Ramona's Art Projects

Stormy Sunset -- Opaque Watercolor/Gouache

2010-04-28T12:12:00.006-02:00

This one I did a while back. I have only painted in gouache a couple of times. Most of my watercolor work up to now has been using watercolor pencil. Gouache is interesting to use. You can use it like regular watercolor when you use a lot of water, or it is a lot like painting with acrylics with a dry/dryer brush. Gouache allows you to paint light over dark (with a dryer brush), which is the opposite of regular transparent watercolor. The colors can be much brighter than transparent watercolor. This painting was done in the watercolor mode - lots of water. I put the dry watercolor paper on a pliable plastic cutting board (Walmart sells them - or you can use a plastic table mat), and soaked it with brush and water. As the paper becomes wet and stretches, it may try to buckle. Just lift it up and lay it down flat again. The paper when totally soaked will lay flat and hug the plastic board. Then you can have fun with lots of paint (wet on wet). I deliberately added extra paint and water to make the paint to "bloom" or move around on the paper. I did have a deliberate picture of a sunset in mind as I worked on this. It came out better than I expected. It was a fun learning experience. (My gouache hydrangea picture below was painted wet on dry. I used regular amounts of wet paint on dry paper. I blotted the sky and green hill to soften them. The hydrangeas have three layers of paint, getting darker and darker. The hydrangea white highlights were done with a totally dry brush.)

Hydrangeas -- Opaque Watercolor/Gouache

2010-04-22T13:28:00.001-02:00

This is my first attempt at trying to paint Hydrangeas. I love them. They are one of my favorite flowers (after roses). This was also my first attempt at trying to paint a picture I completely made up out of my head. Found out also that it is easier to paint from a photo, as the highlights and shadows are there to copy. Here I had to make them up, and with limited success. It's not a masterpiece, but it was still fun-- I was playing with paint.

Blue Moon -- Watercolor Journal

2010-04-09T13:10:00.001-02:00

This is a painting I did last year and posted on another group site. Therefore some of you may have previous seen it. However, I never got around to posting in on my painting blog. This was originally painted in my watercolor journal. I deleted what was previously written on the side. It needed a new quote since it was being used in a new way. The inspiration for this painting came from a photo that caught my attention. The glowing of the moon illuminating the building and the sky created such a wonderful effect and beauty that I had to try to copy it in paint. Also, the glowing blue of the night sky really drew me in. This was done with Reeve's watercolor pencils.

Pots Still Life -- Colored Pencil

2010-03-31T16:28:00.011-02:00

The inspiration for this still life came from a book on colored pencils. The subject and the colors caught my attention. I fell in love with this last year, but did not get up enough nerve and determination to do it until now. There were a lot of directions on how to do it, but it seems that directions are not enough sometimes. On a couple of the pots I could not produce the exact finish of the original, but have learned from painting things usually work out- just not in the way you originally thought it would. Over all I am content with the result.

Since people are asking-- This was done with prismacolor pencils (the 120 pencil tin set with all the grays) on plain printer paper. I also use the prismacolor colorless blender.

Water Lilies -- Watercolor

2010-03-22T19:41:00.004-02:00

This is one I did previously. The picture I was using for inspiration was from an art book, but the original was done in acrylics. I had to experiment a lot to figure out how to reproduce that picture in watercolor. There are lots of layers of color in the picture to try to reproduce it. Was a lot of fun and learning.

Grapes -- Colored Pencil

2010-03-16T14:31:00.002-02:00

These were actually done for practice before I did my Four Fruit Still Life post. The inspiration for these came from an art book. Grapes are a challenge as you have to try to make each one look unique. I had at least seven different purple and red pencils blending these into uniqueness. You definitely get a lot of practice blending and burnishing colors when you do grapes, but it was rewarding to do.

Four Fruit Still Life -- Colored Pencil

2010-03-14T23:48:00.002-02:00

This inspiration for this came from a drawing prompt from the Draw-This art group. This past week a different fruit (colored) each day was our drawing prompt. The final drawing prompt was to do a still life with the four fruits we previous drew. I have wanted for a while to practice colored pencil fruit. This answered the desire.

Victorian House -- Watercolor

2010-03-12T15:13:00.006-02:00

Though I used a picture reference for this, I had fun redesigning the placement of the main house windows (and doors), and supplying the bottom fourth that was missing in the picture. I then printed the scanned pencil sketch onto watercolor paper, and painted it with watercolor pencils. The yard I did with graphite pencil just to ground the building. The color of the house scanned in a little stronger than I originally painted. I had a lot of fun with this one, because I love architecture. If this looks a little familiar to you, I have previously posted a pen & ink version of this before. (If you would like to see it also, click here.) This current version was not done overnight. I worked on it on and off for a few months. Some things I can do in one sitting, but some things get done a little at a time for a variety of reasons (I get bored, the piece is complicated, it gets lost and forgotten, lack of time, or any combination).

Amber Glass Bottle -- Colored Pencil

2010-03-08T16:29:00.001-02:00

This is another I did for practice to learn more about colored pencils. Since capturing glass in a painting has always been an interest of mine, it was fun to be able to combine both learning more about colored pencil and painting glass. This illustration comes from an art book.

Pears and Grapes -- Acrylic Still Life

2010-03-04T16:39:00.000-02:00

This is one I did last year. I wanted to practice doing the fruit, texture, light, shadow, and depth of a still life. The inspiration for it was a picture hanging on my kitchen wall. Parts could be better (as always), but I had fun learning from it.

A Colored Pencil Rose

2010-02-26T20:15:00.000-02:00

I did this one because I love roses and it seemed like a good thing to practice learning more about colored pencil. The inspiration for this particular picture came from an art book on colored pencil.

A Valentine For You -- Composition Art Journal Collage

2010-02-07T18:09:00.000-02:00

I just wanted to share my thankfulness with all of you. Everyone has been absolutely great and encouraging since I started doing art again. Thank you everyone for being such a wonderful group of people.

My First Oil Painting -- Pink Sunset

2010-01-27T13:11:00.000-02:00

All I wanted for Christmas was a set of oil paints, as I wanted to try painting in oil. The above is my first try (at oil, real clouds, and an ocean sunset). I painted it wet on wet at one sitting. I know it's not a masterpiece, but I am happy with my first try. The first several months I tried painting landscapes in acrylic, I never produced one thing that could be called even decent for a young child. I am excited that the first oil painting I did at least looks like a landscape. This was painted from a photo, and yes the clouds were even more unique than what I painted.

Misty Mountain Sunrise -- Acrylic

2010-01-10T17:01:00.000-02:00

This was inspired by a photo of blue mountains early in the morning when it's just beginning to get light . One day last year I finally sat down and painted this photo. This was done with wet on wet technique using acrylic paint at one sitting. I have tried several times before to paint various different mountains photos using the wet on wet technique. This is the first one that worked where the mountains and colors came out decent. However, when I first painted it I did not like it. When I sat it aside and came back to it a couple of months later I liked it then.

Something Christmas Pink Poinsettia -- Watercolor

2009-12-11T18:26:00.000-02:00

Seems like everyone is doing some kind of holiday art. Here is my contibution to the holiday season. Here is wishing everyone to have a wonderful holiday time.

Everyday Matters Challenge # 250 - Draw Something You Got For Free

2009-12-08T20:35:00.000-02:00

This little artificial plant is pot is only about 6" high and 7" wide. To be so small it is none the less become one of my favorite treasures. It brightens up any corner where it is placed. I just happened to be where someone was cleaning out stuff and I came home with it. I am glad of this challenge because I have wanted to draw and piant this little treasure for a while. Now I have this little memory captured. This was done with watercolor pencils on watercolor paper in my new homemade journal 11 x 7 1/2" which has watercolor and sketching paper in it.

Tuscany -- Watercolor

2009-12-02T15:32:00.000-02:00

I saw this in an art book, and fell in love with this adorable little town. There is something appealing and serene about the Italian countryside. The soft colors also caught my imagination, and I just had to paint it. This is a real place, but the name of the town was not given in the book. This was an enjoyable piece to do.

EDM # 249 Draw A Coffee Pot - Watercolor

2009-11-23T17:45:00.000-02:00

Well, here is my version of a coffee pot. This is my white china Victorian Coffee Pot/Server. Because of its elegant nature, even though it is a coffee pot, I also use it for teas. It was a gift.

Orchids -- Watercolor

2009-11-19T19:23:00.001-02:00

This is one I did a while back. I was experimenting with varying the color in the background. I love orchids and these white ones with red and pink throat caught my attention. This was done with transparent watercolor on watercolor paper.

Portrait of a Grand Daughter

2009-11-12T17:11:00.000-02:00

This is my first try at drawing my younger grand daughter. I did this from a photo that I love of her in her blue hat. Her eyes were scrunched up in the photo, and in my drawing they are a little uneven. This is the grand daughter that is very much like I was as a child. Her I can related to. She loves all things dealing with art, and told me she wants to be an artist like her grand mother (Needless to say that statement melted my heart). We do art projects when she comes over, and right now she is happy scrap booking. This she can do and not get frustrated, as she does when she tries to draw or paint like grandma. She loves to draw and eventually her skill will catch up with her desire.

Love Abstract -- Watercolor Journal

2009-11-09T17:25:00.001-02:00

This came about as I just free form wrote about what is Love. There are all different kinds of love- self love, love of family, love of friends and that significant other, love of hobbies/work, etc. These all involve our emotions. However, I was journaling about agape love. The kind where God says love your enemies. How do you love the unloveable? All the other loves involve emotion, but agape love involves a choice and an action (not emotion). If we say we love God, then we have to obey God and love ( show kindness and compassion to) the unloveable. This takes a lot of prayer to be able to put this kind of love in action. Done with watercolor and magic maker.

French Country Whimsy EDM # 109 Draw A Clock -- Watercolor Journal

2009-11-04T22:26:00.001-02:00

I bought this clock when I was in a ""French" mood trying to redecorate my kitchen in my version of French Country style. I wrote about it and said- My Whimsical Clock. The phrase "Less is More" does not apply to this clock!!! I am glad that EDM had a challenge to draw a clock. I would never have taken the time to draw it in my journal without the challenge. Now I have the memory of my piece of French whimsy recorded.

Oriental Water Landscape -- Watercolor

2009-11-02T21:04:00.000-02:00

I have always loved this picture from the moment I saw it. I still have the card it was painted from twenty years ago. It's one of my original paintings I did back then before the internet and art groups for encouragement and sharing. I love that the colors are not the usual colors for sky or water, and that it is such a peaceful scene. This is the first landscape I ever painted.

Light Show Kolner Dom Cologne Cathedral

2009-11-01T22:38:00.000-02:00

Since I like architecture a friend told me if I ever visited Germany I need to see the Dom Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany (thanks Alex!!). I did a search on it and found info and pictures. The cathedral has many beautiful stain glass windows that often make the cathedral a light show. This is a picture I found of the Cathedral that illustrated what the light show can resemble. I was taken back by all the colors that bathed every thing. I had to try to paint this, because it was so breath-taking. In this picture one is looking up at the ceiling of the cathedral. The ceiling (which is plaster) looks like stain glass with the way the colors reflect on it. To the right is one of the main supports for the cathedral ceiling covered in the multi-hued reflections. I drew, inked, and painted this with watercolor Halloween night waiting in between kids coming to my door.

EDM Draw #15 A Tree, #155 Steps, #234 Something That Belongs to Another

2009-10-30T14:46:00.000-02:00

Finally got around to posting these drawings from Utah that I drew where we stayed at the RV park. We were there two months this summer seeing the sights, and visiting and helping family there. This Wheeping Willow, which was at the back of the park, is the largest I have seen. I gave it the name Grandpa Willow (seemed to fit) and a grown person only comes to the top of the word Grandpa in the drawing.

I first started this picture because I wanted to show how big the cottonwood trees were in the RV park. Most of the park was shaded by these trees. The trailer here is not mine but is about the same size (31 feet). The trees make the trailer look much smaller. The trailer steps I drew in very dark so that they are easily visible. Female cottonwood trees produce big balls of fluff 6 to 8 inches in diameter. It "snowed" on and off the whole time we were there.

This tree rose belonged to one of the full time residents at the RV park. The pot is red and the roses are red and white. I was surprised to learn that it stayed out all winter in freezing weather and snow, and lived. I thought they would freeze since the main part of the tree is above ground. There were tea and miniature roses all over the park. Many full timers there planted all kinds of flowers. Was a really interesting RV park.

All three sketches were done with a Bic ballpoint pen in my 6x9 inch homemade sketch book.

Journal Your Worries Away

2009-10-26T15:13:00.000-02:00

This project came about from a prompt from a journaling group I belong to. You write your worries down on the paper then paint over it and put happy things on top. I did this to learn. I did not think I had any big worries, but found out I did as I wrote them down. This was a journey of learning in many areas. I learned I needed to remember where my peace originates. I also need to remember that each day is a day that I can start over new. Transformation and renewal became the theme, thus the butterflies. It also has another meaning as I get a new life at painting. The painting is from a time I tried to paint but had no way to share or learn. Now I get a second chance to paint and can learn from and share with all of you. The butterfly picture is watercolor. The background on both pages is acrylic. This was done in my composition journal. The writing is a black Sharpie.

Butterflies & Flowers -- Watercolor

2009-10-26T14:15:00.000-02:00

Sometimes you see something that you just have to draw and paint. This was one of those pictures. I loved the arrangement and colors on a card my mother gave me. It has been hidden in a drawer for twenty years. It is from that time period that I started painting, but gave up because there was no way to share with or learn from others. Today I can share it with you.

Victorian Crackle Window -- Watercolor Journal

2009-10-22T17:01:00.001-02:00

I love drawing architecture ( especially Victorian) and these windows caught my attention. It wasn't until I was well into the picture that I realized that there were letters on the window. Took a while to figure out they were A & O = Alpha & Omega. I call them crackle windows because that is what they look like until you get close and find they are really stain glass windows with very small pieces of glass very randomly put together. This was painted using watercolor pencils.

Everyday Matters Challenge #29 Draw Something Architectural

2009-10-19T18:38:00.000-02:00

On the way to Utah to see family we stopped at a little tourist town. It had all kinds of quirky, ornate, and one of a kind Victorian storefronts. The weather was cold and rainy. Thus, I had to sketch this one inside the store across the street looking through their front window. It is just the upper part of the storefront. I was sketching fast holding my sketch book in one hand and drawing with the other. I was not happy with it at the time. Later I inked it in with ball point pen and it helped. Still just a fast and raw sketch, but it was interesting trying to sketch on location with people all around.

Victorian House -- Pen & Ink

2009-10-16T20:53:00.000-02:00

Did this one in pencil a few months back, but could not decide what I wanted to do with it. I ran across it the other day, and decided to do it in ink (Sharpie). A few lines suffered from my freehand tracing. I had fun playing with the shading and shadows. I love Victorian architecture. The homes are usually so elegant. The inspiration for this came from a picture in a book.

Portrait of a Pink Rose -- Watercolor

2009-10-14T16:16:00.000-02:00

A tea party (see previous post) needs flowers and here's a rose. This is the first rose I ever painted, and I finally get to share it with others who love art too. It was painted 20 years ago and is part of the paintings I just found again. They are from the time when I painted in watercolor and quit because there was no one to share it with. What a blessing to have all of you who are interested in others endeavors and encourage them. Roses are my favorite flowers. This was painted from a photograph I cut out of a magazine.

Everyday Matters Challenge #32 Draw a Teapot-- Watercolor Journal

2009-10-13T14:16:00.000-02:00

If we have a teacup (previous post) we need a teapot. I love everything to do with tea (the tea itself, the beautiful teacups, the silverware, the teapot, and even the dressing up for formal teas). I love to have tea with a friend in our homes or in a tea house. Even love tea luncheons. Any excuse to participate in the ritual of slowing down and enjoying the presence of others. Even a personal cup of tea gives you the opportunity to slow down and contemplate life in a different way.

Everyday Matters Group Challenge #4 Draw A Cup Watercolor Journal

2009-10-11T16:47:00.000-02:00

I would drool over this very expensive girly girl pattern at the big mall stores. Knew there was no way I could ever afford it. Then found it at Sam's Club greatly reduced. As I was writing about this in the above watercolor journal this scripture came to me "Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalm 37:4.

Church Windows View From Inside - Watercolor

2009-10-09T12:54:00.001-02:00

I drew this for the new group just formed "Drawing in Church" which is for posting pictures doodled in worship service or drawings of any type of religious architecture. I love church architecture especially church windows. They can be very beautiful. I drew them in a loose manner (i.e. none of the lines are perfectly straight).

Everyday Matters Challenge #244

2009-10-08T23:17:00.000-02:00

The oldest thing I found in my frig. was Orange Marmalade (i.e. Orange Jam/Jelly). I could not resist putting a couple of other things I had in the kitchen into the picture. Makes it more interesting. Love the bear. She has traveled all around my house. She also has traveled out of my house (to my grand daughter's) and back again. Orange marmalade is delicious with biscuits.

"First Painting" Composistion Journal

2009-10-08T14:29:00.000-02:00

Imagine my excitement when I found the first picture I painted (with color pencil) that started my current interest in painting/drawing. I made a copy of it and pasted the copy in my composition journal to remember this event. It was painted for a Bible class to teach what Alpha and Omega means in the Bible. The "W" is another way to write the Omega symbol/letter. Alpha and Omega is another way of saying God is the source of everything, and is this is equal to the "I am the true vine" (i.e. true source). Thank for letting me share this with you.

Asian Pillow Art -- Watercolor Journal EDM Challenge #243 Draw a pillow

2009-10-05T17:18:00.000-02:00

I love these pillows. Though we bought four as a birthday gift for our son, only two have survived several years and three kids. I'm glad the Everyday Matters challenge was to draw a pillow. Now I have the memories of these pillows recorded, so when the last two give up I will still be able to enjoy them. They are definitely works of art in themselves. Painted with watercolor pencils.

Lily Ponds-- Composition Journal EDM Challenge #116 Draw something green

2009-10-05T16:53:00.001-02:00

When I started this journal entry I did not know that it would come with a poem. Have always loved the beauty and serenity of lily ponds. The poems says"Lily Ponds. One of God's Creations, Serenity- Beauty, Flowers Bloom, Leaves Unfurl, Continual New Life. The Sun Shines, Warming the Skin, The Winds Blow, The Waters Move, Bringing Peace to the Soul." This was painted in Acrylic. The poem is on a piece of paper I painted and glued in. The white streaks on the paper in the background are suppose to be there.

White Cat in Watercolor

2009-10-02T21:49:00.001-02:00

Twenty years ago I painted in watercolor for a little while, but gave up when there was no one to encourage or share my love of art. To have people today to share my love of art is wonderful. I just came across my paintings from twenty years ago and wanted to share some of them with you. This is the last one that was painted back then.

Everyday Matters Challenge #76 Draw a flower

2009-10-02T10:52:00.000-02:00

My inspiration came from a picture I cut from an advertisement. I was able to practice doing glass, velvet ribbons, shading, shadows, and transition from above the vase to inside the vase. The shadow cast by the vase does not show up well here, but there is one to the right. This was done with color pencil.

Compostion Journal: RED WHITE & BLUE

2009-09-30T15:26:00.000-02:00

This is my second page in my composition journal. I did not have this planned out before hand (style or subject). It just evolved. Painted in acrylic. The paper flag and ribbon are glued on. It says: "RED WHITE & BLUE. Color of the Flag, Color of the Blood Shed, Bandages Applied, and Oceans crossed over of our American Veterans." It is a tribute to my husband who is one of those American Veterans.

Watercolor Journal Everyday Matters Challenge #242 Draw a figurine

2009-09-28T20:23:00.000-02:00

I had wanted to draw this figurine before, but It took the EDM challenge to make me sit down and do it. I drew it in my watercolor journal (not in my composition journal). My watercolor journal is also something I had wanted to start for a while, and have finally done so now.

First Journal Page

2009-09-26T17:29:00.000-02:00

I have wanted to have a journal for a while and just now have started it. The picture is of the moon and the stars. This is a memory that I recorded of when I was in Arizona in 2007. The inset says- "Moon & Stars. The Heavens Declare The Glory of God Psalm 19:1. The above quote came to me in 2007 after seeing the extreme number of stars in the Arizona night sky (which are not visible at home). I never knew there were so many. I was actually in shock for the first few minutes." This was done in acrylic paint on the paper in a composition notebook. Was fun to do.

Everyday Matters Challenge #21- Draw something old

2009-09-25T15:18:00.001-02:00

I painted this in acrylic from a photo of an Arizona sunset that I cut out of a travel magazine. I loved the colors and subject matter. The Saguaro Cactus does not even begin to grow "arms" until it is about 70 years old. The ones seen here are over 100 years old and the Saguaro can live to be over 200 years old.

Everyday Matters Challenge #24 Draw a piece of fruit

2009-09-24T07:15:00.000-02:00

The inspiration for this drawing came from a picture I have, artist unknown. I loved the interplay of colors on the grapes of the picture. It seemed to be the perfect picture to practice on with my color pencils.

Everyday Matters Challenge #178 Draw something red

2009-09-24T06:56:00.000-02:00

This vase was done in color pencil. The original is from a book about learning color pencils at my local library. The book had this as part of a larger picture to draw.

Everday Matters Challenge #179 Draw an Onion

2009-09-21T13:33:00.000-02:00

This picture evolved as I drew it. Things kept getting added to it. The above are some of the South's (USA) summer comfort foods- pork & beans, cucumbers, and Vidalia onions. The Vidalia (pronounced Vi-DELL-yah) onion , I learned, is the state vegetable of Georgia (my home). Vidalia onions were discovered in the 1930's growing near Vidalia, Georgia. The low sulfer content of the soil in the 20 counties around Vidalia, GA. produces an extremely sweet onion. The onion's name is now copyrighted and is Federally protected. Only onions grown in those twenty counties can be called Vidalia onions. So, if you have eaten a Vidalia onion, you have eaten a very southern specialty.

Everyday Matters Challenge #241 Draw what you see from your kitchen window

2009-09-21T13:11:00.000-02:00

For a couple of days I had been looking out my kitchen window into my backyard at the above- planning the picture. When I finally had time to draw, I had to rely on my memory to draw the picture, since it was 10pm at night and very dark and rainy outside. However, I had to go online and find a picture of the bench to be able to draw it. I didn't memorize its shape when I was planning the picture. I also was going to use watercolor on it, but fell in love with how the black and white sketch looked by itself. It was fun to do.

Everyday Matters Challenge #100 Draw a Landscape

2009-09-19T19:34:00.000-02:00

This mountain sunset landscape was painted from a photograph that I saved from an advertisement. The photograph with all its variations in color has always intrigued me. I have wanted to paint it for a long time, but was intimidated by its complexity. Since watercolor pencils make it easier for me to control the paint, I decided to use them for my first try at painting the photo.

EDM #219 Draw A Window

2009-09-16T17:38:00.001-02:00

This window comes from a storage shed at Lazy Days Campground near St. Louis, Mo. This little storage shed (above) was decorated and landscaped so beautifully that I had to draw and paint it. The window is a stained glass window just mounted to the outside wall. The whole campground catches your attention when you drive in with all the landscaping around the buildings. Both pictures were done with pencil, fine point Sharpie, and watercolor pencil on heavy weight mead academe sketch paper. The storage shed was fun and exciting to do because it is the first picture I ever painted on site.

First People Sketch EDM #129 People Doing Something

2009-09-14T19:55:00.000-02:00

This is my first try at sketching people in real time. I was just trying to get the essence of the people and the event- a chili dinner in our camper first night in Casper Wyoming. We were traveling with three other couples and their campers, but ours was always the place where everyone ate when we had a communal meal. There are also two unseen people sitting on the couch at the right-they were out of my line of sight as I sketched. I used a Bic ball point pen. During the trip out west I discovered that sketching with a ball point pen is actually easier and quicker than using a pencil. When I use a pencil, I want to go back to make it perfect, and it takes forever to draw anything. With the pen I just draw.

Everyday Matters Challenge #217 Draw an Umbrella

2009-09-11T17:10:00.000-02:00

This was done on the road while I was traveling to see western U.S. and family. Just now have had time to sit down to scan and post to my blog. This umbrella is typical of most umbrellas after use- it's dripping all over the floor. This was done with watercolor pencil, regular pencil, and a fine point Sharpie marker on a Heavyweight Paper Mead Academie Sketch Book.

Everday Matters Challenge #214 My Favorite Hobby

2009-06-01T22:54:00.000-02:00

The challenge was to produce something that represented my favorite hobby. Thus, I had to do my garden. The picture is only a simple representation. The colors and textures of my garden are there along with my bird bath fountain. This is the first time I have painted a garden in watercolor and painted in so soft in tone. This is done on 9x12 sketch paper with pen and watercolor pencil.

Everyday Matters Challenge #220 The Moon

2009-05-31T20:29:00.001-02:00

This is the first night time painting I have done. I had to research pictures on the internet to see what the colors were at night. The different photos showed various blues, purples, black, yellow, orange, but not always in the same picture as I have done here. Everything except the black mountains and plain were done with watercolor pencils. The mountains and plains I did with opaque watercolor to save time. I love saguaro cactus and this seemed like a good picture to put one in. This was done on 9x12 sketch paper.

Everyday Matters Challenge #223 Favorite Sound

2009-05-29T20:55:00.000-02:00

My favorite sound is a violin. I have one and play it occasionally. Somethings it sounds wonderful, sometimes it sounds like its in pain. But nevertheless, it is still my favorite sound. This was done with pen and watercolor 9x12 on sketch paper. The violin is next to a red curtain. The watercolor was produced with watercolor pencils.

Everyday Matters Challenge #224 A Pitcher

2009-05-29T00:00:00.001-02:00

This pitcher was a Christmas present to me from my husband several years ago. He saw me drooling over it at the store and surprised me with it. It is a solid white pitcher with acorn and leaf design. This painting was done with pencil and watercolor (which was produced with watercolor pencils) 9x12 on sketch paper. I thought that blue shadows would show off the acorn and leaf design more colorfully than gray shadows. Blue is my favorite color so this was extra fun to do. I really am enjoying the opportunity to get more experience in drawing and watercolor.

Everyday Matters Challenge #225- something sticky

2009-05-27T18:53:00.000-02:00

This was an interesting challenge-draw something sticky. I have never done anything like this before, but the challenge sounded like fun. From my shelf I picked two sticky interesting shaped bottles of syrup and molasses. The tea cup was added to give the picture some contrast and interest. This was a lot easier and more fun than I thought it would be. The picture was done with pen and watercolor on 9x12 sketch paper . The watercolor was done with watercolor pencils- a new medium for me. They make watercolor for small pictures easier for me.