One Red-Hot Radish

I purchased some radishes at the store this week so I could draw them as they do start with the letter, “R”!

I decided to paint one of them with my Rembrandt watercolor paints and pasted it in my Alphabet Journal:

It was so much fun that I decided to paint another one and splatter some paint around my handmade art journal:

I hope you splash some paint around this weekend!

Cheers! 🙂

Common “Redpoll” – 2

I haven’t drawn a bird for “Draw A Bird” day in awhile… so yesterday I decided to give it a try in my Alphabet Journal:

The letter “R” is for (Common) Redpoll:

I sketched my bird in pencil, added Micron pen in brown and black ink, color pencils and white gel pen.  It was a good way to de-stress from my day! 😉

I painted this bird in a more whimsical style that you can find, here from 2016.

What a great little red hat this bird wears!

Cheers!  🙂

P.S. I almost didn’t create a post for today because my hubby and I were busy moving his mother into a retirement home so she could receive more care.  But I needed time to unwind so this was my way to relax!  Phew! 😯

Common Wildflowers

I like to pick a few wildflowers when I’m at the lake so that I can study and paint them in watercolor.

I found Common Tansy and Common Yarrow wildflowers yesterday at the lake.  They may be common in name but not common for me to paint!

I tried to paint them loosely and then added a few details with a BROWN micron pen to change things up a little.

I struggled with painting the Birch bark so I realize it looks a bit strange.  😉

Here is a photo of what I was trying to paint:

I like the burst of red from the cherry, how about you?  I thought it was a good way to end #World Watercolor Month as today is the last day to celebrate  – thanks Charlie at doodlewash.com  for making it such a fun month!

Cheers!  🙂

Blueberries and Cherries

I love summer when the berries and cherries are ripe for picking!

We had such a wet Spring that I had the best crop of blueberries in my yard!  Of course I had to paint them with my new set of Rembrandt watercolor paints! 🙂

I made a light pencil sketch first and then painted wet into wet.  I added sketchy details with a micron black pen after the watercolor had dried.  It is more abstract than realistic but I like it.

Pie cherries were ripe at the lake last weekend in the neighbor’s yard – these are sour cherries – not good for eating off the tree but delish for pies, that is if the Robins don’t eat them first!

I picked a few to paint in my art journal:

I love those bright reds, don’t you?!

It was super fun to experiment in different painting styles.

Do you have a favorite summer fruit?  I hope you share it with me!

Happy Summer!  Cheers! 🙂

100 Days Of Drawing Faces

I posted my 100th face on Instagram yesterday!  WHOOT!  😊 I accomplished my goal of drawing 100 faces in a little over 100 days… Phew!!

Maybe some of you recall my first face I posted on April 4th – it was a quick sketch in one continuous line:

100 days is A LOT especially when I am working full-time… (What was I thinking?!) and yet having limited time helped me to accomplish my goal because I didn’t have time to fuss over it.

I didn’t post everything I did like this one:

I would have liked to have more time to do more like this one, where I mixed collage and acrylics:

But I enjoyed trying a variety of art mediums:

Sprinkled with a little humor:

I think this one is one of my favorites – Picasso style:

And this one I did in watercolor with drips for hair:

I found I could draw more realistic looking faces and even my own – or at least my better half!  Lol! 🙂

I think the greatest lesson I learned is that it isn’t perfection that matters but PRACTICE!!  Daily practice does make a difference….

Especially in finding ones “style” in art!  I found I really liked creating “characters” rather than REAL people:

And yet, drawing a variety really is the best teacher!  Here is my 100th face:

I’m sure it won’t be my last…

Yet, let’s FACE it, I need a little break from drawing faces!

Cheers! 🙂

Birdman

Rocky Wren believed he was a bird in a former life…

I hope your day flies by with a giggle or two…

Happy Weird Bird(man) Wednesday!

Cheers! 🙂

A Coloful Surprise!

I was so excited to see a package on my front porch last week from Royal Talens North America.  And I couldn’t wait to open it!

(Who is Royal Talens you may be asking?  I signed up for their FREE newsletter  to discover more about them.  They have some great ideas I can’t wait to try!)

Inside was a very generous set of Rembrandt Artist Quality Watercolor tubes in 16 colors!!  AND they are BIG tubes too – 20 ml size!  I couldn’t believe my eyes!  🙂

I squeezed out these juicy watercolor paints onto my palette and made a color chart. They come in a complete range of 80 colors BTW!  WHOOT!!

BUT WAIT!  There was more in the box from Royal Talens – they also included 3 – 30 ml bottles of their Ecoline Liquid Watercolor.  We are talking LIQUID watercolors!!  They come in 46 transparent colors and 2 opaque colors (white and gold).

I will definitely be using these liquid watercolors in an online calligraphy class from Ivy Newport called, “Letters to Words.”   I liked how vibrant and transparent the colors were straight from the bottle.

And they are very versatile.  I painted the background of this sample below using a brush – they blend just like watercolor paints with water.  I added black ink with a micron pen afterwards… how many weird creatures can you find on the right?!

I was also excited to see 3 Ecoline Brush Markers and a blender too! I didn’t know I could get watercolor in a brush!  Oh, the possibilities!!  (I used a blue marker in the sample above).

I experimented using the Ecoline markers and the Rembrandt watercolor in this doodle:

It was super fun to watch the brush markers blend with the watercolor paints – you can see it better in this photo:

And of course I had to try the blue Ecoline Brush Marker for a face!   I used it as an outline to separate her head and shoulders from the background.  I then softened it with a water brush:

I have more creative experiments to show you but will save them for another day!

THANK YOU Charlie at Doodlewash.com for creating #WorldWatercolorMonth in July!   It is such a JOY to receive and experiment with these FREE supplies!!

Happy Painting!

Cheers! 🙂

P.S.  I’m not being paid by Royal Talens North America for a review of their products.  🙂

Sail Away

It was a windy day at the lake yesterday – good for sailing! 🙂

Sailing is something I have only done once but I think I’d like to go again.  How about you?

I discovered a wonderful artist on Pinterest named Sandi Fitzgerald.  You can find images of her art on Pinterest, Facebook and Flickr.

I loved Sandi’s whimsical style.   She inspired me to create this watercolor face in my sketchbook yesterday:

“Mary dreamed of sailing…”

Wishing you a day to sail away… even if only in your dreams!

Cheers! 🙂

A Pine Cone Study

A friend at the lake brought me this wonderful dish of pine cones recently:

She thought I might enjoy painting them… And I did!

It amazes me how such a simple subject can bring me so much JOY to paint!

I noticed how one of the greener pine cones reminded me of a pineapple.

May you find beauty in what you treasure today!

Cheers! 🙂

Dreaming in Color

Do you ever dream in color?

Charlie at Doodlewash.com loves to paint AND dream in color…

And what a wonderful dream it is!!  He is encouraging everyone not only to paint every day with watercolor for #WorldWatercolorMonth but also give financially to the Dreaming Zebra Foundation to help children have the opportunity to create art or explore music! 🙂

Here is more information about how the Dreaming Zebra Foundation got its name!

About Dreaming Zebra™

The Dreaming Zebra Foundation is a (501)(c)(3) charity providing support so that children and young adults are given an equal opportunity to explore and develop their creativity in the arts.

How did Dreaming Zebra™ get its name?

The answer is that every zebra is unique, just as every child is one of a kind! Zebras are black, with white stripes that are as individual as fingerprints. At Dreaming Zebra, our mission is to encourage children to embrace their individuality, to express themselves creatively, and to follow their artistic dreams. Hence the name, Dreaming Zebra!

The Dreaming Zebra Foundation was incorporated in Portland, Oregon in the interest of promoting greater access to the arts for children and young adults. Our founders recognized a pressing need in many communities for the promotion of charitable donations of art and music supplies to support individuals, schools, and other nonprofit organizations serving youth and the arts.

Core to our identity is the belief that all children, regardless of their financial circumstances, should have access to art education. As a public charity powered by volunteers, this belief drives all that we do.

The Dreaming Zebra Foundation’s supporters share a common passion for education, the environment, and community, and as such, we are able to connect the synergies between those who support the arts and those in need.

I am so thankful to have ART to express my creative JOY!

I hope you join me in sharing this gift of expression by giving to the Dreaming Zebra Foundation.

All it takes is one dream to make a difference!!

Cheers!  🙂