Category Archives: writing

Rona2: Rancho Gordo Midnight Black Beans

So yummy we bought several bags of Midnight Black Beans! Black beans are a favorite — they have a different taste than Pintos and we use them in much the same way. The first time I had black beans was … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, recipe, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Marianne’s Gift Inks

I am so behind on posts!! Marianne sent me several samples…. All are beautiful (Marianne has amazingly grat  ink taste) but I am in love with a few that I have on my to-buy list…  I am starting to play … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, pen & ink, sketchbook, tools, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Inky Thots: Diamine Festive Cheer

From their website: “Manufacturers since 1864, Diamine Inks relocated to this state of the art factory in Liverpool in 1925, where they successfully carried on using the traditional methods and formulas for ink production. Over the years the company has … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, pen & ink, process, review, sketchbook, tools, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rona2: Portland is Under Seige

I’m not saying the Portland Police haven’t done their share of violent things, but what is happening now in Portland is frightening. The President has send the federal forces in to take over our city, so he can teach people … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, drawing, ink painting, journal, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Tools: Mitchell’s Glitter Inks, 3

So I gave you a little taste of Mitchell’s glittery collection here, with the help of Yamantaka! Part 2, we looked at the warm shimmers in our collection… Now for the cool inks! Diamine Shimmer-tastic Lilac Satin ink has won … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, drawing, pen & ink, sketchbook, tools, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tools: Mitchell’s Glitter Inks, 2

So I gave you a little taste of Mitchell glittery collection here, with the help of Yamantaka! Now I’ll show you our favorites! I bought a few bottles of inkmasters we know, so we trusted the ink quality, and some … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, drawing, pen & ink, sketchbook, tools, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Tools: Mitchell’s Glitter Inks, 1

Mitchell fell in love with glitterinks, starting with Robert Oster’s Sterling Silver… I made him a long visual record of what he has because it was getting confusing… “i think you did this all wrong” Yaman checked it all out … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, drawing, pen & ink, sketchbook, tools, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Four Glitter Inks

We bought two bottles and a couple of shimmery ink samples! I don’t buy samples often — tiny plastic thangs — but will when I have never tried an ink company. Gorgeous! Robert Oster has to very different golds (gads … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, drawing, pen & ink, sketchbook, tools, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Tools: WaterPROOF Inks

I had someone get a bit heated with me for insisting that the right words be used for waterPROOF and water resistant. *I can take it* The reason the distinction is important is artists need to know waterPROOF in order … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, drawing, ink painting, painting, pen & ink, process, review, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Rona2: Can’t Go Home Again

Home home home… The idea of home is so far away from today’s reality… Family figures who were wayshowers became betrayers, My hometown has become a rich man’s enclave, far away from the hippy beach community that was heaven… and … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, landscape, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, recipe, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Rona2: Rancho Gordo Flageolet Beans

Flageolet is another sweet-smelling bean right out of the bag — smells of the earth and it smells GREEN… Flageolet pushed me back a decade to when I had the time to make my own chicken stock from leftover bones, … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, recipe, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Rona2: Wildlife

Blackberries along the back fence attract birds and so, this year, we finally began feeding the birds on the roof of our building’s loading dock. A wide variety of seed and peanuts and corn means a wide variety of bird … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, recipe, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rona2: Rancho Gordo Ayocote Morado Beans

This a redo and making-it-better of my Rancho Gordo Ayocote Morado Beans. I nearly cried when we finished this batch, especially as they are already out of stock! I pre-soaked these beans for an hour… seeing the beautiful beans in … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, recipe, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Rona on Grey, Equality Orange

I’m feeling frozen and powerless. I finally decided ritual was a path. When I am feeling powerless I turn to ritual… Gamblin sent the Equality Orange Oil Paint on the day I was so upset about the news, worried about … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, journal, loss, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, ritual, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rona2: Rancho Gordo Santa Marie Pinquitos

Bored with talk of beans yet? Oh well. because I have lots more beany things to explore! These beans smelled like fresh grass when I opened the bag. Now I am smelling ALL my bags — but so far none … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, recipe, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rona2: Anniversary Gift of Masks

Between the pandemic, working long hours, and the protests I have had no time for posting.  I continued to make marks late at night. Our anniversary in May was quiet and we slept, ate, and binge watched the Good Karma … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Rona2: New Moon

My creativity comes and goes… My sleeplessness comes and goes. Stess over pandemic and government’s handling of it, economics, and as usual now, politics. My New Moon was a mistake. Reached for the wrong black ink and then had to … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Last Chance Today On Giveaway!

TODAY IS THE LAST CHANCE TO SIGN FOR THE GIVEAWAY! To enter, sign you name: HERE! Winners will be chosen by random draw on the Solstice, Saturday, June 20th, and announced that evening! For my reviews, go here: Hahnemühle Toned … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, journal, loss, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, ritual, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments