9 x 12 inch Christmas branch on bee watercolor paper
Leaves are one of my favorite things to paint and sketch. I decided it would be fun to paint a cheerful branch. I now have my second Christmas card for this year. Yay! 🙂
I started with layers of light green leaves using a round #12 brush. I allowed each layer to dry and worked up to darker leaves in different shades of green. For the last layer of pine needles, I switched to a flat angle brush which helped me get some nice variation and added texture. As a last step I used a white gel pen for a hint of snow and a few highlights.
I hope you are inspired to create art and do what you love. Thank you for stopping by and following along. Until next time, share a smile and have a great week.
I worked on sketching and painting a Blue Jay this week. My painting was inspired by a beautiful photo on pexels.com (a favorite online site that has free stock photos for artists to use).
After a light sketch in pencil, I used black Micron pens to complete the sketch. I love Micron pens, the ink is waterproof and fade proof, just perfect for using with watercolor.
Watercolor Tip: Gently erase any remaining pencil lines before painting. Leftover pencil markings will be impossible to remove once they’ve been painted over. If you forget to remove them, it is no big deal. I’ve done that many times. 🙂
Blue Jay ink sketch
Adding watercolor is the fun part and it brings the birdie to life. I added a little extra splash here and there to make the painting more lively and to hopefully create more interest.
Watercolor tip: To create a bit of splash, I loaded the brush with color and then tapped on the handle directly over my paper. I repeated the splash using a few different size brushes and colors. Splashing and spattering can be a bit messy, I like to cover my work area with paper towels to catch any overspray.
Daniel Smith watercolors used:
Ultramarine Blue
Burnt Sienna Light
Yellow Ochre
Cobalt Teal Blue
Blue Jay watercolor and ink
Conversation with Birdie – a little poem that I wrote.
Now, if only Mr. Blue Jay would stick around long enough to chat. 🙂
Tell me your thoughts little birdie
Are you free from worry?
What is it like to fly above?
Is your heart filled with love?
How do you know your way?
Please share with me today.
I hope you are inspired to create art and do something you love. Thanks for stopping by and following along. Until next time, enjoy yourself and stay warm.
Patty Anne - Art 