Sunset in Mixed Media

 I recently took a look around online for something new and interesting and different to paint. Years ago I used to follow tutorials by artist Cinnamann Cooney known as the Art Sherpa. She passed away in 2024 and as a tribute to his wife, John Cooney continues to post Cinnamann's tutorials online.

Her painted "Sunset in Watercolor in Watercolor" is wonderful.

I followed her tutorial using an Arches 140 lb. cold press watercolor block with Jane Davenport watercolors. When I got to the bottom I used black Arteza  gouache. I felt it would cover the watercolor easily.

Cinnamann didn't add the sun until the end of the video. I had another idea. Before I painted all those colors of the sky, I used Brea Reese Masking Fluid in the circle of the sun. I let it dry and painted the sky. Later I rubbed the fluid off.

I enjoyed this piece so much and will look for more.

Challenges: 

 https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/11/november-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/11/challenge-202611-anything-goes.html 

https://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2026/10/challenge-332.html 

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2026/11/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html 

Autumn Andy

 

I recently won a set of digital images from Plum Loved Art. The file I chose is "Andy Boys." They are all just adorable and hard to pick which to work with first. This delightful boy is #3 out of 27 in the set and is my reference for this piece.

I drew this boy first using my Graphgear Pencil on Fabriano 140 lb. hot press watercolor paper. After drawing the boy, I put in the park background. I outlined the composition with fineliners (not water-soluble). I painted Andy first using Prima and Jane Davenport Watercolors.

 I began painting the background with the park path. Then I used clear water for the sky around the trees, followed by a light wash of blue.

I drew overlapping leaves in the lower right bush and painted those in light washes of color, with a black background. I used a fineliner for the leaf veins.

I used Jane Davenport Watercolors to paint the tree, blending the paint on the tree tops. After the painted trees dried I used Jane Davenport Watercolors again to paint the grass.

I love how this piece came out!

 Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/11/november-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/11/challenge-202611-anything-goes.html 

https://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2026/10/challenge-332.html 

https://alessandrasangels.blogspot.com/2026/10/allys-angels-111-anything-goes-theme.html 

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2026/11/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html 

 

 

Trick or Treat Mixed Media

 This is the first page of my third Canson XL Watercolor Sketch Book. I'm delighted with how it came out using a girl from my digital image file that I redesigned. I bought the image originally at Etsy from Pizot.

I drew the image with a Graphgear Pencil and use it as my reference. I added a partial background behind her from a tutorial by Rebecca at "The Art Spirits." I outlined the composition with a variety of fine liners, making sure they were not water-soluble. nI don't want them to bleed. I painted the girl first using Prima, Jane Davenport and Winsor Newton watercolors. I brushed clear water in the sky area and painted a light blue wash. I used the same three watercolor sets to complete the painting.

I'm so happy to be using what I've learned to have fun with my art.

Challenges: 

 https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/10/october-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/10/challenge-202610-anything-goes.html 

https://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/2026/10/288-ocotber-18-mirtillamente.html 

https://paperfundaychallenges.blogspot.com/2026/10/october-2026-challenge-92-anything-goes.html 

Haunted House

I had some fun putting a couple of Karen Campbell's drawings together from her book, "31 Days of Baby Boos and Spooky Dudes. I used my Graphgear Pencil, a couple of fineline pens and Jane Davenport watercolors in my Canson XL Watercolor Book.

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/10/october-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/10/challenge-202610-anything-goes.html 

https://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/2026/10/halloween.html 

https://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/2026/10/288-ocotber-18-mirtillamente.html 

 

Pumpkin Witch

 

I'm nearing the end of my Canson XL watercolor book and decided to try and fill the remaining pages with either Halloween or Autumn paintings.

While flipping through tutorials online I came across this "Pumpkin Witch," from Lindsay Weirich the "The Frugal Crafter," on YouTube. It's so fun and perfect for my last few pages in my book.

I drew my image using Lindsay's for a reference with a Graphgear Pencil. I painted the image using Jane Davenport watercolors. I used a variety of markers for details to enhance the painting.

Challenges:

 https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/10/october-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/10/challenge-202610-anything-goes.html 

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2026/10/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spooky Folk Art Landscape

 

This "Spooky Folk Art Landscape" is from a wonderful tutorial by Rebecca from "The Art Spirits." I often check out tutorials on the internet. Now that I'm not in art school, I have time to try new ones out. Rebecca has quite a few tutorials online. Her tutorials are calm and at a slow pace. The line drawings are free. I use them for a reference and draw them freehand for my own version, with a Graphgear Pencil, in a Canson XL watercolor sketchbook. I used a variety of markers for details and white Holbein Artist's Gouache to enhance the piece with lots of dots.

Before painting I used Brea Reese Masking Fluid over the pumpkins and painted them orange later. I painted the piece with Jane Davenport Watercolors and Master's Touch Metallic Semi-moist Cakes.

I'm looking forward to doing more of Rebecca's tutorials.

Challenges: 

  https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/10/october-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/10/challenge-202610-anything-goes.html 

https://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2026/10/challenge-331.html 

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2026/10/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html 

 

Fancy Pumpkin

 

Terry Mead taught a lovely tutorial at Plum loved Art yesterday. It is on video in the files.

I drew this piece following Terry's instruction, with Graphgear Pencil and painted it with Jane Davenport watercolors. I added dark outlines and patterns with a Pentel Brush Marker.

It was fun and relaxing to work on this painting!

Challenges: 

https://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2026/10/challenge-winners-330.html 

https://creativecrafterschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/10/challenge-105.html