IF -- Egg

 

 

"Happy Easter everybody"!

This weeks topic for Illustration Friday was easy.

 

 

Kiss me, I'm pretty!

Anyone that knows me real well, knows I love giraffes.  I'm not sure it's their goofy expressions or their tall grace, I just love them.  So when I saw this guy, he was saying "Kiss me, I'm pretty!"  Who wouldn't want to kiss that cute face.

 

 

 

Tulips from San Francisco

When I was in San Francisco two weeks ago, I was amazed at all the Tulips blooming at Pier 39.  Everywhere I turned there was this explosion of tulips all around.

 

 

Daffodils from my yard

I've been rather ill for the last few days with that nasty stomach flu that's going around.  So I was pleasantly surprised to see my Daffodils finally have opened. 

 

 

 

Poppies at the local park

 

When I was visiting my sister last week in the SF Bay Area, poppies were growing  all over the local park near her house.

 

Purple calla lillies

 

Calla Lilies always remind me of my mother and her garden.  She grew these in many colors. 

 

 

White flowers

I can't seem to stop drawing flowers with my paintbrush.  The paint just seems to dance on the paper.

 

 

 

 

Orange tulip

 

A sample of a tulip from my garden.

 

A purple Iris

I like the simplicity of just using my paint brush to draw...my paintings seem to have much more fluid movement.

 

 

 

Rose

I really love painting flowers.  I like the idea of drawing and painting with my paint brush only.  Adding color as needed.

Paper 53

A simple line drawing using Paper 53 APP on my mini IPad.

 

 

 

 

 

Hummingbird Mixed Media Painting

While in the bay area saw this Hummingbird in my sisters garden.  Had to capture the moment.  I painted this on toned paper, using watercolor , gouache, Faber-castell Paper crafter crayons, and a black fine tip sharpie.

 

 

 

 

 

Visit to the SF bay area

Just came home from a wonderful visit to the San Francisco Bay area, where I'm originally from.  It's always good to go home and visit with my sister and brother-in-law.

From the moment my plane touched down, I was on the go.  Thursday went shopping at Daiso -- Japan where everything is from Japan and cost $1.50.  Bought a lot of art supplies and found some unique things too.  On Friday went to the Pleasanton Rubber stamping and scrapbook expo.  This is something my sister and I do each year.  As usual I spent way too much money on supplies I wanted, but didn't need.  I bought lots of rubber stamps by Judith, Spellbinder dies, lots of embellishments for card, a envelope score board which has a neat feature of rounding the corners.  We bought so much stuff that we had to make two trips to the car.

On Saturday we spent the day in San Francisco.  First stop was Flax Art and Design store.  This place  is huge.  It has a really cool selection of handmade paper, drawing and painting supplies, a book section, a fine pen department, blank book section, stencils, and much, much more.  I bought a couple of odd size watercolor pads, 3 Lamy converters, waterproof black ink, and some handmade paper.

After the art store we drove down to the Marina for lunch.  My favorite Italian restaurant has changed.  Now catering to 20 something.  Really loud and noisy.

The whole purpose of the trip to SF was to go to the art store and see the "Jersey Boys".  I wasn't sure what to expect because up until a few months ago I really never had heard of them under the name of Jersey Boys.  Well the musical was fabulous.  I am so glad my sister shared her tickets with me.

Afterwards we headed out to Pier 39 for dinner at the Fog Harbor Seafood Restaurant.  We had a wonderful view of the SF bay.  Was a great day, went home tired.

On Sunday we went to the cemetery to visit my parents.  We usually go to clean their headstones and bring flowers.  Hard to believe my father and my mother have been gone 16 years.  Rather disappointed that my nephew and nieces don't bother to visit their grandparents, especially since their father lived and was supported by my parents.  They would usually stay at my parents house every weekend and my parents were rather generous with their home, time, and money.   Their behavior is just one of those things I have to release and bless with love.

I'm always amazed how much San Jose has changed.  We spent the afternoon at Santana Row in Santa Clara shopping.  I've been wanting to go to this MaiDo which is a rather cool Japanese stationary store.  I was on a mission to see what the Midori Travelers Notebook looked like and what accessories I could buy to put in the notebook.  They have an online store where you can buy the same products, but much cheaper and they offer free shipping. 
 

On Monday I flew home.  My dog kids were so happy to see their momma, greeting me with kisses. I missed them and my husband too!

Koi fish

I was inspired by Claudia Nice in her new book  "Discover your world in Pen, Ink, and Watercolor", especially  a section in her new book on painting koi fish.  She made the process so simple.

Meadow and trees

Quick sketch of a meadow.

Misty

Before I was a dog person I had cats.  Misty and Smokey.  Misty had no voice and was rather independent.  She'd always be hiding somewhere in the house and the only way I could find her was to open a can of tuna and shout "Tuna Misty" and she'd come running.

Flowers from my daily walk

One of the many flowers I see when I go for my morning walk.

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.