Nature's Whispers

 

 

 

This lovely little bird is a cross between a Chickadee  and a Blue Tit. It was fun to work on. I painted on Fabriano hot press watercolor paper for this expressive mixed media watercolor. I used a number of different supplies including Jane Davenport watercolors, acrylic inks, colored pencils, water soluble crayons, Posca Pens and a Stabilo All Pencil.

I chose to follow Tamara Laporte as she drew this sweet bird, and drew my own version. I followed as she used each of the supplies listed.

 I'm very happy I followed her! I love my version of this bird!

Challenges:

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2024/09/september-2024-anything-goes.html

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2024/09/september-2024-anything-goes-w-optional.html 

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2024/08/classic-design-challenge-08-2024-julaug.html

http://lilpatchofcraftyfriends.blogspot.com/2024/09/237-sheepski-designs.html 

 

 

 

Three Palms Mixed Media

 I've been sketching in my toned tan sketch book inspired by Art by Artsydee. I sketched a beach scene in the book and decided to draw a similar one on Canson 130 lb. cold press watercolor paper.

I drew the scene with my Graphgear Pencil and painted it with Prima Topical watercolors. I used Molotow Blackliners to provide the line definition. The white waves on the shore were done with gouache.

I'm very happy with this beach scene. I learned a lot. I've painted scenics for years, but they originated mostly with tutorials provided by another artist. 

I'm really happy to have painted on my own drawing!

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2024/09/september-2024-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2024/09/september-2024-anything-goes.html 

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2024/08/week-796.html

http://welove2create.blogspot.com/2024/09/challenge-8-craft-card-making.html 

Beach Window

 

I combined two of Sarah Cray's lovely tutorials.

Part 1, is the window frame made from washi tape applied to the Strathmore 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper. This keeps the frame area white. It helps to keep edges bleed free and doesn't rip the paper.

Part 2, 1. Lightly draw a land line.

            2. Brush clear water from the top to the land line

            3. Beginning with the middle peach color sky paint light colors going up and then under.

            4. Dry the painted sky.

            5. Paint sand and wild grasses. 

 Part 3, remove the washi tape and paint a light grey shadow line to the white either at the bottom or to the right sides.

Here are pictures I painted without the window frame:

 I love the simplicity of the frame over the beach, but I love the beach without the frame too!

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2024/09/september-2024-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://digichoosday.blogspot.com/2024/08/wk-34-anything-goes-card-making-craft.html 

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2024/08/week-796.html

http://welove2create.blogspot.com/2024/09/challenge-8-craft-card-making.html 

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2024/08/classic-design-challenge-08-2024-julaug.html

Learning to Paint Four Fairies Using Gouache and Watercolor

 

There were two special lessons at Awesome Art School. One was to learn to use gouache to paint fairy hair. Lessons were given by both Karen Campbell and Lucy Brydon.

On another day lessons were offered to paint the faces of these fairies. Lucy Brydon did an example in gouache and Karen Campbell did her fairy's face in watercolor.

Here are my three versions of Lucy's fairy hair and face in gouache.

Here is my version of Karen's fairy, which has the gouache hair and the watercolor face.

I did have some difficulty getting used to the gouache, but I'm looking for to working with it again, I'm very happy with how they all came out!

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2024/08/august-2024-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2024/08/august-2024-anything-goes-woptional.html

https://creativecrafterschallenge.blogspot.com/2024/08/challenge-79.html 

https://digichoosday.blogspot.com/2024/08/wk-34-anything-goes-card-making-craft.html 

Fairy Skin in Alcohol Markers (Greyscale and Purple)

                                                   

 These lovely fairies came from two tutorials by Karen Campbell for Awesome Art School. She was testing paper quality for using with alcohol markers.

I wanted to do these tutorials to improve my skill in using Copic Markers. I've had these markers a long time, but felt more practice using Karen's techniques would improve the quality of my work. I used X-Press It Blending Card for both pieces, which I've had also for a long time. I wanted to use it up for the practice.

The paper I used is actually made for use with Copic Markers. I really enjoyed working on the fairies and the paper worked fine. Karen was also successful using her markers and paper. I do have the paper she prefers, but wanted to use the X-Press It. 

I love how each fairy came out!

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2024/08/august-2024-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2024/08/august-2024-anything-goes-woptional.html

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2024/08/classic-design-challenge-08-2024-julaug.html 

https://creativecrafterschallenge.blogspot.com/2024/08/challenge-79.html 

Musing on the Moon (Fairy Moon)

 I always love the opportunity to mess around with watercolor paints. I got that when working on Musing on the Moon a mixed media watercolor from a tutorial by Lacy Brydon for Awesome Art School.

I used the reference provided to draw this Fairy Moon from a photo. I used the Kuretake Watercolors and the gold and green in the Gansai Tambi Gem Colors watercolor set. I blended in some Prismacolor pencil and used a white Gelly Roll for highlights and stars.

This was a fun piece, although I had some problems and need practice in drawing and painting hands.

Challenges:

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2024/08/august-2024-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2024/08/august-2024-anything-goes-woptional.html

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2024/08/classic-design-challenge-08-2024-julaug.html 

https://creativecrafterschallenge.blogspot.com/2024/08/challenge-79.html 

Three Fairies, Three Skin Tones (Copic Markers)

 

These cute fairies are from a tutorial by Karen Campbell for Awesome Art School.

The fairy outline was provided by the art school. I used a light pad to transfer it onto 3 of X-press It Blending Card. This paper was bought several years ago and is meant for Copic Marker work. The techniques taught in this lesson were to use combinations of markers in three different version of the same fairy illustrating different skin tones. Over lapping and layers brought about each different fairy's true coloring and shading,

I don't own all the markers used in the lesson. I used my cellphone to look up alternative Copic Markers for each skin tone and followed Karen's video for each.

In addition I used Molotow Blackliners and a white Gelly Roll Pen.

I'm so happy I was so successful with all three fairies.

Challenges: 

https://avenue613.blogspot.com/2024/08/august-2024-anything-goes-w-optional.html

https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/2024/08/august-2024-anything-goes-woptional.html

https://classicdesignchallenge.blogspot.com/2024/08/classic-design-challenge-08-2024-julaug.html 

https://creativecrafterschallenge.blogspot.com/2024/08/challenge-79.html