Tag: Fabriano paper

Poppies! and other pretty watercolor stuff 3/29/19

Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , 1 Comment

I keep coming back to this “type” of sketch… obviously my favorite, what I think I do best, and most comfortable to me. I will be taking a watercolor class in April to try to strengthen my ability to do looser paintings, without ink or pencil, but I imagine this type is actually “me”.

IMG_7797

A. Gallo watercolor, Fabriano 100% cotton paper 140 lb, uniball deluxe micro pen

I love these poppies! I’d frame them, but this is actually for a watercolor swap, so I’ll have to do another for myself! My partner is new to watercolor, and I wanted to show her several different ways of painting. So I also did this leaf on a notecard for her, painted directly:

IMG_7800

and this little notecard (I used some stickers for inspiration!):

IMG_7802

None of these required pencil sketches first, they are all pretty basic.

Which do you like the best?

A nice, rusty bike.

Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , 12 Comments

Two from Peter Sheeler’s tutorials, and one of my own, by special order. 🙂

IMG_2463

(Mine isn’t positioned well on the page, but I like my flowers here better than his!)

IMG_2404

IMG_2403

I’m pleased with the bike… I’m going to try another, though, to clean it up a bit.

IMG_2462

(Schmincke watercolor, on Fabriano Artistico cotton cold press watercolor paper, 140 lb, 5″x7″)

Seashore postcard and haiku

Posted in UncategorizedTagged , , , , , , , , 8 Comments

I’m trying Fabriano Artistico 100% cotton 140 lb watercolor paper… this is a 5×7 “block”, meaning the edges of the paper are all glued together. One corner remains open… once a painting is complete, you simply slide a palette knife (or anything) beneath the page and peel it off. Painting on blocked paper provides a firm work surface and prevents the page from warping much even with a heavy application of water. Looking on Amazon, I came up with this link, to the extra white cold pressed Fabriano block… Remember, Amazon prices fluctuate. At $15.95 right now, this is a pretty good price, I think, but I got it a bit cheaper at Jerry’s this weekend while it was on sale, and then with 20% off for a members discount… (if you prefer to try the Fabriano hot press, that’s even less at Amazon right now at $13.05).

IMG_1812

Let me just say WOW. I really like the way it feels. Please don’t judge the Fabriano p[aper by my painting. I actually liked this more than Arches. So far.

I started with tape (unnecessary on a block, except for leaving a white edge) and masking fluid:

IMG_1809

I used EEM (Eventually Everything Mixes) burnt sienna, Daniel Smith Indanthrone Blue , and Daniel Smith Mayan Blue Genuine  , a very green blue… the description says it is a green indigo, but it isn’t dark. I may try the mayan blue dark sometime, now that I’ve seen it exists! These are both lovely colors. Not necessary to a palette, but I can see a lot of times they’ll be used. Daniel Smith really has a LOT of lovely options.

Paint applied:IMG_1810

It could use more definition but I decided to leave it kind of stylized and quit while I was ahead. A quick fun sketch with just three colors!

IMG_1811

I actually painted this for a summer haiku swap. Here are the two haiku (haikus?) I came up with for my partner:

“The ocean murmurs

Ever haunting lullabies

To the sun warmed sand”

And

“If I could, I’d spend

Each passing summer moment

Fingers in the sand.”