". Arranged Words: watercolour
Showing posts with label watercolour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label watercolour. Show all posts

13 Feb 2024

Wintering in Colour



Hi everyone,

I hope you all had lovely, happy holidays!

Of late, over this way, I've been puttering about, enjoying painting and experimenting with different mediums. An overall quiet time--winter works for cocooning in place with good books, paints, yarn and, of course, tea. Where would the world be without tea?

This year, February barged in with a bang. The earth moved!

 We have had two small earthquakes over the years. The first one was more severe. The noise was unbelievable with the loudest cracking sound I ever heard. It reverberated for  a minute or two. Your mind turns--where to run to--what to do. Thankfully, it stopped. Always good to have a plan or two in place.

Did you watch the Superbowl? Is that even an admissible question? Fair weather fan here. Enjoyed chicken chili, and watched the half time show. 

Pastel on pastel mat paper.

             
 Thanking Jesse for these beautiful blue pastels.
 Watercolours-Sennelier and three Daniel Smith's. Always fun to mix greens, but Daniel Smith's sap green works well with a hint of red mixed in to tone it down.               


           
                                                  
 The three colours in the last row are Daniel Smith's.  Love the Opera Rose, although it is a fugitive colour.
                                 


A little grocery store bought colour oasis.


Scraps of paper will do when you don't have a lot of time, or you may want to paint quick daily paintings.  As you can see, the painting on the right is halved because I put the lane almost in the middle. A definite no no. (She lives and sometimes learns.) 

* * *
Books:

What an amazing book this is. Not hard to know why it won the Pulitzer.  In a you tube interview with Richard Powers, he said he researched the book for six years. And while it's a work of fiction with a cast of human characters, trees are, in my opinion, the main characters. 

I've always loved trees; was surrounded by them in my childhood, and if you been reading here awhile you will know that I love to be in the woods. It's difficult not to feel sad when watching land being cleared. Now more than ever because there aren't that many tracks of treed land left. 
  
In case you are interested, besides this book, a couple of recommendations are: The Wild Trees by Richard Preston published in 2008, and more recently The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohellben. 

Netflix has bought the rights to The Overstory, so we can expect an adaptation sometime-- can't locate a time line just yet.
After reading these books, I could go on and one. But I will say there's no doubt in my mind that we walk among miracles. Trees are a community.  They help each other out. They are so remarkable it's mind boggling. 
Definitely a crime to cut old growth forests, especially the giant red woods; as you probably know, they can be 20 or 30 stories high and they have likely graced us with their presence since say 786 or longer! 


Speaking of miracles, my Echeveria elegans is blooming


Enjoy the week


And Happy Valentine's Day!


Cultivate Your Dreams

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5 Sept 2023

All About Summer



Brockville in the Thousand Island.

Sails up ready for fare winds! Or was he/she just in a really hurry for lunch and a cool drink.

Hi everyone,

Labour Day raced by and I am happy to report we are still in the throes of summer.
Although autumn brings with it so many wonderful sights, sounds, smells, and well, just so much beauty, I like to hang onto summer until the equinox on September 22nd. Autumn can wait.

As you know, August always rushes in the front door and out the back door before you can say jack rabbit it seems. But it did make a pit stop for my birthday. Yes! Completed another milestone trip around the sun. I'm happy to report my birthday was a red letter day too!

 Moving on...I do have a name for the draw, but more about that later.

 
 
 Oh, photo might have been clearer...

As you can see, I was at a red light in a purple and green, backfiring (putt, putt) standard jalopy on a very steep hill--need I say more.


                         
       Just love doors/beautiful entryways. This one in particular looks so cheerful and welcoming. It is a hotel, so a lot of signage going on, but nevertheless I love how it looks. And how about those reflections in the window.
I could easily spend a night there, I reckon.


    
    Took a stroll down this street because one of the windows in this old wall holds a surprise that I've been wanting to get a photo of.


 
And here they are--horses of all things! What a in your face look.  Could they be stallions with something to prove?

        
                                            A front garden. 

 Although bountiful, and even though it isn't really small it brings to mind a quote from the Pride and Prejudice movie: "You have a very small garden, madam." 


Brilliant idea to create levels.


                                                                 
                                                                              * * *
 
From the sketchbook...
 

First time using Etcher sketchbooks. Rather good sketchbooks, I'd say.

Painted using some metallic and regular watercolours on a background of indigo.
I've been watching a few you tube videos on indigo dyeing. An artform in itself.
                    At some point, I will make a card out of this, I reckon.

 ~ And now to the draw. Drum roll...please Figaro! Oh, Figaro... F-I-G-A-R-O

Figaro the Magnificent fired up the random number generator and... he's happy to announce that the winner is: Marilyn. Figaro insisted on two winners. He loves giveaways! 
So the Second winner is: Jeanie. (Second winner will receive same print but one card will be different.)
Please contact Dixie with your addresses via email/contact form, so she can zoom down to the post office in the jalopy (asap) with your packages.

 A big thank you to all for your lovely comments on my last post and for your visits. You are appreciated.

Until next time...

                                               Cultivate your Dreams

                                  Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. 

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4 Apr 2023

Spring or Thereabouts

                                                       
Hi Everyone,

 Now in the early morning, the sun lights the prisms and they dance on the wall.  And in these parts that means spring.  But from the ice and snow still about, you can see that, here in Canada, winter tends to hang on, sometimes, a little longer than necessary. But it is so wonderful to feel the warmth of the sun and enjoy longer days.

Yesterday, we went to the Sugar Bush where Maple syrup is made. What a busy spot. Too busy to hang about waiting for breakfast, and the snowy trails were over flowing with people as well.  Although there was no hope of getting served breakfast before closing time, it was nice to see everyone out and about enjoying life. 

Also made a trip to the marsh. We saw a lot of robins. They were looking for a tasty morsel or two. Not easy for them to find food just now. Unfortunately, I didn't have any raisins with me. Did have sunflower seeds for the hungry chickadees, Starlings, and the squirrels were happy to see us too.



                                                             Garden Centre Easter delights.  


                                                    All that colour! It makes my heart sing.

                 Couldn't resist buying, probably, too many plants. (Is that even possible?) 
                Absolutely love the miniature African Violets dressed up in their polka dot pots.

                                 
                        Saw painted candles somewhere, so wanted to give it a go. As you can                                                              see I got a little off course. 
                                                      
                                                              * * *
 Really enjoying the linocut printer makers art I've happened upon lately. They are amazing!
 Besides Angela Harding, John Bloor is also a wonderful printer maker. 
 A link to his Etsy shop here


                                                
                                                          Stone Harbour by John Bloor  
                                                           Couldn't resist this one. 

                                       
                                                     An inspiring book. Oh to be half so good.
                                    One of these days I will dig out my carving tools.

                           

Found this embroidery kit on Etsy. Love to knit, but, for now, this is much easier on the hands.
  Made the needle minder a few years ago from paper clay; it's finally getting used.

                                                 Watercolour on Fluid 100 paper. 
                     
Because of Blogger's fickle ways, I wasn't able to leave replies to your comments here on my last post. Perhaps this time. I do thank you all for your lovely comments. 

                               I hope you all have a very Happy Easter!

                                         Cultivate Your Dreams 

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28 Jun 2022

Sun Print Botanicals

 


Cyanotype on 140 lb. hot press watercolour paper. 

Hi everyone,

Cyanotypes or the blueprint process has been around since 1842, but, somehow, I am just catching up with it. One look at Cyanotype prints and I felt inspired enough to give it a go. It has taken me away from painting for a while, but I've had fun messing around with different leaves, compositions etc. 

A couple of years ago, I also tried eco-printing. Many people use the stove top method. i.e. A big pot, filled with water with several rusty nails thrown in. The 
leaves and flowers are rolled in paper or material and then tied together and simmered for one to two hours. Since I didn't have any old pots or rusty nails, (can do without the nails) or, the other method, a heat press, I used alum (mordant) and vinegar, and I steamed ironed the material between two Teflon sheets. Initial blog post here.

                                                          Eco-printing/Botanical Prints
 
         Interesting to see what colours arrive on the paper and what flowers and leaves print the best.
                              The heat press or stove top method would enhance the colour.

        
      This print was very light, so I used  watercolour and pastels to pump up the colour.

A while ago I bought a beautiful, vibrant eco printed bunting from an Etsy shop. I think the seller uses a heat press to make her prints. That beautiful bunting rang my botanical printing inspiration bells again. So, who knows, maybe this fall, (never say never) I may try the stove top method. Also, I recently found out that steaming for about 15 minutes will work well for fabric, especially if iron mordant is used. (More research needed.)

In the meantime, I will continue to experiment with the beautiful blue Cyanotypes. The possibilities seem endless.

   Image made from Buttercups, Solomon Seal berries and a feather.
                            
This print was made on bought prepared paper. I do love the light blue colour. It reminds me of the old airmail paper that I loved so much. I tried a few more with that paper and most are too light. Since the exposure time was the same, perhaps the paper didn't receive an equal amount of liquid. 

A mixture I used on rough watercolour paper. There's a bit of texture.

                                                       Taken along the Parkway on an idyllic day.


Just had to try printing photo negatives too. I love this print! It looks mysterious. The clouds are amazing even though the negative slipped in the frame and lost the top of a few trees. "The process of making is a learning tool." Not sure where I read that quote, but how true it is.

Also thinking of printing a portrait of my grandmother. In the future, I hope to print on fabric too. At this point, I have a particular item in mind.


                                               On hot press watercolour paper. 

                      I added an ounce of three volume peroxide to the water to deepen the blue, but that wasn't necessary.  Looking ahead, I would like to add more depth and texture to the blueprints as well.



After 5 minutes in the sun, but before the water bath.








Bookmarks

The Cyanotype or the blueprint process has an interesting history. It was invented by John Herschel in 1842. You can read about it here.

       I am happy to say that I was out walking twice last week. What a relief! 😌 After a year, my foot is much better but still not 100%. A word to the wise: pamper your tootsies lovely people.



"Til next time...Cultivate Your Dreams!

 Linking to Link Parties via my link party page. 

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7 Jun 2022

The Art of Nature

Hi Everyone,

It's been a while. I hope you are all doing well.

May was a busy and fun month for me, although not without a few bumps in the road.

Early in the month, I bought a point driver and set about learning how to frame a few of my paintings, complete with dust cover and bumpers. I did learn a thing or two. Such as: check the size of the screws, if too long they could puncture the frame. (Who would want to make that error.)  A faux pas for sure. (You've got to love the French. Somehow faux pas sounds so elevated—almost noble, in fact.) So much better than an epic blunder. I also found out that the mats in store-bought frames are generally for portrait mode and are 1/8-inch weigher on the bottom. Who knew?

Anyway, to shorten a long story, I did ruin a lovely frame. When I realized my mistake, I took a few deep breaths, strolled outside to admire the flowers, and, well, eventually carved out enough space to laugh at myself. I reckoned, that the blinding light of perfection touches just a few people. And perhaps those are angels.

The art exhibition that I attended in May was beautiful. There were many lovely, inspirational pieces of artwork to see. There was also a wonderful student section. Unfortunately, photos were off limits.

      
Harmony
   
                    Approximately 7.5 x 7.5 in. With frame approx. 16.5 x 13. 5 inches.


                                           Lakeside Reflections   

                   Approx. 9.5 x 7.5 in. with frame approx. 15.25 x 12.25  

                                                                        * * *

Weeping Willow Pond

At this time of year, here in Canada, the world dresses up in so many glorious shades of green; the colours make my heart sing.

If you've been reading here for a while, you will know that I wax on about the colour blue, but green does ring bells too. After all it is the colour of nature, and I love nothing better than to be outside soaking up all the world's beauty, especially in the freshness of spring.

  

Don't cha love how the light and shadows and reflections play on the water? I could sit here for hours, but..the mosquitoes love it too, so I had to move on. Luckily, for me, the frogs were busy catching lunch, so that helped a bit.

                         Spring flowers: Trout Lily, Bloodroot, and an early blooming of wild Honeysuckle.

 

 
I thought I'd share this gadget. A friend of mine told me about this sturdy little Foldable Bucket Brush Washer that clips firmly in place. It could also be used for beads as well, and who knows what else.
But it's also handy for watercolour or gauche paint. Once the Sennelier tube paints dry, I can 
use it on my desk to save space or toss it in my bag and go. So far, I love it.

I have a few new projects on the go. In late May, I planted 19 garden containers. Because it's been so warm, the Nasturtiums, Sweet Peas, and Morning Glories that I planted from seed are growing like weeds.  But Jack Frost can sprinkle his glitter about in June, so I am keeping a wary eye out. 

 I  also have two pastel paintings on the go, and I just started to knit a linen top. More about those next time.

Nasturtiums 



Flower doodles on a salted watercolour background.

                                               Cultivate Your Dreams.

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