Rusalka of the River

 

This lovely image is from a tutorial by Karen Campbell for "A Year of Magic and Fairy Tales." Her name is Rusalka and she is a dangerous, female water spirit in Russian folklore, who often lures humans to their deaths. Once a victim gets close the spirit drags them underwater.

I drew this dangerous spirit following Karen's instructions and used her traceable for a reference, using a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil. The piece is on Fabriano hot press watercolor paper. I used a Prima Currents watercolor palette. I used a Blackwing pencil and a paper blending stump for shading used in her eyes and a Micron Pen for her eye makeup. I also a white Gelly Roll Pen for the highlights.

It was fun to choose the greens and blues for this image! I'm really happy with how the image came out.

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://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/09/challenge-858.html 

Magical Potions

 

This piece is from a tutorial by Andrea Gomull for "A Year of Magic and Fairy Tales."

Using a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil, I drew the image following Andrea's direction, onto my Arches watercolor block. I used a Micron Pen for outlining work and painted with Jane davenport Watercolors. I used Holbein  Artists' white gouache for dots and highlights. I enhanced the piece with Prismacolor Pencils.

This was a fun piece to work on!

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/2026/09/classic-design-challenge-09-2026-sepoct.html 

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.

 

Sale on Brushes

 

I bought a very cute clip-art digital file from Angelina Print on Etsy. One cute girl artist is in several poses offering me lot of reference material to inspire my drawing and painting skills. I drew her with a Graphgear Pentel Pencil in my Canson XL watercolor sketch book. She was fun to draw and make a few changes. I used a Micron Pen to outline the girl and painted her with Jane Davenport Watercolors. I combined white Holbein Artists' Gouache with grey watercolors for the girls' hair.

There was a sale at the local crafts shop on paint brushes! I bought a clip-art digital file from InspireDesignsPrint on Etsy, where this girl found the perfect watercolor brushes!

I'll be doing more of this girl in other poses practicing my drawing and painting skills. It was so fun!

Challenges: 

 https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/08/august-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/08/challenge-202608-anything-goes.html 

https://craftygalscornerchallenges.blogspot.com/2026/08/challenge-279-anything-goes-woptional.html 

https://creativeinspirationchallenges.blogspot.com/2026/08/creative-inspiration-challenges-41.html 

Cat in the Weeds

 

This "Cat in the Weeds," 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.

I love how these loose paintings come out!

Challenges: 

 https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/08/august-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/08/challenge-202608-anything-goes.html 

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/08/challenge-856.html 

https://paperfundaychallenges.blogspot.com/2026/08/august-2026-challenge-90-anything-goes.html 

Little Girl With Paint Brush

 

This cutie is part of my child artist digital file from Etsy. The file is from ArtOutrageos. I used a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil to drew her in my Canson Watercolor Book. I outlined the image of the "Little Girl With Paint Brush," with a Micron Pen and painted her with Jane Davenport Watercolors.

 She was all alone on the page and needed a background. I drew one inspired by a free template offered from Artsydee.com. I painted this background with Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors.

This  page in my book was a lot of fun to do. I'll be doing more!

Challenges: 

 https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/08/august-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/08/challenge-202608-anything-goes.html 

https://creativecrafterschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/08/challenge-103.html 

https://creativeinspirationchallenges.blogspot.com/2026/08/creative-inspiration-challenges-41.html 

Wizard Frog

 

This "Wizard Frog," is from a tutorial by Karen Campbell and Lucy Brydon for Awesome Art School. I used a Graphgear  Pentel Pencil to draw this frog in my Canson  XL Watercolor Sketch book.

I used a blending stump to darken around the circles of his  eyes. I painted him using Craft Manor Pearl Paint watercolors and Jane Davenport watercolors. I used a Micron Pen to outline this guy and a bit of Holbein Artist's Gouache for the highlights.

I enjoyed blending the Crafty Manor paints in the wizard's hat. The two colors shine so well together! So do the orange with the purple in the cape and scarf. The wizard has a really nice shinny green skin tone from that same Crafty Manor Pearl Paint! This "Wizard Frog was so much fun to paint!

I'm so glad I decided to use the Craft Manor Pearl watercolor paint on this painting!

Challenges: 

 https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/08/august-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/08/challenge-202608-anything-goes.html 

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/08/challenge-855.html 

https://creativeinspirationchallenges.blogspot.com/2026/08/creative-inspiration-challenges-41.html 

 

Tea Towel Catz

 This "Tea Towel Catz" painting is from a tutorial by Karen Campbell on Youtube. She was inspired by a tea towel she found in an antique shop!

I drew and painted this piece following Karen's step by step instructions. I painted it on Fabriano hot press watercolor paper, mostly using Jane Davenport Watercolors. The one exception is the black cat. When I painted him like the others in watercolor, the whole picture looked really dull. As soon as I painted that cat, a second time, using Bombay Black India Ink the whole picture woke up!  

The catz are detailed and outlined in Molotow Fineliner. The white white whiskers and highlights are in Gelly Roll Pencil. I used a Blackwing Pencil and a paper stump for shading.

I showed this painting to my husband this morning and he loved it!

Challenges: 

 https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/08/august-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/08/challenge-202608-anything-goes.html 

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/08/challenge-855.html 

https://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/2026/08/make-it-colourful.html 

Six Wee Wing Things Pages 1 and 2

 

 

I'm working on Karen Campbell's book "Wee Wing Things," from the "Whimsical Watercolor and How to Draw Series. These winged characters are a delightful challenge. There are 18 lessons in this book and I plan to do them all. As I finish the pages, I'll show them two pages at a time.

Here are the first six characters on two sheets of Fabriano 140 lb. hot press watercolor paper. I drew each one with a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil, following Karen Campbell's direction. They are painted with Jane Davenport Watercolors and are shaded with a Blackwing Pencil and a paper blending stump. The black outline and details were done with Micron Pens and the highlights were done with a Gelly Roll Pen. 

I followed Karen's step by step details for each image. Page 1 characters are Howdy Hal, Baby Beaky and Buzzy Betty.  Page 2 characters are Oh Hey, Blue Jay, Loopy Larry and Sweet Baby Screech.

They were a delight to work on. I'm looking forward to working on the next six!

Challenge: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/08/august-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/08/challenge-202608-anything-goes.html 

https://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2026/07/challenge-327.html 

https://sendasmile4kidschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/08/sas4kids-anything-goes-4-kids.html 

The Lassie and Her Godmother

This mixed media piece was inspired by "The Lassie and Her Godmother," a Norwegian fairy tale. The tutorial is by Angela Kennedy for A Year of Magic and Fairy Tales.

I drew this piece with a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil in a Canson XL watercolor 140 lb. sketchbook. I followed Angela on the video and used the template provided to help me draw the window and door frame. I used Winsor and Newton and also Jane Davenport watercolors to paint the inside of the frame. I used salt while the watercolors were wet. When the colors were dry, I used Daler Dowey Acrylic Ink to paint the frame. After the frame was dry, I added the sun and moon in Fine Tec Pearlescent watercolors.

Again I watched Angela on video draw and paint the girl as I drew her on a piece of 5x7" Canson watercolor paper and used a blending stump for shading on her facial features. I painted the girl in watercolors and used a Micron Pen for the hair strands. After I cut her out, I used a Prismacolor Pencil on the edge of her hair. Then I adhered the girl to the painted background.

I was so surprised that this piece came out so well. The thing that helped was using the frame template for my reference! I hate drawing straight lines and using a ruler and was sure I would mess it up!

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/08/august-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/08/challenge-202608-anything-goes.html 

https://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2026/07/challenge-327.html 

https://sendasmile4kidschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/08/sas4kids-anything-goes-4-kids.html 

Boy at Easel

 

I'm always happy to see my grandchildren working in the creative arts. My granddaughter recently went to a one day painting camp. She enjoyed painting with some new friends and pizza for lunch!

I've been collecting child artist digital files from Etsy. I enjoy the poses and love to make the piece my own in my Canson Watercolor Book. The inspiration for this painting is one of many lovely images in a digital file from Epitomie Co. I know I'll get to use more.

I used a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil to draw in my watercolor book and painted the image using Jane Davenport Watercolors. I outlined the piece with a Micron Pen. The butterfly is from an old stencil. 

I look forward to painting some more of these in my book and seeing whatever my grandkids are doing! What fun!

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/08/august-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://creativefingerschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2026/07/challenge-327.html 

https://sendasmile4kidschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/08/sas4kids-anything-goes-4-kids.html 

https://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com/2026/08/a-perfect-time-to-craft-open-challenge.html 

 

Pot-Belly Dragon

Here's a mixed media piece, that I almost skipped working on. I thought my skills wouldn't be able to get thru the complicated piece! But somehow I did and this is "Pot-Belly Dragon," from a tutorial by Karen Campbell for Awesome Art School.

I had gone to visit the kids in St. Augustine and found that my 9 year old granddaughter worked on a film at camp using dragons for her theme! So in honor of my granddaughter I painted this piece.

I followed Karen's step by step instruction drawing the mage on Canson 140 lb. watercolor paper and painted the dragon with Jane Davenport Watercolors. 

I used a ruler to draw a 7" square and a Micron Pen and a Posca Markers for outlines. I used a white Gelly Roll Pen for a few highlights.

I hope my granddaughter will like to see this piece, as a memory of a great summer at camp, on my gallery wall.

 

 Challenges:

  https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/07/july-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/07/challenge-202607-anything-goes-wopt.html 

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/07/challenge-854.html 

https://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/2026/07/282-july-19-polkadoodles.html 

Whimsical Victorian Miss

 

 

I'm so proud of the way this "Whimsical Victorian Miss" came out! She is from a Karen Campbell tutorial for Awesome Art School. I drew her using a Graphgear 1000 Pentel Pencil in m Ohuhu Marker Pad. I watched Karen's videos and used a print out she provided for a reference. I outlined the girl with black Molotow Markers and colored her using Ohuhu Markers. I used a black Pitt Pen for the black lace trim on her dress, as well some black accents. I used a white Gell Pen for highlights.

This "Whimsical Victorian Miss"  in 4th of July colors brightens up my Ohuhu Marker Pad!

Challenges: 

 https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/07/july-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/07/challenge-202607-anything-goes-wopt.html 

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/07/challenge-854.html 

https://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/2026/07/282-july-19-polkadoodles.html 

The Magic of Home

 

This fun "The Magic of Home" is from a collage tutorial by Eulalia Mejia for "A Year of Magic and Fairy Tales."

Back in 2020, I discovered Gelli Plate printing and I made a lot of sheet of mixed-media colored card stock to make colorful mono-prints. I stored these prints in a cabinet for years. Now in 2026, I combined these prints with pieces of printed scrapbook paper and colored card stock to make this colorful scene.

Eulalia used acrylic paint for the background. I don't paint with acrylics, so I used a sheet of dark blue card stock instead. I used Eulalia's templates to cut the printed papers, scrapbook paper and card stock into pieces that make up the mushrooms and the other pieces. I loved putting this scene together.

I embellished the cut paper pieces with a variety of fineline pens and some Carandache Crayons. The dots on the mushrooms were done with white gouache.

This is my third piece using a collage tutorial by Eulalia Mejia, they are a pleasure to work on.

Challenges: 

 https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2026/07/july-2026-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2026/07/challenge-202607-anything-goes-wopt.html 

https://paperfundaychallenges.blogspot.com/2026/07/july-2026-challenge-89-anything-goes.html 

 https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2026/07/classic-design-challenge-07-2026-julaug.html