birds are curious

I wonder what he's thinking???