Creative Soul

 

This lovely "Creative Soul," is from a tutorial by Tamara Laporte for "Mastering Mixed Media 2026," which she hosted. I enjoy doing tutorials especially those by Tamara.

Tam's tutorial calls for acrylic paint, since I try not to use that paint, I chose gouache. I painted with Winsor Newton Designers Gouache, Holbein Gouache and Jane Davenport watercolors. I drew the girl with a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil on Fabriano hot press paper.

I used a few pens for details including Posca Pens, Micron Pens and a white Gelly Roll Pen.

I love that the gouache I used work so well with the watercolors!

Challenge: 

 https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/05/challenge-202605-may-2026-anything-goes.html

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/05/may-2026-anything-goes-w-optional-twist.html

https://craftygalscornerchallenges.blogspot.com/2026/05/challenge-277-anything-goes-woptional.html 

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/05/classic-design-challenge-05-2026-mayjun.html 

Permission to Play

 This lovely girl is "Permission to Play," a mixed media tutorial by Jenny Manno for "Mastering Mixed Media 2026." The tutorial calls for Toned Tan Paper, so I used my Strathmore Tone Tan Sketch Book. When I work in this book, I use dry media only. I had to work with pencils and pens I have and not the watercolors and gesso Jenny mentioned in the tutorial. This fact didn't take away from enjoying myself. This was indeed relaxing. I loved drawing this piece with a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil.

I did my best with Prismacolor Pencils especially for her skin.  I used a Blackwing Pencil, Generals black charcoal pencil and a blending stump for darks and lights of shading. Highlights were done in white Gelly Roll Pen. I also used a white Sharpie Creative Marker for additional highlights and surrounding the image.

I'm very happy with the resulting finished portrait.

Challenges: 

 https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/05/challenge-202605-may-2026-anything-goes.html

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/05/may-2026-anything-goes-w-optional-twist.html

https://creativecrafterschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/05/challenge-100.html 

https://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/2026/05/crafty-catz-challenge-713.html 

Victorian Vignette

 

This "Victorian Vignette" is from a tutorial by Karen Campbell for Awesome Art School. This large draped window was a challenge to draw as well as color. A ruler and a triangle helped with that large picture window! As I drew it, following Karen Campbell, I really wasn't sure how well it would come out.

I drew this window in my Ohuhu Marker sketch book with my Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil. I did the outlines with Molotow fineliners. I continue coloring this piece it Ohuhu Markers, but I did have substitute some the colors Karen used. I used a Gelly Roll pen for highlights around the "Victorian Vignette"

I was so happy with how well this window came out!

Challenges: 

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/05/challenge-849.html 

 https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/05/challenge-202605-may-2026-anything-goes.html

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/05/may-2026-anything-goes-w-optional-twist.html

https://paperfundaychallenges.blogspot.com/2026/05/may-2026-challenge-87-anything-goes.html

 

Frog Prince

 

This totally majestic "Frog Prince," is from a tutorial by Tamara Laporte for "A Year of Magic and Fairy Tales." This fellow took several days and a couple of drawings to get started, but boy am I happy with this piece!

I drew this fella with a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil on Canson watercolor paper. I used two sets of watercolors: Jane Davenport and Prima. It took a lot of pencils and pens too.

I learned so much working on this "Frog Prince." I just thought I would mention that I love how the sky looks. What do you think?

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/05/may-2026-anything-goes-w-optional-twist.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/05/challenge-202605-may-2026-anything-goes.html

https://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2026/05/challenge-322.html 

https://craftygalscornerchallenges.blogspot.com/2026/04/challenge-276-anything-goes-woptional.html 

The Ghillie Dhu

 

This magical lesson of "The Ghillie Dhu is tale from Scottish folk tales and is from a tutorial by Lucy Brydon for "A Year of Magic and Fairy Tales. He is a mysterious woodland spirit.

 I followed the videos and reference material provided, to draw this fairy tale, with a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil and painted this piece in Arteza Gouache. Some small details were done using a Molotow liner pen.

I love how this painting came out. I must say drawing so many leaves, was so over whelming at times!

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/05/may-2026-anything-goes-w-optional-twist.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/05/challenge-202605-may-2026-anything-goes.html

 https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/04/classic-design-challenge-04-2026-marapr.html 

https://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2026/04/challenge-321.html 

Victorian Gentlemen

 

This "Victorian Gentlemen" is from a tutorial by Karen Campbell for Awesome Art School. This 3/4 portrait was a challenge to draw. As I drew it, following Karen Campbell, I really wasn't sure how well it would come out.

I drew this gent in my Ohuhu Marker sketch book with my Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil. I did the outlines with Molotow fineliners. I tried to continue and color him with the Ohuhu Markers, but I don't have many of the colors Karen used. I substituted some colors and also used a different brand (Copic Markers). I blended Prismacolor Pencils into the hair and a Gelly Roll pen for highlights around the "Victorian Gentlemen."

I was surprised and happy with how well I did!

Challenges: 

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/04/challenge-848.html 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/05/may-2026-anything-goes-w-optional-twist.html 

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/04/classic-design-challenge-04-2026-marapr.html 

https://alessandrasangels.blogspot.com/2026/04/allys-angels-105-anything-goes-theme.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/05/challenge-202605-may-2026-anything-goes.html

Art Postcards

Day 5 Play Ball

Plum Daily Doodles for May

#plumdd

 

 For a couple of months, I have been mailing postcard art to my eight year old granddaughter. I've been enjoying making art on the cards and writing notes to her on the flip side. The icing on the cake is watching the videos my son sends of her going to the mailbox and receiving the card! So fun!

                                                                                         

This time the art work is a version of a digital image from Plum Loved Art by Shelley Plum. The image is of a girl softball player. My granddaughter plays softball. The day the digital image arrived in the online group, my granddaughter just happened to go two for two with a triple in her game!

The image is among the freebies offered this month at Plum Loved Art. I worked on that card right away and mailed it. I couldn't wait for her to get this very special card! Which she loved!

Challenges:

https://craftinghappinesschallenges.blogspot.com/2026/04/challenge-211.html 

https://fabnfunkychallenges.blogspot.com/2026/04/challenge-636-use-colours-pink-blue-or.html 

https://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2026/04/challenge-321.html