Doodling with Pen, Ink and Wash

Using a Pilot Prera with Namiki Black water soluble ink, I worked this page of doodles while watching TV.

Stillman & Birn Alpha journal

3/8" Angular Flat (I can control amount of water with the synthetic flat better than a round when working washes over water soluble ink).

I'm a bit upset at myself because I forgot to scan the page before taking a damp wash to the ink.  I like having both before and after scans.  

Of course I could always re-sketch these illustrations and may do so at some point.

Brush Play with Found Brush Pen

Besides sorting through my books, I'm working to organize my art supplies and probably donate those I seldom use or don't think I'll ever use.

In one of my drawers was this red box with two pens and a single refill received as a free gift years ago in an art supply order.  Looking online, I can't find anything on these pens or how to obtain refills.  I love the pens but not much good if one can't find the refills and I can't see a way to add ink.

Just for fun, I thought I'd see if they even made marks figuring they'd be dried out.  They were indeed rather dry but still made light marks.  If I dipped the tip in water, I could obtain the darks you see.

The ideas for the little illustrations come from a Sumi-E painting book that is in my stack of books to donate.

Stillman & Birn Alpha journal

Taking a Break from Book Sorting - Barns in Pen and Ink

I have taken on the task of sorting through 613 art related reference sources which are mainly books but also include Videos and DVDs.

So far I have gone through 369 books deciding which to find new homes for; those I'm not sure about; and definite keepers.  Out of those 369 books, 263 are being eliminated from my inventory.  I still have a lot to go.

Taking a break this evening, I worked this page of one of my favorite subjects - barn sketches using water soluble pen and ink (Pilot Prera with Namiki Black ink) plus a 3/8" angular flat brush for the wash.  Page is in my Stillman & Birn Alpha journal.

I chose not to add color with this page.  

Tuesday's Doctor's Visit

Again, misjudging time to arrive at my doctor's appointment, I arrived 20 minutes early and chose to sit in the car rather than in the waiting room.

Looking around at a shopping center, I struggled finding something that really jumped out at me to sketch.  Finally I saw part of a house with dormers that grabbed my attention and decided to sketch that until time to go in.

Once I returned to the car, I decided to add to the page the front of the doctor's building since that was the reason I was there in the first place. 

Worked a quick sketch in the car and finished the page at home with color and pen and ink.  With this particular page, I chose to emphasize in color the doctor's office rather than the partial house (where I only suggested with a little color.)

Stillman & Birn Epsilon journal; W&N watercolors; #6 and #8 rounds; Pilot Prera with Lexington Gray on all but the doctor's sign which I used my Noodler's Flex pen with the larger nib and Lexington Gray ink.

On this paper, using the Noodler's Flex pen, I had to use a hair dryer PLUS dabbing several times with tissue to dry or remove the excess ink.  Ink didn't want to settle in the paper fibers choosing to sit on top instead.

Mother's Day Dinner Out

Two of my sons went together to take me out to dinner for Mother's Day.  My youngest gave suggestions since I don't go out to too many restaurants and one happened to be the Golden Corral.  I've never eaten at one that I can remember so I chose to try it.  Was really pleasantly surprised by the quality and good taste of the foods I chose to eat.

Setting a time to meet, my husband and I arrived before the boys did.  Here is a sketch I can look back on as a special memory of my dinner out with two of my three sons on Mother's Day 2013.

Stillman & Birn Zeta journal; W&N plus Daniel Smith watercolors, #8 and #6 rounds and 3/8" angular flat.  Also used my Pilot Prera with Lexington Gray ink.  In one area I in error picked up my other Pilot Prera that has Namiki Black ink that is water soluble.  Fortunately I caught myself after a few marks realizing the lines were darker than the others.

Another Blooming Beauty

This poor beauty is hidden from normal sight to anyone.  Previous owners planted this on the side of the house facing the woods where no one can really enjoy it.  Had I not opened my window that is above the shrub, I don't think I would have realized the show it's now putting on with all it's flowers.

When we moved in over a year ago, it was this small scraggly looking bare mass of branches.  Had no idea what it was.  When mowing, we noticed it had leaves but we didn't realize it also produced these beautiful tubular flowers.  Now we know.

It's grown to about 5 feet (if not longer) with these graceful arching branches and stems just loaded with light and dark pink buds and tubular flowers.

Would be such a nice shrub to have in the front where our humming bird feeders are.  I'm sure the hummers would love that!!!!

Stillman & Birn Zeta journal; Pilot Prera with Lexington Gray ink, W&N Opera Pink; Daniel Smith Quin Rose, Sap Green, Fr Ultram, and Bt Sienna with a touch of W&N Light Red; 3/8" angular and #8 Round

Next Round of Blooms

We've had the forsythia, crab apple, cherry, daffodils, crocuses, and early azaleas bloom.  The dogwoods flowers are about done with the trees filling in with leaves.  In fact we are surrounded now with a mountain top of trees covering their bareness with their leaves.

Along with the spent flowers flying in the air, we are experiencing a "dry snow" of seeds from what we believe to be aspen trees.  We didn't see this happen last year.  And now we are seeing the wormy things hit the ground that produced these fluffy seeds.

At present, the lavender is blooming filling the air with the sweetest fragrance; and finally our rhododendrons are about to display their full beauty.

I LOVE this time of year!!!!!

Stillman & Birn Zeta journal; W&N watercolors, 3/8" angular flat, and Pilot Prera with Lexington Gray ink.

Downtown Fairmont - On Location Sketching

I'm not one who normally goes out "on location" for various reasons to work on my sketching.  I envy those who do and love the Urban Sketching Groups all over the World.  Just amazes me and something I really want to work on personally....getting out and sketching my little part of the world. 

I've driven through town several times seeing wonderful subjects to sketch but parking is a problem with most areas metered.  And for me walking around town is not an option.  BUT, yesterday I had a dentist appointment showing up early and found the perfect opportunity and spot to do some sketching.  It's not the building structures I've seen I'd really like to sketch but at least it's a part of town and I actually did it "on location" :-)) 

From the lot across the street from my dentist, I sat in the car and sketched what I saw to the right of me.  I only had about 15/20 minutes before I needed to get inside. 

Worked with mechanical pencil in the Stillman & Birn Epsilon journal while sitting in the car.  After returning to the house, I used my Pilot Prera and Lexington Gray ink and defined the pencil sketch.  Then using Daniel Smith watercolors and #8 round, added some watercolor to the area I wanted to stand out. 

I really enjoyed doing this and want to do so again!!!  Might not be perfect but it's definitely recognizable to that little piece of world I reside near and travel through to get anywhere.

Bird Feeder - Stabilo Watersoluble Pens

I have had this set of Stabilo pens now for some time but haven't really played with them much.  After my experiment with the dolphins, I decided to work on a larger sketch using just three pens..........primarily brown, black, and the darker gray in my Stabilo set.


This is a bird feeder I see every day outside my window where I spend a great deal of time watching the birds.  Terry built the post high so the feeder sits at a perfect viewing level.  My sketch/painting table is right in front of the window with computer set-up to the right.  Regardless of what I'm doing, I have this wonderful view...........sometimes seeing deer and other wildlife pass by.

For this sketch, I used the brown on the feeder washing out with an angular flat and then went back with the black in some areas.  The trees are done using the dark gray with a few areas touched with the black pen.  These pens lay down ink so smoothly and consistently on the S&B Epsilon paper surface.  Love the washes they provide!