View From My Window

Watercolor Pencil Crayons
Travelers Notebook with Fabriano Mixed Media Paper

Spatters

Walnut Ink on Canvas Paper

You can get some lovely spatters with a folded pen if you use textured paper, press hard, and write fast.  I took a sheet of canvas paper and played around last week, but more practice is definitely required. 

#doitfortheprocess

Gelatos and Stabilo Pencil on Canvas Paper

I got inspired by Paivi Eerola to do some watercolors, but as often happens when I try to imitate another artist, they didn't work out.  (Why do I do that?).  So, in a fit of fingerpainting, out came the gelatos and I had fun again.

Wot....No Art?

Watercolor and Uniball Pen
Strathmore Sketchbook

When I'm too lazy to blog, my friend Janice sends me an email with the subject "Wot....No Art?"  So this one is for her.

She posted a picture of a bouquet of flowers she received for Mother's Day, and briefly contemplated painting them, but she thought that she couldn't do them justice.  I suggested that an essence of the bouquet was just fine, but she didn't take me up on the challenge.  

I did this page soon after she posted the bouquet, enjoying the pun of this phrase we hear frequently with the idea of a bunch of flowers crowded in a vase.  I wasn't going to post this sketchbook page at all, primarily because of the wrinkled paper, but it seems fitting after receiving her email.  There's always art, if you #doitfortheprocess.

MapCrunch

Watersoluble Graphite, Strathmore Sketchbook

Continuing on with value studies, I sketched the "view of the day" from MapCrunch.  "MapCrunch teleports you to a random place in the world."  It uses Google Streetview.  It's a fun option for sketching street scenes when you don't want to leave the house. 

Watersoluble Graphite, Strathmore Sketchbook

Same Subject, Two More Approaches

Watercolor, Stillman & Birn Alpha Sketchbook

The first approach is a quick direct to watercolor sketch.  Tulips never fail to inspire me.

The second approach started as a value study, inspired by a talented urban sketcher, Paul Wang, but then I couldn't resist adding some color.  The paper is all wrinkled but it makes a lovely sound when I turn the page!

Watersoluble Graphite, Strathmore Sketchbook

#drbonniehenryfanclub

Poster Paint, 11" x 14" Strathmore Sketch 

Yes, believe it or not, there is a hashtag for the Dr. Bonnie Henry fan club.  This makes me an official member.

Dr. Henry is the Provincial Health Officer here in British Columbia.  She has made us all proud during this pandemic, with her calm, empathetic, and clear daily press conferences.

Breakfast Time

Watercolour, 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" Stillman and Birn Alpha Journal

I painted just part of the #stillherestilllife challenge last week, using my tablet to zoom in on my choice of composition.  I was inspired by the shadows on the wall.

Reminded of My Favorite Way to Gelli Print

One of the best gelli print teachers, Birgit Koopsen, posted on Instagram about her play day with a 5" x 7" plate, used as a stamp.  I don't have the 5" x 7" plate, but I have the 3" x 5", and she inspired me to play for a couple of days.

Still Here Still Life Challenge

Ink and Watercolor in Stillman & Birn Alpha Journal

Just in time to quench my thirst, I found a still life drawing challenge on Instagram:  #stillherestilllife.  Each week they post a new photo or painting of a still life and invite us to do our own interpretation.  The inspiration looks really good so far, so I've jumped in.

I should start my own hashtag:  #farfromperfectbutsomuchfun

That's a Lot of Vases!

Collage and Ink in 16 Page Journal

Watercolor and Ink in 16 Page Journal

Painting with Gelatos

Gelatos in Sixteen Page Journal

The tulips are never far away at this time of year.

Vases

Ink, Watercolor and Collage in 16 page journal

I've developed a bit of a thing for still life lately.  It started with vases.

Buried Treasure

Buried in my file of gelli prints I found an alcohol ink piece adorned with stamping.  With some judicious trimming, I have another card! 

Bamboo

This is another card made from a gelli print.  I used a stamp by PSX to make the bamboo impression in the paint.

Gelli Print Cards

I made a few more cards from gelli prints recently.  Here are two that came from the same print.