A 365 day art project… one drawing a day
I love sunflowers and daffodils. But I hate these paintings! I have to post them, however, or have nothing to share. I’m not missing a day because of foolish pride. Well, theres a little part of each I like, so I’ll focus on that. 🙂
11:55pm… I almost missed today’s art! 
I THINK these are lilacs. Anyway, I like them.
5×7 Strathmore 400 series watercolor paper, Sennelier Dioxazine Purple, Forest Green, Phthalo Green Light, Daniel Smith Bloodstone Genuine. I was disappointed when I initially swatched the bloodstone, which was not at all purple like I had expected because of the tube… a definite neutral… then I started mixing it with things and might have fallen in love a little bit. It tones bright colors down beautifully.
You can find this paint on Amazon right now for as little as $6.41 (plus $2.25 shipping) , but I got mine for $5.50 at Jerrys Artarama, who had their paints and brushes 20% off today. (In the store only, I think) They are sometimes more expensive, but with their 10% off card (everyone should have it) and their sales, I can often find a pretty reasonable deal. Like today. And it’s so nice to browse the artsy aisles for a while, and leave with a tiny tube of paint clutched greedily in my sweaty palm! (And, if I buy a paint brush, they put it in a fun brush bag!)
It’s less costly in the long run to purchase the larger tubes of course… but I kind of like to try out the colors first, and make sure it’s something I want.
Based on a photo I took in the backyard. Using daniel smith paints in my strathmore 400 series watercolor journal (love this little book so much more than I expected to!)Â with my faithful uniball deluxe micro pen. I don’t love the overall composition as much as I’d hoped, but I like the individual elements… I like the flowers quite well, the brick, and really like the way the fence came out (which I learned from a previous tutorial!)
I love my daniel smith watercolors, (this sap green being particularly useful today!) BUT, it turns out I don’t love using them wet, from the tubes. I’ve purchased this Meeden metal palette for $13.00 (!!!!!) which I ADORE. And $13 is a steal… includes 24 half pans or 12 full (sized) pans!! I filled the 12 full pans with my daniel smith paints, and let them dry for a couple days, and I just love love love it. It even fits my favorite paint brushes. The only thing… I wish I’d gotten the larger pan! I don’t NEED more colors. But I know I’m getting more. So for a few more dollars I may get the larger one (24 full pans) soon. Heck, I’ll use both, probably. I know I sound like a commercial. I looked hard for a metal palette. I suppose the $60 ones are nicer. But I like this one SO MUCH, I don’t see how I’d care to have the costlier one. Let me know if you try one, or if you have one you like better!
Also in my Strathmore 400 5×8 watercolor journal. Trying to fill it up! Except the bluebells at the bottom… they are on a larger piece of watercolor paper that I’m adding to some mail for a friend. The orchids were just a quick testing of a new pyramid/triangle brush I got in the mail. Still using the M Graham paints, ultramarine, hansa, terra rosa, quinacridone rose, Daniel Smith Sepia, but the bluebells are actually using Kuretake Gansai Tambii paints and testing craftamo paint brushes. Actually, the pink branch is, too, now that I think about it.
So today I’m working on new paper – WHICH I LOVE!! Yeah, paper makes a big difference, it turns out. I’m not suddenly a better painter. But it is more satisfying to use, that’s for certain. I’m using a “windsor & newton artist’s watercolor paper” spiral bound pad, 140 lb (so nice and thick), cold pressed (which means the surface will be textured… hot pressed makes it smooth), made from 100% cotton. It’s only 12 sheets, so it is more expensive than my canon xl pad. And they are both 140 lb, but this one just feels better. And the water loves it! I’m ordering more. (I got these at Jerry’s Artarama, see link)
I’m also using new M Graham watercolor paints. (Oooh, I love them.) I received two in this month’s Artsnacks subscription box, which really surprised me, because I had just decided after much heart wrenching research and deep anguish to invest in those, and had ordered four on my own. So now I have five. I know, that math is off. I’m not great at math, but I am better than THAT. Of the two I received in my subscription box, one is white, which I don’t really count as a color in my palette, although I’ll probably use it sometime.
I purchased the paints and an Artbin slimline magnetic palette at merriartist.com (see links). The palette is just what I wanted, and it only cost $6.50! It holds up to 18 one inch square pans to hold the paints, which are purchased separately at under 50 cents each, and is magnetic to hold them in place (it can be used without the pans for pins, cutting blades, etc, if preferred). Typical watercolor sets come with very tiny half pans. Deep but small, and I want more room for bigger brushes, or for mixing in the wells. Even full pans aren’t very large (although they are deeper) These pans are quite shallow, but large enough for bigger brushes. And you can mix paints in the clear lid, if desired (I much prefer using my ceramic dishes to plastic, though) The only way it could be better is if the pans were deeper.
So I have (from the bottom up) ultramarine, hansa yellow, quinacridone rose, scarlet pyrrol, and terra rosa. And besides those five colors, look what I can do just playing around:
Quite a nice, emotional, earthy bunch, huh? Very rich. I only really want another blue and yellow, or two, and a red, and I will have a huge palette. And with just those colors I have now, I painted my flower…
I’m one of those irritating people never satisfied with less. But I’m finding less is better as far as my color choices.
From a tutorial by thefrugalcrafter on youtube. Don’t go look it up… mine doesn’t look like hers! I like my leftover palette as much as my picture… but it’s all good practice!
5″x7″ art journal pages for a swap I’m in… our chosen them was flowers. She will attach these pages to pages in her own art journal… because sending a beloved art journal out into the world for others to work in is exciting, but a huge risk! Â I used some old foreign book pages for the background of one because the recipient specifically said she likes them. I hope she will like what I’ve come up with! I’m really happy with them. I love doing stuff like this.
 
From yesterday’s drawing… I’m really happy with this one. And best of all, no tutorial needed!!! A breakthrough!! (I’m going to keep following tutorials, though. I love them.)
Flowers are nice to sketch… mistakes are easily hidden, and no pencil necessary. Still thinking about painting these.. yes? No? I’m afraid to. I could try out my masking fluid on the daisy petals and stems…Yes. Agreed?
ThreeSixFiveArt 