IF -- Disguise

Nothing like having a different disguise when you need one!

IF -- Influence

Even our dogs are influenced by TV!

Green broadbill bird

I thought this guy was rather colorful.  He's from Asia, but some references also say he's from South Africa.   I really like my  6 x 6 watercolor journal, but the only thing is when I scan the center, it's a little bit off,  which  is sometimes noticeable as in this painting.  I keep telling myself these are only practice piece that I can use for future bigger pieces later.

I still am in love with my rubicoil binding machine.  This journal is made with Kraft paper and decorative paper on the front and back cover.  The size of this journal is 8 x 6.  I used a Carl Bidex hand held perforating rotary to perforate 1" from the binding, so if I didn't like the design I could easily tear it out of the journal.

On this drawing I used a white gel pen to draw the butterfly and then used markers to add color.

Barnacles

I haven't drawn or painted barnacles since my colleges days when I was taking a natural science class.  I remember the field trip that the class took to Santa Cruz, CA --natural bridges where one could get up close to see the sea animals.

Parrots...

This colorful guy was done in my 6 x 6 watercolor journal, using Daniel Smith watercolors and Daler-Rowney  gouache.  I also used M. Graham gouache.

IF -- Swell

Binky decided she'd rather eat carrots, than cupcakes, because she didn't want to swell up like Winky!

New Painting, New printer, New camera

 It started out with a  photo of daisy's.  Then came the Polaroid Pogo digital mini printer.  When I tried to use my existing Sony digital camera to transfer pictures, my camera was not compatible.  I could connect the Pogo to my Mac Pro and get my computer to talk to the Pogo...pictures would get printed.  But I really wanted the portability, so if I was out and about and saw something I wanted to paint, I could take a photo and print out my photo reference. So I finally broke down and bought myself a new Canon Power Shot Elph 300 HS digital camera.

IF -- Imperfect

New handmade journal, new watercolor

OK, my new handmade journal is done.  I couldn't decide what my first painting would be in the new journal.  It was this morning looking at my favorite subject that I finally got inspiration!  I'm happy with the painting, but I still need to work out the mechanics of making a journal.  I was able to assemble the watercolor paper with no problem.  It was the outside cover that I still need to perfect.  Even though I had put a ton of books on top of the journal to help the glue adhere to the cover, the cover did not dry flat.  So I know what I'm going to tell my husband I want for Xmas...a journal press!!

Maddie quick study

Today I had a good day.  My husband was off so we went down to Pasadena for lunch and shopping.  My favorite art store--Dick Blick is located in Old Town in Pasadena.  It's a small store, carrying some art supplies, just enough eye candy to make a girl excited.

I bought a few tubes of Holbein designer gouche.  I rarely use gouche and after reading Cathy Johnson's new book Artist Journal workshop, I decided I would try using gouche, in addition to regular watercolor paints.  In the book Cathy mentions toned paper...never hearing that term, I did some research and discovered that it was heavy weight pastel paper.  I found Fabriano heavy weight Ingres cover paper in many colors.  So I bought an assortment of colors to try.

When I came home I thought I would use some of the Fabriano paper, along with my 140lb watercolor paper to hand bind a 6 x 6 watercolor journal.  While waiting for the glue to dry on the spine of the journal, I did a quick study of my puppy Maddie with a Faber-Castell Pitt artists pens.

So it was a good artist day for me.  Not only did I get a fabulous lunch, I also got lots of new art supplies!!!!

 Maddie waiting.