Today I have a few winter scenes in my sketchbook to share with you.
Happy Thursday! 😊
Out for a winter walk with the pup.
My eyes go right to the cozy blue jacket and the winter boots. I really like the color palette and simplicity.
Winter Day
I used a limited palette in this gray winter landscape.
The dry brush work and fine lines in the foreground were made with thicker paint (less water). Those darker details in the foreground come forward and help to create depth.
Walking dogs at the park.
Here I added a covered path and another walker in the distance. Those simple additions really help tell a story. I’m happy that I decided to try something new and challenge myself with painting figures.
I hope you are inspired to create art and have fun. Until next time, share a smile and stay excellent!
I always have multiple sketchbooks on hand to work in. I like a multimedia sketchbook that can handle watercolor and has a nice smooth surface for ink sketching too.
I’m still enjoying painting figures in watercolor and trying to remember that less is more.
Figure painting is a great way to warm up and explore.
I pulled out my ink brush pen not knowing what I wanted to sketch. I thought about the fun shapes the pen makes and started to experiment with flower centers. I kept playing and created this nice floral. I love the contrast in this sketch.
Sometimes you have to just jump in and sketch. If you don’t like it you can always turn the page and try something else. It’s a sketchbook after all and there are no rules. 😊
In this poppy painting there was a lot of experimenting with leaves and seed heads. The painting could use some darker colors. Maybe I will explore this further in another painting on heavier watercolor paper.
I hope you enjoyed this quick trip through my sketchbook. Until next time, share a smile and shine on!
Today I have a sweet little watercolor bird to share with you.
I started out by sketching my bird using a watercolor pencil. Then I painted the background around my bird sketch. By painting the branches on wet paper it created soft dreamy distant branches. I love how it sets the mood. 😊
little bird on 8 x 8 inch fluid watercolor paperblock
I worked on the bird and branch in the foreground next. The detail and additional layers of color brought the bird forward and into focus.
I hope you are inspired to create art and have fun. Until next time, share a smile and shine on!
Today I have a few ink sketches to share with you. My sketching time has been limited this month but I was able to find a little time to play in my sketchbook.
A little botanical sketch using my Pentel pocket brush pen. It’s been a very long time since I’ve used this pen and I’m not sure why. I love this pen!
A quick little floral playing with patterns on the flower petals.
Magnolia sketch playing with the brush pen
This sketch was done a little before October. I was really exploring what I could do with the long lost brush pen. 😊 I like that you can make delicate marks and fine lines as well as large bold stokes using this pen.
I hope you are inspired to create and have fun. Just grab a sketchbook, pen, and see what happens!
I love painting with a plastic card. Today I have birch trees that I painted using this fun technique.
Happy Sunday! 💚
Using a plastic card to apply watercolor is easy to do and very enjoyable.
Paper of choice: I recommend a cold pressed watercolor paper. Cold pressed paper can stand up to the plastic card pushing and pulling paint without damaging the paper. In addition, the slightly textured surface of this paper gives the trees a more realistic look.
Simple Technique: Using a plastic card to apply paint. Dip the edge of a plastic card into a puddle of paint (see photo above) or directly into pigment and then apply the paint to the paper using the card.
A view of the beginning stage.
I used the card to print lines on the paper and create various tree shapes. Then by dragging the card left and right I can pull and push paint to look like markings you might see on birch bark.
It doesn’t look very good at first but by continuing to add more paint and detail, the trees start to look quite nice.
I used three colors that really play nicely together: Prussian Blue Paynes Gray Sepia
In the same area on the mixing tray, the colors slowly start to mix together as I dipped into them over and over. I just continued to add back each color to the puddle as needed.
I also swiped the edge of the card into concentrated pigment to get some nice color for darker areas. In some places a damp brush with a little water helped move paint around a bit.
It’s really all about playing and seeing what happens!
8 x 8 inch – Birch Trees on Fluid Watercolor paper
To finish things off I added a sky and some grasses. The darker area around the base of the trees helps to anchor them so that they aren’t just floating on the page.
I had so much fun painting these trees that I think I will try this again and work larger. I hope you are inspired to create art and do something you love.
Until next time, share a smile and sprinkle kindness everywhere!
I have a sunny floral to share with you today. These little yellow flowers make me so happy. I hope you enjoy them too. 💛
I had some fun playing in my sketchbook and started with a light pencil sketch. I used my Tombow dual tip brush pens for some bright color.
The small tip of the pen worked well to draw the lavender. I used dark purple and blue to sketch the little petals. Then I used a damp brush with clean water to wet and blend the lavender a little in some areas.
The yellow flowers were a combination of different shades of yellow, light gold, and pale orange. I tried to keep it all very simple here just blending on the page with a little clean water.
When the flowers were dry, I used a blue brush pen to make a bunch of very tiny lines and dots in the center of the flowers. I think yellow always looks so pretty next to blue and purple.
I hope you are making time to do things you enjoy. Until next time, share a smile and sprinkle kindness everywhere.
Lately I’ve been trying to work more in my sketchbook. Today I have a few pencil sketches to share with you.
I decided to work more on sketching birds.
This was a quick sketch. I like the idea of limiting my time on a sketch which helps me focus on shape and form. Having a time limit also keeps me from getting lost in detail.
More work on shore birds… I hope this will help build my confidence when adding birds to landscape paintings.
Another page with a few quick bird sketches. I really liked this one more than the others on the page. I cropped the others out but kind of love that they are sneaking into the photo a little. 😊
More quick sketches with different views.
Finishing off our sketchbook tour is a quick flower sketch. I was thinking about painting but didn’t have enough time so I just started sketching a poppy. I’m happy that I opened up my sketchbook.
I hope you are inspired to create art and do something you love. Until next time, share a smile and stay excellent!
It was a very difficult start to Spring this year with the unexpected loss of my beloved brother. Although I try to keep my personal life and struggles out of my art blog, this is where I am and what I’ve been going through. I just thought I should let you all know.
Today I have some pretty pictures of the daffodils in my garden and a few other paintings to share.
The daffodils this year did not disappoint. They’ve since faded but I did manage to get some nice photos when they were at their peak.
I really love this close up view.
Once again no luck with tulips this year. The critters outside have enjoyed snacking on them. I think I will just plant something else in the fall.
I painted some pretty pink and red tulips in my sketchbook. These playful loose watercolor flowers are so cheerful.
I also filled a page in my sketchbook with butterflies. I used watercolor brush pens for this and really like how it turned out.
I hope you are inspired to create art and do something you love. Creating art has always been very therapeutic for me. I shall continue to lean into my art and give myself time and space to heal.
Until next time share a smile and sprinkle kindness everywhere.
I left space for more flowers to be added later. I should have taken more photos but I’m glad I have this one to share.
I strengthened the buds with darker color and loose shapes. I love how the pretty purple flowers and leaves at the bottom guide your eye up into the painting.
There was enough space for a large flower at the top. It worked out well and became the focal point that this painting needed. The center of the flower turned out really nice. The little bit of dark color that bled into the petals from the center really makes my heart sing. The best part was that I didn’t overwork it. Yay!
It’s important to remember that showing up and having fun really makes a difference. Some paintings will work out better than others. While I may showcase some of my favorite paintings here, I have many that aren’t successful. I do my best to keep in mind that each painting is a step forward and an opportunity to learn and grow.
Patty Anne - Art 