Happy Halloween

I wanted to paint something for Halloween, so I decided to do a portrait of Maddie using shades of reddish brown, brown, reds, and blues and this is what I came up with.  I used Schmincke gouache on 140lb cold press watercolor paper.

 

 

 

Coco and Jolie

Coco and Jolie decided that they wanted to take more pictures for Halloween.  Maybe we can use this on our Thanksgiving card.  After several takes, this was a winner.

 

 

 

Dogs Halloween Card

Every year my dogs pose for a Halloween card that is sent to friends and relatives. 

From Left to Right:

Coco, Jolie, Sophie, and Maddie

 

Hydrangea

I've been working in my small journal lately, which means smaller brushes to paint with.

 

 

 

My current watercolor/gouache kit

I'm always looking for light weight watercolor kits to carry in my purse.  I think I've finally have a winner.

 

I can carry the following items in my camera pencil case:

 

business card watercolor palette

business card gouache palette

Lamy Joy calligraphy Extra fine nib filled with brown waterproof ink

 eraser

H pencil

Black Sharpie Fine tip

3 water brushes

and

a blue reusable towel

 

 

 

Peonies take two

After having such a bad week, my husband took me to Pasadena for lunch and a shopping trip to Dick Blick Art Store.  We had lunch at our favorite Italian restaurant Mi Piace.  The weather was so nice in Pasadena we were able to sit outside and eat.

 

After lunch we went to Dick Blick where I bought several sheets of Mi tentes pastel paper and some markers.

 

I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to have Apple repair my Ipad shattered glass for $250. or just buy a new Air Apple Ipad that is coming out next week for $400.  I'm still on the fence about that.  I did learn if I had bought Apple care when I first got my Ipad 2 years ago, it would of only cost $49.00 to repair.  Live and learn.

 

Today I worked on more Peonies using gouache on watercolor paper.

 

 

 

 

 

I'm dreaming of the ocean

Whenever I need a pick-me-up, I just have to remember living by the sea.  So I pulled out some old photos of seascapes and just let myself remember those sweet ocean breezes.  This painting is a mixed media, using toned paper, Derwent oil pastels, Schmincke gouache, watercolor pencils, and Derwent intense colored pencils.

 

 

 

Autumn Splendor

I can see the landscape change in color.  Autumn is definitely here even though we still our having 80 degree weather.  Oil pastels on toned paper.  5" x 7".

 

 

 

Have you ever had one of those weeks where nothing seems to go right?  Well this has been my week.  It started out with dropping my IPAD on the floor and the glass cracked; then my David Yurman cuff bracelet that I wear everyday, one of the peridot stones cracked and fell out, finally the light bulbs in my bedroom burned out.  It seems like I was having a glass attack.  As usual, I have to drive down below to go to the Apple store to get my IPAD repaired and to Beverly Hills to get my DY cuff bracelet fitted with a new stone.  Luckily I had replacement bulbs for my lamps.

 

Then there is my paintings.  Some days I like them and some days they just don't seem to work.  Today is one of those days that half the painting works for me and the other half doesn't.  I've been experimenting with gouache on toned paper.  When using gouache on toned paper, if you make a mistake it is not easily fixed.  If I had painted this on watercolor paper, most likely I would have been able to lift the paint and start over.  So on this painting doing Chinese brush, the peony bud on the right, I over worked and used more gouache to attempt to save the flower.  It looks OK. It really should of looked like the flower on the left.  So it's back to the drawing board and attempt to paint this again.

 

I'm hoping the rest of my week improves.

 

 

 

Banana Nut Bread

Today I made banana nut bread with my new Nordic Ware Bundt pan.  I just love making cakes and breads in different shapes.  My bread looked so pretty I really didn't want to cut into it, but my husband couldn't wait.

 

 

 

More Sea shells

Today I'm not to crazy about this toned paper with gouache.  This painting probably would of worked better with blue toned paper.  The mustard in this toned paper just seems to wash out my shells. Oh well!

 

 

 

Australian Cattle Dog

Yesterday was Ojai Day in Ojai, California.  We drove over the hill to do some plein air painting not realizing that it was the annual Ojai Day.  The main street was blocked off to through traffic and vendors set up shop.  There were street performers, lots of food, and crafts for sale.  While walking around I spotted this Australian Cattle Dog.  I've never seen one in person, so it was a treat to watch him watching the people as they walked by him.  Toned paper using Schmincke gouache.

 

 

Sea shells on toned paper

 

I love anything to do with the ocean; but I also love working on toned paper with gouache.  So today I combined those three things I love.

 

 

Chinese Lanterns

 

Today when I was at the grocery store I came across Chinese Lanterns, so I had to come home and paint them.  Here is a quick watercolor of those lanterns.

 

Daler-Rowney artist watercolour box

After being on back ordered for so long, I finally got my Daler-Rowney artist watercolor box.  This watercolor box is small.  It has 18 quarter size pans.  Just to show how small this set is, my journal on the left measures 6" x 4.50".  I used some of the colors from this set and also my Schmincke gouache to paint the kitty below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calico cat

Today I took my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to the vet.  While at the vet's office this big Calico cat came in for a visit too.  Her eyes were quite green and she must of weighed at least 20lbs.  She had the cutest name "Pudding".  I was surprised that my dog Sophie didn't bark at Pudding.  Sophie was more interested the other dogs that came to the vet.

 

 

Out in the country side

Went for a drive over the weekend and this is one of the many views that I saw.

 

 

 

 

New Daniel Smith 12 Full Pan Box

I know, I really need to go to a 12 step program for watercolor artist.  I had this coupon for Daniel Smith free shipping, so I decided to buy this empty full pan box.  What I like about the box was the deep wells on the side flap.    I also thought I would use some Winsor and Newton colors that I haven't used for years.

One of these days I'll take a picture of my full collection of watercolor palettes.

 

WN Cad Yellow, New Gamboge, WN Cad Red, Alizarin, WN Violet.
On the other side:  Cobalt Teal Blue, FUB, Sap Green, Quin Gold, BU, and WN Paynes gray. 

Blue sparrow

 

Blue sparrow on toned paper and gouache.

 

 

Blue Jay on toned paper

Before I discovered using gouache, I would of never considered painting on toned paper other than using colored pencils.  Gouache and toned paper work so well together.

 

 

 

Peach Roses

Today I took out a piece of handmade watercolor paper that I bought last year when I was in Fabriano, Italy.  I've been hoarding this paper.  I now only have 59 pieces left.  I either have to find this handmade paper in the US or I need to go back to Italy to buy more.  I could also just call the store where I bought it from and order more. 

 

What I love about the paper is the thickness and texture.  It is such a delight to paint on this stuff. 

 

 

Gouache Pocket Palette

 

Back in August I bought a pocket palette by Expeditionary Art. http://expeditionaryart.com/shop/#art-toolkit.

 

I really liked the size and it came with 14 empty palette pans that I could fill up with my favorite watercolor paint.  Well I've been using this pocket palette daily that I thought about buying another pocket palette for my gouache, but I wasn't sure I wanted to spend another $28.00 for another one.  Two weeks ago I happened to visit expeditionary art shop and noticed that they were offering jumbo size palette pans, so I bought 15 jumbo palette pans thinking I could switch pans with different colors.

 

Last week when I was in Dick Blick I happened to notice that they carried these empty business size card cases that were exactly like the pocket palette that I had bought from Expeditionary Art, so I bought two of them for $5.99 each.

 

With a small adjustment I was in business.  I had too add magnetic tape to the bottom of the palette pans so they would stay in place and not pop out when I opened the case.  The flap of the case is already painted with white enamel paint and the lid has a ruler on the top.

 

With the 2nd case I plan to add more watercolors that I use on occasion. I'm always happy when resourceful.

 

 

 

Owl wip finished

Sometimes it's good to think through a painting, especially if it's rather detailed as this owl was.  I had to break the painting into parts and let the watercolor dry in between layers.  The size of this painting is only 5 x 7.  I used a #4 round brush and a #1 round for the small detail.

 

 

Owl WIP

WIP of an owl.  I initially started with just laying in color, but as this painting progressed I felt like I needed to add some line work to define the owl's face and body.  I'm not sure how this painting is going to turn out, but I'll have to figure that out tomorrow. 

 

 

Tulips with Montana markers

I love using my Montana Markers to do line drawings. I used Shock Pink and Shock Green. 

 

 

Sophie deep in thought

My dog Sophie has this intense look about her, especially when she's thinking about dinner.

 

 

Gazania

Today I finally got to use my new Lamy Joy calligraphy pen that I filled with Noodlers brown ink.

I like the narrow body of the pen which makes it comfortable to use.  I plan to put to the test this brown ink to see if it is really waterproof. 

 

 

Look what I got today?

The samsung galaxy note 3.  It finally was available today at my ATT store.

After using my iPhone for the last several years I was ready to get a larger and wider phone.  I can hardly wait to use it.

Lamy Joy Calligraphy fountain pen

 Look what I got in the mail last night.  Yup...my new Lamy Joy Calligraphy fountain pen.  It came with a converter and a refill of blue ink, with a extra fine nib.  I won't use until I get some Noodlers water proof brown ink.  Hopefully by Saturday.

 

 

 

 

 

Mama bird with her babies

Handmade paper. Daniel Smith watercolors. 

 

My paintings paint themselves using handmade watercolor paper.  No more standard watercolor paper for me.  Everything I've ever learned about painting finally came together.  Paper weight does really matter.  I've used paper that weighed 140lbs to 300lbs; usually cold press rough paper.  The journal I'm currently using is by Savor Faire artist book, handmade paper with the weight of 150lbs.   I'm able to paint on both sides of the paper with no problem, which is something I haven't been able to do without damaging the painting that is on the reverse side.

 

I used my water brush and Daniel Smith watercolors.