Category Archives: process

Tools: Watercolor Palettes, Updated

There is not much I buy that thrills me like a new paint color to play with!  To those who say “true artists” mix colors and have a simple palette of 3 cool primaries, 3 warm primaries, + white, I … Continue reading

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Pussycootis, a Friend’s Cat

I sketched this for my friend from an image he posted, because he loves Pussycootis and the image was compelling! Simple line drawing in a EF Platinum Carbon (waterproof) ink, followed by adding pale greys and brown in diluted brown … Continue reading

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Blocked; a Friend Saves the Day

I don’t remember feeling this hopeless, and yet here I am. I hesitate to call it depressed because depression feels like a vague feeling, as in when you are not quite sure why, and I KNOW WHY: I feel hopeless … 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

VSW: Palms is Where I Wanna Be

On the last day of one of the worst years, 2024, I looked to a Virtual Sketchwalk palm-tree-and-beach image from Vietnam to lift my spirits, and said prayers, partly because I knew where our country was headed in 2025. I … Continue reading

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Izzee Keeps me Company

Izzee is always a happy gurl when she can sit close and watch me sketch. Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook, Platinum Japanese Art Pocket Brush Pen, Platinum Carbon pen with Platinum Carbon ink waterproof cartridges, De Atramentis Document Urban Grey ink in … 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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Yaman the HelperCat

Yaman is his Daddy’s best friend. Where Mitchell is, Yaman is.  If I can’t find Mitchell in the studio I look for our panther-cat to be sitting outside a closed door, waiting impatiently to be let in.  There is jealousy … Continue reading

Posted in animals, art journal, Cat, drawing, journal, memory, painting, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

VSW: Fremantle AU Boys School

From our Virtual Sketchwalk group on Facebook, Fremantle Austrailia; images offered were mostly by Debi Taylor. We do a different place each month! Info from Wikipedia: The Fremantle Boys’ School is a heritage building on the Register of National Estate … Continue reading

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VSW: Swimming in the Bay, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Our Virtual Sketchwalk group on Facebook visited Croatia, and the green waters of the bay near Dubrovnik win my heart. Inked sketch using an EF Platinum Carbon pen with Platinum Carbon waterproof ink cartridges. Pentel Aquash waterbrushes added definition or … Continue reading

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Cats: Yaman

PS.  Yaman had a skin issue; that is why the bandage. I’ve been getting questions. I hope this two-page watercolor of Yaman has finally taught me a lesson, and it has nothing to do with the quality of Hahnemühle’s Nostalgie … Continue reading

Posted in animals, art journal, Cat, drawing, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

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

Posted in architecture, art journal, drawing, painting, pen & ink, pencil, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Beyond Depressed: Social Media

When I first was starting out as an artist I had a studio and time to explore what I wanted to do as an artist, mostly in acrylics, sometimes in oils.  I painted alone in a large barn converted as … Continue reading

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Tools: New Watercolor, a Test Palette

I’ve been a little depressed lately, some for “good” reasons but some because I-don’t-know.  The world has gone mad, and I’ve been journaling about it to get to the truth of it.  I think talking about it helps others and … Continue reading

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Working Cats

Buzy Izzee cam in to inspect the furniture when it was delivered.  She was just a kitten then, curiouser and curiouser! Fun to draw this from the image I took of her, shown bottom. I am not happy with the … Continue reading

Posted in animals, art journal, Cat, drawing, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

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

Posted in architecture, art journal, Buddha, color, gods and goddesses, ink painting, landscape, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, waterbrush | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in architecture, art journal, Buddha, color, gods and goddesses, ink painting, landscape, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, waterbrush | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

Posted in architecture, art journal, Buddha, color, gods and goddesses, ink painting, landscape, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, waterbrush | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment