Whims in Watercolor 2: Loose and Fearless

Joanne Sharpe's new class "Whims in Watercolor 2:  Loose and Fearless" is off to a great start.  We're walking on sunshine...and don't it feel good!  (You do remember Katrina and the Waves, don't you?)

The Good Samaritan 3

Artist Trading Card, Markers on Card

Thoughts on #30x30DirectWatercolor2019

Someone in the #30x30DirectWatercolor2019 Facebook group asked, "As we head into the final week of this exercise, what, if anything, has everybody learned about their painting, their process, their work?"

I might have learned that 30 day challenges are not for me. At least, not this kind of focused challenge.  I like to bounce around between media too much, I guess. I keep wanting to draw in pencil crayon when I'm "supposed" to be painting. This was supposed to be fun, right?

Someone else agreed with my thoughts, adding that sometimes these challenges can hinder creativity rather than help it.

I knew going into this challenge that I might not stick with it for 30 days.  I've probably done 30 direct watercolor paintings, because one day I did about 15 (small) chairs before realizing that chairs are not the greatest subject for wet on wet.  (OK, I'm a slow learner.)  I guess it depends how you count to 30.

One night recently, I looked out the window and saw a beautiful sunset.  I was moved to paint the journal page you see above.  I considered it a fail, but later realized that this is exactly the kind of "whim" that Joanne Sharpe would add a quotation to and post on Instagram.  So, maybe I didn't "fail" at #30x30DirectWatercolor2019, I just made it my own.

Note to self:  Lighten up!

The Good Samaritan 2

Artist Trading Card, Markers

The Good Samaritan

ATC, Markers

I've started a new Artist Trading Card series - The Good Samaritan.  Once again, these are drawn with markers, this time on plain white card.

I'm surprised at how much I like playing with markers; I have a lot of makers but I haven't really used them much.  It may be because of the card I'm using.  The hostess for our swap works in a printing shop and she makes blank ATC's from the off-cuts.  They are very smooth and thick, which turns out to be perfect for markers.

Direct to Watercolor at the ATC Swap

We meet before our Artist Trading Card swap to work on portable projects.  It was another opportunity to continue my Direct to Watercolor practice.

Joanne Sharpe's WHIMS IN WATERCOLOR 2: "Loose and Fearless" starts today, so I'll have lots of inspiration from now until the end of the month!

Direct to Watercolor Art Supplies

The Chairs of Belvedere

This could be a series - The Chairs of Belvedere.  If my mom is sleeping when I visit her I often draw a chair.   This is direct to watercolour; I'm still doing the 30x30 challenge.

Summer Flowers

This is another wet on wet direct to watercolour attempt.

Ocean

The June Westcoast Calligraphy Society Love of Letters practice prompt is "ocean".  They advise, thankfully, "Don’t worry about being perfect - it’s more about being creative and practicing."

Wet On Wet

I'm continuing to do a "direct to watercolour" most days, but at the moment I'm not very happy with them.  For a few days I played with "wet on wet", dropping the pigment onto wet paper.  

A Card for a Canadian History Buff

Stamp design by M. Windsor for Garfinkel Publications

My great nephew turns 10 this month.  He has become interested in history, so I've sent him a subscription to a Canadian History magazine for his birthday.

What Are You Reading?

These are the final two (for now?) artist trading cards for the swap this weekend.

Sharpie and other markers on gel print

Whim 22

 

I'm still finding Whims from Joanne Sharpe's class that I haven't posted.

Dairyland Truck

Facebook isn't all bad; I recently joined a group that posts vintage pictures of my home town.  I remember these old Dairyland milk delivery trucks from my youth, and we all know I love vintage cars!

This handcarved stamp is Artist Trading Card size.

What Are You Reading?

Artist Trading Card, markers on gelli print

Tom Cat

You might recognize this cat.  I made the stamp artist trading card size.

I have been wanting to try Speedy Carve for a long time, but our local art supply stores don't carry it.  (I have been using Safety Kut).   I never thought to try Michaels, but I found some there a few weeks ago.  I like it a lot; it is a little softer and easier to cut than Safety Kut.

What Are You Reading?

Here are a few more Artist Trading Cards done in Sharpie and other markers.

#30x30DirectWatercolor2019

Although I didn't plan to, I appear to be participating in Marc Taro Holmes challenge to do a "direct to watercolor" painting each day in June.

I'm interpreting "direct" as no pen or pencil sketch done first.

I added the pen on this third one after, mostly because I wasn't happy with the brush drawing.

Whim 25

I'm still finishing up Joanne Sharpe's Whims in Watercolor, Pen and Ink class. 

Joanne has announced Whims 2 which will begin June 21 - I can't wait!

Gelli Printing with the Small Plate

I used a 3 x 5 gelli plate for these prints.  I love this small plate because I can use it as a stamp.

The flower is a mask and the other designs were made with embossed cardstock.  I like using embossed cardstock because there is no clean up required!

What Are You Reading? - 3 More ATC's

Each one of these takes about 10 minutes to draw and color, once I have the gelli print background done.  

I use a Sharpie marker for the drawing and then use regular markers to add colour.