Merry Christmas!

Wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas with a picture of our tree.  

                                                    Merry Christmas!!!!

                                             Watercolor in Etchr Sketchbook

Fall Trees

Tis the season of spectacular foliage.  The trees in the parking lot at work all turned yellow and red and orange from the top down, not sure I have witnessed such a thing.  They all looked as if their tops were dipped in color and let to set.  Pretty cool.  I snapped a few photos for reference and decided to do something simple in their honor.  




                                      Watercolor in etchr sketchbook

Inktober 2019 - Neighbor's Tree

Okay, so the final picture might be more watercolor than ink drawing, but it still counts (see below).  

I return once again to my favorite subject and tree ('my neighbor's tree").  This time of year, the early morning light hitting the tree is just magnificent.  Unfortunately, I did not capture its ethereal contrast between light and darkness.  Oh well, I am sure I will paint/draw this again (it is the view I see from my easel). Drawn with the Stabilo Point 88 markers (#45 Brown).

Final mixed media: watercolor and ink

Initial ink sketch

Ink washes

And some watercolor washes

Miscellaneous Trees and other things

Trying to play around and do more things without a reference photo or looking at something.  Below are a few creative exercises.

                                                       5.5x8.5 in

                                                             4x6 in

                                                         4x6 in

Is it Spring yet? Or are we going directly to Summer?

I sure hope we did not go from Winter directly to Summer, and skip Spring.  Was really hoping for a few days of warm, not hazy, hot, and humid weather.

So, I had the idea to do a series of Spring-esque version of my neighbor's tree.  Each to be done in watercolor with a different ink.  For this, the first series, I decided to use silver shimmering ink.  It is tough to see in the orange tree (and easiest to see in the purple tree), but each of the inks shimmer when hit with light. Originally, I was going to do these on 6x8 inch 140 lbs watercolor paper and fold them in half to make cards to give out.  Instead, I used the 4x6 and made post cards.  Will probably do a few more using watercolor and sheening inks.  What do you think cool or cheesy?

My neighbor's tree, now in technicolor!

                                      Watercolor and Diamine Citrus Ice ink

                                    Watercolor and Robert Oster Fizzy Lime ink

                                    Watercolor and Robert Oster Violet Clouds ink

When in doubt. . .

paint your favorite tree.  Using Robert Oster Melon Tea and a couple of Daniel Smith watercolor sticks. . .

A feast for woodpeckers

Woodpeckers are starting to take a toll on my old friend.  Mostly we get Red-bellied and the occasional downy wood peckers feasting in the old growth woods.  Last week a rarely seen Pileated woodpecker went to town on my favorite tree.  It acted more like an axe beak, hacking wood chips on an upper branch.  Giant, gaping holes are testament to the damage.  

                           Watercolor, Pen & ink on paper

Done using Diamine Damson ink (a grayish purple ink) and a touch of watercolor for emphasis.

Folded NIb Pen -- Tree

I have been wanted to try out a folded nib pen for a long time.  Many artists use them for calligraphy (the letters produced with this nib are kinda insane) but it can also be used for drawing.  The nib can lay down lots and lots of ink, or very fine hairlines, producing pleasing line variation.  I used Daniel Smith walnut ink, which is lighter than my favorite Winsor and Newton peat brown ink.  However, it is capable of nice darks when layered.

                                walnut ink 10x7 on 140lbs paper

This is a custom, hand crafted folded nib pen created by Tim Leigh.  They are works of art in and of themselves.  I have pages and pages of practice lettering with my pen.  It has been a joy learning and practicing with this pen.

The Perfect Sketch Book

I was so happy to come back from Vancouver to see that my Perfect Sketchbook (PS) had arrived!!  T supported the Indiegogo for me as a Christmas gift (so Christmas in April, Huzzah!!!) and the books are just gorgeous.  They are made with cold-pressed, 200 GSM Fabriano Artistico® watercolor paper, so the book is made for heavy washes.

                       Watercolor, pen & ink  6.9 x 9.8 inches on110 lbs paper

I did not know what to draw/paint/sketch as the first picture in my PS, so I fell back to an old favorite. . .my neighbor's tree.  This must be the 8th or 9th drawing of this tree I have done in the past few years.

The book handles the multiple washes well and allowed me to layer colors.  I started the ink drawing with a dip nib (Nikko G) and after the ink dried laid down the colors.  The paper was robust enough to go over the dried paints with another pen to enhance the line work.  All in all, my first experience was very pleasant and I cannot wait until I get some time to really play with the PS.  

This is the day. . .

I have had the The The (an underrated 80's synth-pop group) song, "This is the Day", running through my head like an earworm.  For some reason, it made me think of little Eeyore.  Does he ever think, this is the day his life will surely change? And then his inside voice goes, "I dunno Pooh, I suppose. . ."  These are the questions that keep me up at night.

This picture started out with me doodling some calligraphy, using Diamine Ancient Copper ink (I just love, looooove this ink).  Even though I got the lyrics (and anyone who knows me, knows I have a propensity to butcher song lyrics), it still works.

                           Pen & Ink on Rhodia dot 21.2 lbs paper 8.25x12.5 

Through the Trees

Once upon I time I worked nearly exclusively in pastel (really. . .just look at the posts from 2004 and 2005; they cover a 15 year period).  Then for whatever reason, I stopped.  Now part of it is due to watercolor being more portable.  However, after playing around with my beloved Unison's this weekend, I caught the bug again.

Its a bit rough but it is a very good start.

                                      Pastel on Mi-Tientes paper 9x12