Mermaids in Alcohol Markers

 

These cute "Mermaids," are from a tutorial by Karen Campbell and Lucy Brydon of Awesome Art School.

I followed Karen's drawing steps using my Graphgear 1000  Pentel Pencil, on a page in my Ohuhu Marker Pad.

I used both of my new sets of Ohuhu Markers to color these cuties:  the 36 skin tone color set and the 48 color set. I really enjoyed using these makers in this book. I love flipping through my work!

For the outlines I used a Micron Pen and the highlights were done with a white Gelly roll Pen.

I totally enjoyed working on these two characters and just can't wait to do another!

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2025/08/august-2025-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2025/08/august-2025-anything-goes-woptional.html 

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2025/08/challenge-829.html 

https://paperfundaychallenges.blogspot.com/2025/08/aug-2025-challenge-79-anything-goes.html 

Fairie Queen

 Although I made many mistakes, I enjoyed working on this tutorial by Lucy Brydon. I learned so much!

I watched the video tutorial with all its steps and did use some of the many tips. I drew this "Fairie Queen," on my own by eye, using the illustrations for references. This tutorial is challenging, but perfect to flex my drawing skills.

I used my Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil to draw this fairie on drawing paper. When I was satisfied with the drawing, I transferred   the lines of the fairie into my Canson XL watercolor book, using graphite paper.

I painted this fairie using Prima aand Jane Daveport watercolor sets, but the crown was painted in two shades of gold from Fine Tec Pearlescent Colors. The line detail was done in Molotow Blackliner and white highlights were in Dr. Ph. Martin's Bleed Proof White. The additional gold glitter on the fairie's hair was done with Gansai Tambi Gem Colors.

I loved the challenge of Lucy Brydon's tutorials!

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2025/08/august-2025-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2025/08/august-2025-anything-goes-woptional.html 

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2025/08/challenge-829.html 

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2025/07/classic-design-challenge-07-2025-julaug.html

Quirky House in Watercolors

 

This "Quirky House in Watercolors," is from a tutorial by Karen Campbell for Awesome Art School. I began this painting in my Canson XL Watercolor Book using Prima and Jane davenport watercolor sets. After drawing the house, I went off on my own, painting a foreground, background and fun details which I always enjoy adding to many houses I love to draw. I used Molotow Blackliners for details or outlines and a Gelly Roll Pen for the white highlights.

 I can't wait for Karen's new drawing book with more fun houses!

Challenges: 

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2025/07/challenge-828.html 

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2025/07/classic-design-challenge-07-2025-julaug.html 

  https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2025/07/july-2025-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2025/07/july-2025-anything-goes-woptional-twist.html

Elegant Swan in Gouache

 

I recently got a new book "Gouache in 4 Easy Steps," by Anna Koliadych, it has some really nice tutorials.

When I saw the "Elegant Swan," I knew it would be the first tutorial I would try in the book. I love how the gouache takes to the black watercolor paper. The swan has shades of white, grey, blue and pink in it. But no matter what I did, I could not get camera to catch all the colors. I missed the pink. I love this "Elegant Swan," anyway.

I used some older gouache I have in an enclosed palette to paint the swan on black Stonehenge 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper.

I enjoyed work on this swan and love how it turned out!

Challenges: 

 https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2025/07/july-2025-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2025/07/july-2025-anything-goes-woptional-twist.html

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2025/07/challenge-828.html 

https://paperfundaychallenges.blogspot.com/2025/07/july-2025-challenge-78-anything-goes.html 

Whimsical Main Street

This mixed media painting was a lot of fun working in my Canson XL watercolor sketch book. The lesson is from a tutorial by Jeannette Vivo for Vivo Vintage Designs. For this folk art painting style I used Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors and some pens: Micron Pens and Artists Loft Dual Tip Permanent Markers.

I had fun with the process, blending the colors and using the flat brush to produce the brick patterns. I love the bright and cheerful colors.

Challenges: 

https://paperfundaychallenges.blogspot.com/2025/07/july-2025-challenge-78-anything-goes.html 

 https://polkadoodle.blogspot.com/2025/07/challenge-8-wk-3-anything-goes-card.html 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2025/07/july-2025-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2025/07/july-2025-anything-goes-woptional-twist.html

Coffee Cup Cutie

 This "Coffee Cup Cutie," is from a drawing tutorial by Karen Campbell for Awesome Art School.

 I followed Karen's drawing instructions using my Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil. I actually incorporated my by eye free hand drawing and left out Karen's tracing checking the drawings. I like to challenge my drawing skills and see how close I can make my drawing to the original, on my own.

I painted this cutie using Prima and Jane Davenport watercolor sets, on Fabriano 140 lb. hot press watercolor paper. I used a Molotow Blackliner for details and outlines. I used a Blackwing pencil and a blending stump for shading and a white Gelly Roll Pen for highlights.

She was fun to work on. I hope to get to do more of these! 

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2025/07/july-2025-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2025/07/july-2025-anything-goes-woptional-twist.html

 https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2025/07/challenge-828.html

https://polkadoodle.blogspot.com/2025/07/challenge-8-wk-3-anything-goes-card.html 

 

Adorable Shop-A-Holic

 

This "Adorable Shop-A-Holic is from a drawing tutorial by Karen Campbell for Awesome Art School. Karen taught a new way of copying the original without tracing. I was interesting to watch, but I drew my shopper by eye and free-hand, I enjoy the challenge.

I drew the girl with a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil on Bristol Paper. She is colored in Ohuhu Alcohol Markers. I used a Micron Pen and white Gelly Roll Pen for details and highlights.

I'm very happy that this girl came out so well.  I wasn't so sure I would be able to do such a good job!

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2025/07/july-2025-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2025/07/july-2025-anything-goes-woptional-twist.html

https://craftygalscornerchallenges.blogspot.com/2025/07/challenge-269-fill-in-blank-in-july.html 

https://paperfundaychallenges.blogspot.com/2025/07/july-2025-challenge-78-anything-goes.html