Pen & Ink Sketch with Watercolors

A Trader Joe's bouquet in an old Mason jar caught the morning sunlight on my breakfast table, and called out to be sketched.

I started with a Lamy fountain pen sketch, then touched in watercolor washes and splashes to finish the scene.  Quick and uplifting.

For this project, I used a paper sample booklet I bought for a quarter at the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse, my favorite thrift shop. You can find out more about them here: https://pccr.org/

Playing with an art supply that was saved from the trash adds a lovely sparkle to the creative experience.  When I have an excess of materials, I enjoy sharing them with other artists by donating them to the PCCR.

If you're in the Pittsburgh area, I recommend a field trip to the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse!

Happy Thrifting and Happy Creating! 

Armchair Travels with a Brush

A recent Google search (unrelated to finding photos to create from) brought up an image of this gorgeous Greek villa that swept me away.  

I sketched the scene with my Lamy fountain pen and waterproof black ink on Arches cold press watercolor paper, then added Winsor & Newton watercolors loosely. 

Have you recently been dreaming of a fantasy vacation?  Why not paint or draw your imagined getaway?  You can visit your own personal paradise every time to look at your artwork.

Happy Creating! 

Alaskan Adventure: Misty Fjord National Monument

Misty Fjord National Monument was the final wilderness stop on our Alaskan cruise.  We awoke to misty peaks and Orcas swimming nearby.

As we sailed up through the narrow fjords, we could see rivulets of snowmelt cascading down the steep slopes.

As we departed the  Misty Fjord Monument area, we passed by this peculiar rock jutting up from the fjord.

A pair of Bald Eagles had made a nest at the top of the rock.

Imagine having a home with a view like this!

I hope these photos inspire you to create a drawing or painting.

Happy Creating!

Art Date: Light and Shadows in the Woods

Do you ever take yourself out for art dates?  I have made a habit of it lately.

Even if the art date is right in your neighborhood, making a weekly habit of creating helps you build your skills each week.

I created this watercolor one morning, after a scouting walk helped me select the spot.  

When you find your location, you might want to take a few photos to capture the scene before the light shifts.  Then make a sketch lightly in pencil, mix your colors, and start painting.  

I started painting the bright green areas, then built up the darker areas, using only 3 colors: ultramarine blue, Winsor lemon, and burnt umber. The bold contrasts caught my eye and inspired me.

As you take your next walk, look at familiar scenes and say to yourself: "I like ______ part of the scene (the green Japanese maple leaves against the neighbor's red house, the shadows under that oak tree, the exact shade of blue of those hydrangea blossoms).  You'll learn what catches your artist's eye, and get ideas for future drawings or paintings.

Happy Creating!

A Watercolor Sketch of Alaska

I have this image as my screen saver, and every time I look at it, I get the peaceful feeling of awakening on board the Queen Elizabeth, sailing through the crisp Alaskan wilderness to Icy Strait Point.  

I instantly feel relaxed & invigorated.

As I awoke on a recent morning, the image of a green swoosh in a blue field came to mind.  I had programmed this image into my creative thinking, and now was the time to paint it.

 I opened my laptop. I pulled out my paints and a sample of New York Central Supply 100% cotton watercolor paper (140#).  I didn't tape it down or make a pencil sketch.  My goal was just to play & sketch. 

I mixed colors: 

• phthalo blue and new gamboge yellow for the hillside; 
• phthalo blue, burnt umber and a touch of alizarin crimson for the shadows; and 
• pure phthalo blue for the sky peeking through the clouds.

It felt good to explore the Alaskan coast again.

Your vacation photos, or other favorite pics can provide a treasure trove of material to paint or draw from.  

What memories would you like to revisit? 

As you return to your favorite place or time to create, remind yourself that you are not a camera, and you don't have to make your drawing or painting "perfect." 

As an artist, you will create your version of the photo.  That's the goal!

I hope you find inspiration to create today.

Happy Creating!

Getting Back in the Groove

Sometimes, life takes us away from our art.  Busy schedules can interrupt your artistic flow.  How do you get back into creating?  I've been away from painting for a couple of weeks, and have found these methods helpful to restart my creative engine.

Tidy up

Cleaning up your creative space --whether it's a desk, a room, or simply a knapsack of materials you carry from one place to another -- puts you back in touch with your supplies in a friendly, no-pressure way.  As you sharpen your colored pencils, you see new ideas.  As you sift through old sketchbooks, you're reminded how much you enjoy painting outside.  Simply having a clean space to create is inspiring in itself!

Color Swatching

Are those lovely supplies you just tidied up appealing to you, but you don't know what to do with them?  Start with color swatching.  

Testing your supplies out feels low-pressure, and gets your hand moving again with a brush, a pencil or a pastel stick. Take a sheet of paper, write the name of each color, then add a dab of that color next to its name. You've just made a great reference for your next artwork.  When you are in the midst of a composition and not sure which blue to use, you can refer to your color swatches to make your decision.

Color Mixing Studies

Often, when I'm painting, I find myself looking for just the right green, or trying to find a mellow shadow color that doesn't overwhelm the composition.  Testing out your paints or colored pencils by mixing them together is an important study for any artist.  

You might even start a color diary with a page each dedicated to greens, blues, or shadow colors.  Here are some recent color studies I made with phthalo blue watercolor paint.

What if you used one page to mix all of your blues with all of your browns, one pair at a time?  

What if you mixed all the greens you could with phthalo blue?  I'll give you a hint:  you can create a deep pine green by mixing phthalo blue with burnt sienna. Try it!

Try mixing color opposites: green + red, blue + orange, purple + yellow.  

Testing Out Sample Packs

When you purchase art supplies, you can often get sample packs of paper-- watercolor paper in different weights and with different surfaces, a variety of card stocks for drawing, etc.  It's great to have these on hand to play with.

A sample pack is an invitation to create!  Make doodles. Play with mark making.  Your only "job" is exploring a new paper.  

Sketches & Studies

You can sketch anything that interests you, and there's no pressure to make it "good" or accurate or anything but experimental.  Try sketching things you love to look at.  Or even boring things like a pencil or a coffee cup.  Sketch anything.  It's a start and will lead to creative ideas & inspiration if you stick with it.  Pretty soon, you're back in your art groove.

Making New Goals

Write a list of creative projects you'd like to try -- from painting your cat to starting a nature journal, to trying a new medium. Here's a list I made last spring with my old Sears typewriter.

Place it where you can see it.  I found that I only completed one of these goals this summer, but that this list of goals led to more painting and to fresh ideas.

Take a Class

Start your creative engine with a class.  You'll have a set time each week to dedicate to your art, and guided instruction to help you develop new skills.  The routine of making art builds momentum and generates new ideas.

As a bonus, you get to meet other artists and make new friendships!

I hope these suggestions help you start your creativity rolling, or simply move it in a new direction.  

Happy Creating!