Look what I got all the way from Australia....

 

Come and meet....Piper


I'm always looking for a pencil case that would accommodate my pencil, pens, markers, a small watercolor set, and a 3.5" x 5.5" watercolor journal.  When I saw Piper I knew he'd do everything I wanted.  I found him on E-bay.  Now to take him out for a test run.





Acacia tree

Still working through Hazel Soan's "Watercolour Rainbow".  Today's exercise was paint an acacia tree using only Cerulean Blue, Aureolin yellow, and a tad of violet for the dark tones.

 

 

 

 

French bull dog

 

I love French bull dogs, and I do see one in the near future.  Ever since I saw one up close in Florence, Italy, I knew this was the dog for me.  Now trying telling that to Maddie, Sophie, Coco, and Jolie.

 

 

 

More small journal dog portraits

I'm not sure what breed this dog is.  If I'd have to guess I'd say probably made part beagle.  His eyes were so sad. 

 

 

 

Bull dog puppy

I saw this bull dog puppy at the vet.  He was so patiently waiting for his turn to see the vet.

 

 

 

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

I have owned 4 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.  They are the sweetest, gentle, and loving dog you could own. 

 

 

 

bull dog with a happy face

 

I love bull dogs and would really like to own one, but due to their size and weight it's not going to happen.  So painting or drawing them is almost just as good as owning one without all the work.

 

 

 

 

Paintings from my dog journal

 

Everyday I sketch and paint a different dog.  Some are my own, some are dogs I've seen out when I take my dogs walking.  Today's dog is a terrier mix from the dog park.  I used the following materials to render this painting in my 3.5" x 5.5" journal.

 

 

 

Chinese Crested Powder Puff

 

Jolie when she was just a puppy.  Pen and ink with some watercolor.

 

 

 

Dog portraits Coco

 I working in a small watercolor journal which will have about 12 to 14 pen and ink with some watercolor drawings of dogs.    Today's dog is Coco.

Prismacolor brush tip markers

 

Walking around Joann's last week, I came across  Prismacolor markers.  These markers are water base, so using a water brush to spread the color is no problem.  I've seen the ink base Prismacolor markers, so I was surprised to see these.

 

These markers were perfect for my backyard painting session, using a limited palette.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised with the color saturation.

 



 

 

I started out with the blue marker to sketch in the bird.  Then I switch colors to do the flowers, and finally used the orange and yellow for the background.  When everything was dry, I went back in with my black sharpie to define the shapes.

Ostrich running

 

 

Another backyard painting session.  I used only the brown in the Prang watercolor set.  This was a  5 minute study.  140lb watercolor paper.  8 1/4" x 5 1/4".

 

 

 

 

Koala bear from Los Angeles Zoo

 

Last November I spent a day visiting the Los Angeles Zoo.  I took a lot of photos and now just beginning to look at them.

 

This is another backyard painting session.  140lb watercolor paper. 8 1/4" x 5 1/4".

 

 

 

 

Ocean surf

 

My new past time, while the weather is comfortable to sit outside in my back yard, is to paint.  I go through my IPAD photo's and pick something out and see what I come up with.

 

I'm using Prang watercolor pan set of 16 colors.  I wanted something that was portable with a limited palette and this fit the bill.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So this painting was created using the above watercolor set using a water brush.  I think I probably worked on this for about an hour.  The nice thing about painting outside was that the paint dried quickly, so I was able to complete the painting in one sitting. The painting measures 8 1/4" by 5 1/4". I used 140lb watercolor paper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

More artist tiles

This was suppose to be a dog, but looks more like a bear, but I'll go with a dog in my backyard.  I started with a white gel ink pen, but wanted to add some color to the dog, so I pulled out my Schminke gouache.  Once the dog was painted, I felt the painting need something more, so I added a flower pot and brick on the background.

Doodles with gel ink pens

My new past time is doing doodles on black artist tiles with gel ink pens.  I just start on one corner and make my way around the tile.  On this particular tile I also used some Schminke gouache.

A planter box of Sunflowers

When the weather is great, and not windy, I like sitting outside in my garden and paint.   What caught my attention was the planter box of lovely sunflowers.  Sunflowers always make me smile.

Giraffe with color

I love contour drawing.  It's so simplistic and easy.  Not to long ago I discovered Dylusions Ink Spray by Ranger.

After doing my contour drawing of the giraffe I wanted to add color and didn't want to spend the time adding watercolor.  I was in Joann's and happen to see a display of the Ranger Dylusions Ink Spray, so I bought a couple of packages.  I picked out 3 colors, pure sunshine,post box red, and fresh lime.  I just sprayed away and instantly had color on my giraffe.  As you can see, I probably should of mopped up some of the color, but for a first time using the ink spray, I was happy with the results.  Here's a link for Ranger Dylusions Ink Spray.

http://rangerink.com/?product=dylusions-ink-sprays

Happy Mother's Day

My little angel woke me up this morning with a cute mother's day card that she posed for.

 

 

 

Tulips from the garden

Just in time for Spring. 

 

 

Tulips for Spring

I was hoping to go to Amsterdam this Spring to see all the tulips in bloom, but it doesn't look like I'll be able to get there until October--so maybe next year.  In the meantime I'll just paint the tulips I bring home from the florist.

 

 

 

 

Venice canal

It's been years since I've been to Venice, Italy--and I have many photos of that week I spent there.  So trying to capture a moment from that time.

 

 

 

 

 

Irises on black artist tiles

I am really loving drawing on black artist tiles.  6" x 6" is just the perfect size to do these contour drawings. 

 

I got out my gel pens to see what color would show up on the black paper.  So far...white, gold, pink, blue, and silver.

 

 

Oranges

Playing with paint today.  Still life of oranges.

 

 

Painting outside in my garden

 

The weather has been so gorgeous that I've been taking my painting kit outside to capture my many roses in my garden.

 

 

 

Roses from my garden

The weather has been so nice that I've been doing a lot of drawing and painting in my back yard.  This is a line drawing of my red roses.  I used a gold gel pen on the black artist tile.

 

 

 

 

Faces

 I always am intrigued by line drawings of face whenever I see them in the Sunday newspaper.  So I started to keep a file of clippings of these faces.  I thought I'd use them as practice and learning pieces.

I used my Koh-I-Noor magic pencil to draw these.  I know there kind of wonky, but that's the whole idea of practicing.  I'm hoping if I do enough of these, I'll eventually get the components of human face right.

Happy Easter

 

Hope You Have A Blessed Day!

 

 

 

Daisy's and roses artist tiles

I'm really enjoying drawing flowers on Strathmore Artist Tiles. 

6" x  6"  is just the right size to work on for a few minutes.  Tomorrow I might try using a gold gel pen on the black tiles.

 

 

 

 

More flowers with Strathmore Artist Tiles

 

This is my new way to spend 15 minutes just drawing flowers.  Very relaxing.

 

 

Strathmore Artist Tiles

I've been seeing these Strathmore Artist Tiles at Michael's, so last week when I was in Pasadena visiting Dick Blick, I decide to buy a pad and try them out.

 

Well I really love using them with a white gel pen.  I can't seem to stop doing a lot of flower patterns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treess from the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve

 

One of the many trees out in the AV poppy reserve.

 

 

Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve

 

On Friday my husband and I drove out to the AV poppy reserve.  There were fields of poppies all around, not as plentiful as the first time I saw them 5 years ago.

 

 

More Koh-i-noor magic pencil drawing

Today my larger set of Koh-I-Noor magic color pencils arrived from the Czech Republic.  So I put them to work.  I probably used about 4 of the pencils to complete this drawing.

 

 

 

 

 

Maddie in a basket

Sometimes it's good to slow down and just draw.  And that is what I've been doing for the past few days.  Going through my art studio I came across this big black journal (8.5" x 11").   I had bought it years ago and did a few pages that were collaged and then I  just put the journal aside.

 

So I pulled out my watercolor pencils and again Maddie was good enough to pose for me.  I never get tried of drawing or painting her.

 

When I work with watercolor pencils, it's something about putting the pencil to paper that takes me back to when I was a little girl--coloring, but this time I stay within the lines!

 

 

 

Koh-i-noor magic FX pack color pencils

 

Couple weeks ago as I was walking around Michael's, I came across this cool set of  Koh-I-Noor magic FX  pack color pencils.  So I used my 40% off coupon and bought these puppies home.  I experimented with them a little bit, discovering the color changes as you draw.  Each time you wrist-twist the color pattern is different.

 

 

I liked them so much I decided to see if there were other colors available.  After doing an Internet search, I found them available on Amazon.  I bought a 12 pack set, unfortunately, shipping cost just as much as the set.  These Koh-I-Noor Triangular Magic Multicolored pencils are made in the Czech Republic, hence the reason for the high shipping fee.

As I eagerly await my pencils from the Czech Republic, Maddie was a good girl and allowed me to draw her.  I just loved how the color changed as I drew.   On this drawing I only used two of the pencils.

Poppies

 

One of things I love doing is creating greeting cards for special occasions.  I made this small watercolor for my friend Myrna, who lives up in Washington state.  She's an avid gardener, so I know she'll enjoy these poppies.

 

 

 

Hibiscus watercolor

This is a hibiscus flower growing in my backyard.  It was so pretty I wanted to capture it while it was still blooming.

 

To create this painting I sketched an outline with a H pencil.  Then I used my Stabilo 3 in 1 crayons to add color.  When the paint was dry I went back in with gouache to deepen the colors and finished off with a lattice stencil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

French bull dog puppy on Yupo paper

When I was in the SF bay area recently, I got to visit my favorite Dick Blick store in Berkeley, California.   I always find things to buy in the big Dick Blick store.  One of the items I bought was a pad of  translucent Yupo paper.    Yupo paper is a synthetic paper, that is machine made in the USA of 100% polypropylene.  It is waterproof, stain resistant, and strong.

 

So this is a quick watercolor that I did using watercolor pencils and a little gouache.  I really like the fact...if I make a mistake I can easily wipe it off and start again.

 

 

 

 

Primroses

 

Between catching a rather nasty cold and going home to the SF bay area for 5 days, I'm back.

 

This is a painting of primroses painted from life.  Painted wet on wet, using lots of water to move the color around the watercolor paper.  I had to let the layers dry before I moved onto the next layer developing rich vibrant colors.

 

 

 

Caran D'Ache Museum Aquarelle pencils

I've been wanting to buy this box of Caran  D'ache Museum Aquarelle color pencils for a while.  I finally broke down and bought a small set of 12 colors.  I thought I'd test them out doing this drawing of waterfalls from Yosemite.  The colors are vibrant and go down rather nicely.  The only thing about working with such a small set, was the omission of a white color pencil.  To remedy that, I used FW white acrylic ink.