Category Archives: architecture

Gerbera Daisies and Tulips

A nudge to all peeps who love someone: Bring them flowers! Mitchell brings me flowers a lot, not a big bouquet, but a few lovely colors. They cheer me, and the cheerfulness of flowers lasts for day. When I paint … Continue reading

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Two Wonderful Videos

I enjoyed them — they speak of another time, and in my opinion, a gentler, more exciting and friendlier time in our country. .  

Posted in architecture, art journal, creativity, direct watercolor, drawing, gouache, ink painting, journal, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, waterbrush, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Momofuko Noodles

One of the only great things about 2024 is that I discovered Momofuko noodles. Not at all like the more popular Ramen, these have great flavor and the noodles are wide and excellent! My new lunch or late studio snack! … Continue reading

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USk: Dogwood Blossoms

The only thing good about my trip to the dentist were the Dogwoods in bloom. Pink and white blossoms everywhere, and this year the blossoms are heavy in the trees. They remind me of trips to visit Mimi and Pa … Continue reading

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Benu Talisman Buddha Lotus Blossom Pen

I was thrilled when Benu brought out the Buddha-Lotus Blossom Talisman pen, and it also gave me the opportunity to try out their NEW steel flex nib. I haven’t bought a new pen in a long time.  My pen collection … Continue reading

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Inky Thots: Robert Oster’s GHOST

I am not usually a shimmer gurl, but I’ve found one that is soon to have its own pen!  I love Robert Oster Signature’s shimmer, GHOST! It has a silver-black shimmer, then goes grey leaning into purple-grey, and then into … Continue reading

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St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Hvar, Croatia

Our Virtual Sketchwalk group on Facebook visited Croatia, and the island of Hvar.  I chose to sketch St. Stephen’s Cathedral, located at the eastern end of the city square of Hvar. The eight-hundred year old cathedral is a blend of … Continue reading

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Inky Thots: Robert Oster Anniversary Inks

Robert Oster Signature Inks is having their  7th Anniversary, and have created three special inks for their celebration: Their first true black, a beautiful purple storm, and a shimmering green-gold jewel: Let’s look at each anniversary ink. Remember that others … Continue reading

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Seehof Castle: 30X30 Direct Watercolor

The month of June is when many watercolorists around the world participate in the 30×30 Direct Watercolor Challenge, created by Marc Homes and Uma Kelker. Rules are simple:  Each day post one watercolor, but no sketching, no inking, no pencil, … Continue reading

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Seehof Bamberg Poppies: 30X30 Direct Watercolor

The month of June is when many watercolorists around the world participate in the 30×30 Direct Watercolor Challenge, created by Marc Homes and Uma Kelker. Rules are simple:  Each day post one watercolor, but no sketching, no inking, no pencil, … Continue reading

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Inky Thots: Robert Oster Australian Opal Grey

Robert Oster’s Australian Opal Grey ink is one of my favorite greys, leaning into turquoise and blue when touched with water. My delicate shell (that I have carried around since high school) was painted in a Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook with … Continue reading

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Canal du Midi: 30X30 Direct Watercolor

The month of June is when many watercolorists around the world participate in the 30×30 Direct Watercolor Challenge, created by Marc Homes and Uma Kelker. Rules are simple:  Each day post one watercolor, but no sketching, no inking, no pencil, … Continue reading

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VSW: Koh Chang Buddha

One of Aniko’s images posted for the Facebook Virtual Sketchwalk, Of course I had to do this lovely Buddha-in-the-Trees (my naming). An ink-painting, with just a touch of watercolor in the greens. ☾ Hahnemühle Watercolour Journal, Pentel Aquash waterbrushes with … Continue reading

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VSW: Koh Chang Buddha, 2

Another of the lovely images posted for the Facebook Virtual Sketchwalk, a lovely HUGE Golden Buddha, image shown above tilted as one might have seen it when looking UP! This one I decided to do over shellac, which changes the … Continue reading

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Making Shellac

Top row, three pieces of artwork with shellac and watercolor or ink! Food grade shellac has been used in past for various foods such as the M&M’s above to keep them from melting (“Melts in your mouth, not in your … Continue reading

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VSW: Washington Irving’s Home NY

Virtual Sketchwalk group on FaceBook went to upstate New York to paint Washington Irving’s home (the author of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.) From scribbles to watercolor, the finished product didn’t please me; I like the scribbled version better. I … Continue reading

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VSW: Disaster Sketching the Lyndhurst Mansion

I wanted to tackle this image from our Virtual Sketchwalk group on FaceBook. This is a lesson in positive critique… I want to paint the light. I’m a novice. Nothing wrong with being a novice… But dang how to paint … Continue reading

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VSW: Montpellier Carousel

Debi posted this just for me! A carousel in Montpellier, France, from our Virtual Sketchwalk group on FaceBook, All glitter and bright colors and oh wow! Started with a line drawing, fairly fast sketch. Decided to show it with a … Continue reading

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