Tag Archives: Watercolour

Wise Words

26 Sunday Feb 2012

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Wise Words
Day 20 of 21 days of watercolour journaling.
What did I set out to accomplish by  taking up the challenge of doing 21 watercolour journal pages?  Well first and foremost I wanted to get into the habit of taking time to actually do a visual journal.  I think the thing that motivated me to take time, was that I reached a significant milestone in my life.  I turned 60!

However, along the way I received a whole lot more than just discipline to take the time.  The women I met are wonderful,  The wisdom, grace, and kindness they showed to one another was the most touching thing that I’ve experienced in my life in a very long time.

So, I’ve turned a new chapter in my life.  I’ve vowed to myself that I will take more time for me.  That I will look after myself in body, mind and spirit.  I’m going to take care of me first, because I can’t take care of anyone else If I’m not in good shape. This is not a selfish endeavor.  I am going to be the best friend I ever had.

I’m so going to miss the group of wonderful people I’ve been working with over the last month.  I do hope that they keep in touch here on our Flickr group.

Tape as a Resist Study

25 Saturday Feb 2012

Posted by in abstract, Art, Jorunal, Watercolour

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This is an experiment using tape as a resist. Working in layers allowing the washes to dry, and removing replacing tape. It takes patience to wait till the washes are dry before removing the tape. I will probably do more experimenting with this method.

Nana’s Boy

24 Friday Feb 2012

Posted by in Art, Doodles, Jorunal, Portrait

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This is my favorite photo of myself, and my grandson. I could choose no other song to accompany this page but a relatively obscure song by Cat Stevens, I’ve got a thing about seeing my grandson grow. Have a listen!

Oh, and no watercolour was harmed in the making of this picture. But harm did come to some unfortunate Prismacolor Brush tip markers. :P

Mighty Lak a Rose.

23 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by in Art, Botony, Flowers, Watercolour

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by Frank Lebby Stanton

Sweetest l’il feller,
Everybody knows;
Dunno what to call him,
But he mighty lak’ a rose!

Lookin’ at his Mammy
Wid eyes so shiny blue,
Mek’ you think that heav’n
Is comin’ clost-ter you!

W’en he’s a dar a-sleepin’,
In his li’l place,
Think I see de angels
Lookin’ thro’ de lace.

When de dark is fallin’,
When de shadders creep,
Den dey comes on tiptoe
Ter kiss ‘im in his sleep.

Sweetest l’il feller,
Everybody knows;
Dunno what to call him,
But he mighty lak’ a rose!

Lookin’ at his Mammy
Wid eyes so shiny blue,
Mek’ you think that heav’n
Is comin’ clost-ter you!

I have a print of a baby boy by Bessie Pease Gutmann, entitled Mighty lak a Rose. It was inspired by this poem which was also made into a song by Ethelbert Nevin. This sweet lullaby was sung by many artists over the years, including Bing Crosby, and Petula Clark. I went looking for inspiration today, and found a beautiful photograph taken by my friend Margaret. I don’t normally work from photo’s but this rose begged me to paint it. I knew immediately what words needed to accompany the painting.

Orchid: Love, Luxury, Beauty & Strength

22 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by in Art, Botony, Watercolour

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Orchids, originally uploaded by photographerpainterprintmaker.

Orchids have long been one of the most cherished of flowers. They are associated with love, luxury, beauty and Strength.

My father converted a room in the house dedicated to growing them. They were not easy to grow. My dad loved orchids so much that we had a casket blanket made out of living orchids. I had to tell the shop what I wanted. I wanted to be able to take apart the blanket after the ceremony. They shook their heads in confusion, but did manage to do as I asked. Each child was given one of the orchids to take home in remembrance of him.

Dad lived with my hubby and I for the final 13 years of his life. When he passed it was as if someone blew a huge hole in my heart. Then, after 4 years in dormancy the orchid bloomed. I took it as a sign that Dad was telling me it was time to shake off the sorrow. If it were not for this orchid (which I really didn’t take very good care of) blooming, I might still in deep depression. So this plant gave me back the strength to get back into life again. I’ve never looked back.

Gunna Buy 5 Copies for my Mother

21 Tuesday Feb 2012

Posted by in Art, Still Life, Watercolour

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It’s not the Rolling Stone’s magazine cover, but if my work did grace the cover of a magazine I’d definitely buy at least 5 copies. Day 15’s assignment was to design a magazine cover. So, this is what I came up with, with the help of an application called fd’s Flickr Toys. It was fun.

Difficult Times

17 Friday Feb 2012

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Challenges can be overcome, if you keep your eye on the prize. What’s the prize, you ask? For me it’s the joy of knowing that I’ve done all that I could to meet every day head on. Was I always able to do this? NO! Thankfully, when I was young some wonderful positive people came into my life and showed me that you can get through difficult times. Trust me I’ve had more than my share of hard times. But, I choose not to dwell on them.

The apostle Paul wrote a letter to his friends in Phillipa. This verse is only one of many that I hold onto when I am going through hard times.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
Philippians 3:13 (NIV)

In response to Day 10, of 21 days of watercolour journaling.

Step away from the brush!

16 Thursday Feb 2012

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Ok, so I got a kick out of the assignment for day 9. The first thing that struck me with the title “Step Away From the Paint Brush” was that if you didn’t there would be blood shed. Now, I know Donna didn’t mean it that way, but I though it would be humorous to step away from the brush in a comical way.

At first I though well, maybe I will do a decorative page. So I made myself a lino cut stamp of a swirl. I messed with a couple of pages, and it just was not coming together, that is until I had fun with it.

What I used: Pippette, Candle, feather, toothpick, and hand made lino block stamp.

My Perfect Saturday!

11 Saturday Feb 2012

Posted by in Art, Plein Air, Still Life, Watercolour

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Donna posed a question for us for day 5 of the 21 day journal challenge. What would be my perfect Saturday? Well that’s a no brainer for me. Don my hat, grab my paints and head out to commune with nature and capture the country side.

I really wanted to depict my plein air painting, I was just trying to think of how to manage it. Then it hit me! My hat has become part of me, so much so that it’s almost a joke. Like I can’t paint without my lucky hat. I got the hat at the San Diego Zoo when I was out visiting my Aunt Janet, and my Cousin Julie. I keep adding things to it. First it was the feathers from my first trip to the Michigan Renaissance Festival. I love my feathers! Then people started giving me pins, so I keep adding them to the hat as well. I just wish the pins had longer shanks most of them won’t stay on. :(

So, my favorite thing to do on a Saturday would be to go Plein Air painting. But, not alone I have to have all the gang, or at least one friend along with me.