Lighthouse Dream

 

I've been doing art tutorials for a number of years, the last three years at Karen Campbell's online Awesome Art School. There are also many art tutorials online, given freely. I have taken advantage of many. I can honestly say my skills have improved thru the years and I've learned so many wonderful techniques!

I have found that saving digital files on Etsy in the themes I'm interested in and using them as references has helped me to create my own original art. I enjoy drawing my own version of digital images. I have been offered templates freely to use in my work. Sometimes I  can combine both kinds of references in the process and arrive at original art work. This is how I got the "Lighthouse Dream."

I used a lighthouse digital image from  Plum Loved Art  (Wonky Walls and Titled Tops #29) on Etsy and part of a scenic template from Artsydee.com to draw this scene in my Canson Watercolor Book, using a Graphgear 1000 Pencil . I outlined the picture with a Micron Pen and painted it with Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors. I used Prismacolor Pencils and a blending stump for shading and white Holbein Artist's Gouache for highlights.

This picture represents a new level of my artistic journey. I couldn't be happier with this piece.

Challenges:  

 https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/09/september-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/09/challenge-202609-anything-goes-w.html 

https://creativecrafterschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/09/challenge-104.html 

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2026/07/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge_01035597380.html 

Lady of the Greenwood

  

 This mixed media piece was inspired from a tutorial by Effy Wild for "A Year of Magic and Fairy Tales."

I followed Effy's  instruction until I didn't. I went on my own art journey. Effy did say "...Art it's not about the supplies." So I used what was in my stash and made it work for me.

 I began this piece drawing the image with a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil on Fabriano hot press watercolor paper. I outlined and patterned the piece with a  Micron Pen and painted it using Jane Davenport Watercolors. From there I drew and filled the spaces with numerous pens including Posca, Staedtler, Faber Castell Pitt and Gen Crafts Watercolor Markers. I enhanced the piece with Prismacolor Pencils and a Gelly Roll pen.

I loved working on this piece and how it is a bit like Effy's, but a lot like my own piece! So fun!

Challenges: 

   https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/09/september-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/09/challenge-202609-anything-goes-w.html 

https://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2026/09/challenge-329.html 

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2026/07/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge_01035597380.html 

Wing Things Pages 5 and 6

 

These adorable characters are from Karen Campbell's book "Whimsical Watercolor and How to Draw Series Wee Wing Things." These are my fifth and sixth pages, I worked on in Karen's book. They are the last ones. I'm done, I did all 18 of these characters!

The images were drawn on Fabriano hot press watercolor paper, using a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil. Shadow was added with a Blackwing-Matte Pencil and a blending Stump. I painted them with Jane Davenport watercolors. I used Micron pens for outlines and some of the details. Some touches of color was done using Master's Touch Fineliner Markers. Highlights were done using a Gelly Roll Pen.

I followed Karen's detailed directions for each image. The characters names on page 5 are: Bewildered Beetle Bob, Thee Wee Flea and Sweet Seagull Sally. The ones on page 6 are: Dedicated Dennis! Croonin Clyde! and Crickie Candlewickie!

It was a fun book of characters to work on. I can't wait to see the next book Karen Campbell puts out....drawing storefronts!

Challenges: 

  https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/09/september-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/09/challenge-202609-anything-goes-w.html 

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2026/07/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge_01035597380.html 

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/08/classic-design-challenge-08-2026-augsep.html 

Wing Things Pages 3 and 4

 

 

These fun characters are from Karen Campbell's book "Whimsical Watercolor and How to Draw Series Wee Wing Things." These are my third and fourth pages, each with characters I worked on from Karen's book.

The images were drawn on Fabriano hot press watercolor paper, using a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil. Shadow was added with a Blackwing-Matte Pencil and a blending Stump. I painted them with an assortment of palettes from Prima and Jane Davenport. I used Micron pens for outlines and some of the details. Some touches of color was done using Master's Touch Fineliner Markers. Highlights were done using a Gelly Roll Pen.

I followed Karen's step by step details for each image. The characters names on page 3 are: Tippie Twinkletoes, Flowery Flutterer and Flippity Fly. The ones on page 4 are: Had Enough, Fluff, Happily Hoppity and Squawkin Steven. 

They were fun to work on. I'll be back with more fun images from this book.

Challenges:

 https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/09/september-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/09/challenge-202609-anything-goes-w.html 

 https://paperfundaychallenges.blogspot.com/2026/09/september-2026-challenge-91-anything.html

https://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2026/08/challenge-327.html 

 

Puppy Love

 

This "Puppy Love," loose watercolor painting is from a tutorial by Karen Campbell for Awesome Art School. I used my Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil to draw the image on Fabriano hot press watercolor paper. I outlined the image with a Micron Pen and added the random colors with Jane Davenport Watercolors.

This really was a fun loose watercolor painting!

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/09/september-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/09/challenge-202609-anything-goes-w.html 

https://paperfundaychallenges.blogspot.com/2026/09/september-2026-challenge-91-anything.html 

https://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2026/08/challenge-327.html 

Lady and Her Cat

 This "Lady and Her Cat," is from a tutorial by Karen Campbell for Awesome Art School. I used my Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil to draw the image on Fabriano hot press watercolor paper. I outlined the image with a Micron Pen and added the random colors with Jane Davenport Watercolors.

It's fun to work on these loose watercolors!

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/09/september-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://creativeinspirationchallenges.blogspot.com/2026/09/creative-inspiration-challenges-42.html 

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2026/07/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge_01035597380.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/09/challenge-202609-anything-goes-w.html 

Art2Hearts

 

Recently, I found an advertisement on Facebook asking for artwork to be displayed in pediatric hospital settings. This charity, Art2Hearts.org brings bright colors, warm energy and uplifting scenes to an otherwise dull and scary hospital room. 

It has been found that art in hospitals can facilitate better experiences and foster healing.

The organization takes care of all expenses including framing, packaging the art and shipping.

I sent three watercolors paintings to Art2Hearts. The paintings were drawn and painted by me using digital images, as my reference from Plum Loves Art on Etsy. I used the animal digital images as the focal point in each and drew my own backgrounds. 

 

The pieces were sent to Art2Hearts via Fedex over night and delivered to New York. I'm happy to report, they loved my watercolors. A short time later I found that my work went to Mass General Brigham, a large medical system, that has facilities through out Massachusetts.

For more about this charity go to: Arts2Hearts Foundation.

I'm planning to send more paintings to this organization.