My Alaskan Adventure

We've returned from our cruise in southeastern Alaska, and I will share artwork from my travels, but I thought I'd start with photos of the landscape there.

We traveled on Cunard's Queen Elizabeth, which provided our transportation and a relaxing home base for our Explorations. At the end of every shore excursion, there was a delicious hot meal, a cup of British tea, and a comfortable bed to fall into.

We had lots of opportunities for wildlife watching, from bald eagles to whales, otters, harbor seals, orcas, ravens, and black & brown bears.

Bald eagles were as plentiful as Blue Jays are back home, yet the sight of them never grew old.

Morning fog was common on our trip, and often the sun would burn off the mist and the day would turn sunny and bright.

We rode the White Pass Scenic Railroad in Skagway, Alaska, and awed at the stunning views.

My favorite day was spent at Icy Strait Point, Alaska.  I sat in the coastal rainforest among the hemlocks and spruces, listening to bald eagles calling from the canopy, and painting in my sketchbook. Every surface of the woods was moss-covered and lush.

Since returning home, I have been finishing sketches from our travels that I didn't have time to complete.  We were constantly drinking in the scenery outside our ship, or hiking somewhere.

I use photos like these to turn quick pencil drawings into watercolor sketches.

Why don't you pick out a photo from this set and make a sketch, a painting or other artwork inspired by the Alaskan landscape?

Happy Creating!

Many thanks to David of Long Story Short Photography for the use of these photos. 

Playing with Watercolor Paper Samples

I received this sample packet of New York Central watercolor paper free with an order of other art supplies.  I love playing with paper samples, and experimenting with each type of paper.

Above is the hot pressed paper.   The smooth texture worked well with the permanent ink and Inktense colored pencils I used.

If you are art supply shopping, don't forget to check for paper samples.  They're often free or quite inexpensive, and it's a fun way to try something new.

I used this sample artwork as a postcard, wrote a message on the back, and mailed it to my best friend.  Fun!

What would you like to make with a set of paper samples?

Happy Creating!

Testing the Hand Book Journal Company Watercolor Landscape Journal

I'm planning to go on an Alaskan cruise this summer, and I've been trying out watercolor sketchbook journals to use as my travel journal.  I hope to paint a lot of landscapes of the gorgeous Alaskan coast, so I thought this extra-wide and narrow format would be ideal.

I used a photo from a travel brochure as my reference picture, and tested out the graphite pencil and watercolors from my travel kit.

I sketched the scene with an HB mechanical pencil.

Then I masked out the snowy mountaintops and waterfalls with a white Crayola crayon.

I began laying in washes of phthalo blue for the sky and distant mountains, mixing in a touch of alizarin crimson for the nearer cliffs and mountains, touching in sap green and yellow ochre for the plant foliage.

I used a Micron 005 pen in permanent black to add the details of the cruise ship.

I love this watercolor journal!  I was able to work wet-in-wet easily, and the paper didn't buckle.  The light texture is ideal for my preferences, and the paint soaked in beautifully.  I loved the way the pages lay flat.  

I think this journal is going with me on our trip!

Are you taking any trips this summer?  I hope you take a little time for yourself to make art and tell the story of your journey. Even a rough sketch holds memories for you to enjoy later when flipping through your sketchbook.

Happy Creating!

 

Copyright Betsy Bangley 2024. All rights reserved.

Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor Sketch Update

In an earlier post "Testing Another Travel Journal," I reviewed the Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor Sketch book as a potential travel journal for myself.  I didn't quite like the texture of the double page spread I first painted on (below).

I took this journal out for another hike, and discovered that only half of the pages were textured.  The double page spread that I worked on the second trial (top photo) was much smoother, and I loved the way the watercolors and inks worked on the paper.  

I wish the entire journal was as smooth as the pages above!

The textured pages still accepted watercolor & ink just fine.  It's my personal preference that makes me hesitant to adopt this sketchbook for a trip.  I'm hoping to find a sketchbook that's smooth on both sides.

Here are some photos from my most recent hike.  I hope you'll use them to create artwork from!

Happy Creating!

Copyright Betsy Bangley 2024. All rights reserved.

An Upcycled Drawer Refresh

I use a wooden drawer organizer from Ikea to hold art supplies.  I love the functionality of it, but prefer the look of old wood to the spare, modern design.

I had several pieces of  gorgeous oak trim that I dumpster-dived, and a set of metal drawer pulls bought from eBay.

Once the drawer faces were cut and fitted with their drawer pulls, I glued them into place with wood glue, and held each drawer face on the drawer with rubber bands.

I love the finished drawers and the way they fit into my art studio's enchanted library style!

More Upcycled Trellises

This past spring, a cluster of dead Staghorn Sumac trees needed to be removed, and rather than haul them all away, I turned some of them into a useful trellis.

I  built the trellis using the same techniques as I used to make this pergola:

https://betsyblissart.blogspot.com/2024/06/from-drawing-to-reality.html

Right away, the birds seemed comfortable perching on the "new" trellis, like this Mockingbird who took a quick bath in the nearby fountain before landing to dry his feathers in the sunshine.

Here's a short video of the finished garden area with the trellis and the fountain running.

What could you make with sticks?  

Upcycling takes more time than simply buying something new, but reusing cast-off supplies lets you use your imagination and creativity.  

And it saves you tons of money!  

And you end up with something unique and special.

Happy Creating!

Copyright Betsy Bangley 2024.  All rights reserved.

Testing Travel Journals

In my quest for the best travel journal for our Alaskan adventure this summer, I tested journals by Canson, Strathmore, and now Stillman & Birn Delta Series Watercolor Sketchbook.

I used Winsor & Newton Watercolors from my travel set to make that quick sketch of the mulberry branch.  

What I liked:

• the sturdy binding
• the way the paper lays flat
• the cream color of the paper - not glaring white
• the thickness of the pages- some buckling when a lot of water is used, but dries mostly flat
• the smooth texture of the pages

What I didn't like:

• Some of the watercolors felt like they were sitting on top of the paper rather than soaking in.

I used this journal on my Transatlantic Voyage in 2023, and was pleased with the results with colored pencil, graphite, ink and watercolor.  You can see that journal here: 

https://betsyblissart.blogspot.com/2023/08/

I think this is my current favorite, simply because I like the smoother texture of the paper.  Sometimes our preferences are more about personal taste than the quality of the materials.  

All 3 of the journals I tested would support my art well.  I am fortunate to have a choice and a journey to take them on.

Now I just have to pick out my travel kit!

Testing Another Travel Journal

Sitting outside with my cat and a watercolor sketchbook to test out on a summer evening was a relaxing "assignment."  When you make art with the plan simply to experiment and test supplies, it takes away any expectation of perfection.  You're just playing.

I drew a series of circles (tracing the rim of my water cup) and rectangles (tracing my phone), and filled each in to tell the story of the scene before me.

I enjoyed this approach!  

These sketches were made in a Strathmore 400 series Watercolor Sketchbook.

What I liked:

• The sturdy, sewn binding allows the pages to lie flat.
• The thickness of the paper 
• Paper didn't buckle when wet.
• Pen and ink flowed smoothly over the paper.
• No bleed-through -- you can use both sides of the page.
• I was able to do some wet-in-wet, and use granulating pigments to good effect.  
• It handled the pen and ink well.

What I didn't like:

• The paper seemed thirsty. I wonder if I could do a full-page painting and keep it wet long enough for good wet-in-wet effects.  I'll have to try this out, too.
• Has textured paper on one side. It's not deeply textured, but I prefer a smoother surface to work on for travel journals.

Overall, my tests showed this journal is of good quality. I can recommend it for general watercolor sketch purposes. I think this journal would work fine as my travel journal.

 I used this 400 series Strathmore Watercolor Journal as my travel journal on my Transatlantic Voyage in 2022.  You can see that here: 

https://betsyblissart.blogspot.com/2022/09/transatlantic-crossing-travel-journal.html

Testing Art Supplies for a Trip

This summer, David and I will go on a cruise to Alaska.  I'm excited about the idea of making a travel journal of the grand scenery and wildlife we encounter.

I wanted to test out sketchbooks to use on the trip, and started with this Canson watercolor sketchbook.  I took it out on a canoe ride with David at Raccoon Creek State Park, and painted this shrub leaning over the water.

What I liked:

• The pages open to lay flat.
• The paper didn't warp when wet.
• You can do wet-in-wet techniques.
• The paper has the strength to let you scrub out and lift paint without pilling.

What I didn't like:

• The spiral binding catches on things and is bulky.  I'd prefer a sewn binding.

Are you looking for a way to jump start your art process?  Why not gather up any supplies you have and test them out?  What do you like about them? What don't you like?

Happy testing! 

Bird Gestures

Because birds move so quickly, it can be hard to make drawings of them. 

You have to draw fast.

A scribbly gesture drawing is just the thing to capture the essence of the bird's pose.

My gesture of the mockingbird at the top of the page shows how loosely the drawing begins.

The Black-Capped Chickadee and the Eastern Bluebird lower on the page started as gestures.  After the birds flew away, I added details from memory.

You can also find photos online or in books to help you get the bird's markings just right.

When you return to a place again and again, even if it's your backyard, you will get to know the plants and animals who live there.  You can record the news of their lives in your nature journal.

This Mulberry tree is the reason we had so many birds flitting around the morning I made my sketches.  The birds were attracted to the ripening mulberry fruits.

Do you have a bird feeder, a berry bush or other food source for birds nearby?  Try some quick bird gestures to tell the story of your encounters in your nature journal!

Happy Creating!

Copyright Betsy Bangley 2024. All rights reserved.

Plein Air Painting & Potluck on the Farm

We had a lovely, sunny day for our Osher Plein Air Painting & Potluck on the Farm this year.  Artists spread out all over our farm, finding scenes to paint.

I visited the artists as they painted, offering tips and encouragement to beginners. 

We all returned to the house for a potluck lunch.  

After lunch, we wrapped up with an art show.

Each artist shared the story of where they had settled to paint and what techniques they had used.  It gave the rest of us a chance to admire each others' work.

I always learn and take inspiration from other artist's paintings.  In fact, I learned new tricks and had fresh insights into a place where I spend a lot of time.

Below is my demonstration painting that I quickly splashed in to show the steps in watercolor painting.

Many thanks to photographer David from Long Story Short Photography, and to all the artists who participated.  I hope you'll keep painting!