Photographed versus Scanned

Yesterday I worked on a watercolor sketch of my Golden Pothos plant.  As I worked, I took a few photographs over a two hour period as I leisurely worked this sketch.  Out of curiosity, I also scanned as I wanted to compare between camera and scanner with colors and tones. 

My scanner tends to "enhance" making the results a bit more vibrant with more contrast.  It doesn't pick up subtle changes in color variation nor does it do a great job picking up certain blues and yellows.  The scanner also does poorly with natural colors of paper like Arches versus bright white papers often appearing blotchy.

I never felt comfortable using a camera for my artwork because of white balance/color cast due to lighting but at least the camera lens picks up what the scanner does not.

In either case, I'm always having to try and fine tune in Photoshop Elements attempting to match actual tones and colors that I see in my journals.  The worst fine tuning when dealing with photographs being the need to remove the color cast or where part of an image might be brighter than another area. 

Using Camera:

For the photographs, I used my Samsung Note 8 camera.  The first two photos were taken within a thirty minute to an hour time frame so not much change in lighting from the window I was sitting at.  By the third photograph, the lighting was definitely different creating a bluish color cast I definitely had to try and fix.  In doing so, I lost part of the pencil line work of the plastic shelf unit the plant sits on.  All three I had to lighten a bit.  I really do not enjoy dealing with white balance issues.  Maybe if I understood it better and how to avoid in the first place, it wouldn't be so bad. 

Although working to remove color cast, the first two still have a yellowish to gray tone whereas the final photograph still shows a slight blue in the white of the paper.  At least the green colors picked up by the camera lens are closer to the actual colors and variations in the watercolor sketch. 

Using the Scanner:

I scanned twice making adjustments in the scanner's software.  Neither could pick up the green variations the camera lens on my phone picked up.

Left:  Auto correction in software at 24 Bit and 300 resolution

Right:  Turned off Auto setting and changed to 48 Bit and 300 resolution

What the difference is between 24 and 48 in how it affects colors, etc. is beyond me.   Something I'll have to do some research on. 

In comparison, turning off the auto correction picked up more of the blues that actual leaves have however still did not render correctly all the green variations in the sketch.  Both scans picked up more of the green making the results more lively than in the photographs.

The actual colors and tones on the page in my journal would fall somewhere between the final photograph above and the right scan below.......leaning more towards the photograph.

 

My final thoughts: 

I still prefer to scan since I often use my art images for making magnets, note cards, and other craft projects.  Scans are cleaner for printing.  Normally the only adjustment I have to make in Photoshop Elements is in the brightness/contrast controls.  The lighting with scanning is constant.  Just wish the scanner picked up the subtle variations in color that a camera lens can pick up.  For printing, I wouldn't want the texture of the paper to show.

As for the photographs.............even if I used my good DSLR, it makes no difference when dealing with white balance.  It might if I knew how to properly set the camera for different lighting situations that constantly change or had a better artificial lighting setup when taking photos of my artwork.  I do like that the camera can pick up the color variations the scanner does not plus it's ability to pick up the texture of the paper for times I might wish for it to show.......whereas the scanner does not. 

Heart Warming and Sweet

I couldn't pass up working this one in my journal. 

These are my favorite cousin's grandchildren from her two daughters.  The young man in the middle was diagnosed with Leukemia as a toddler, while at the same time my cousin was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.  Both faced extremely low odds of surviving; however, both beat those odds against them.  The Leukemia survivor is now around 10 or 11 years old 😀💖

Journal w/Fabriano Hotpress / Lamy w/Document Brown ink / DS watercolors

Still Hanging On

One more for today..........our Chinese Flame tree, which is a cousin of the Golden Rain tree. 

It's the only almost bare tree we have in our yard.  What stands out to me are the stubborn leaves and a few seed pods still hanging on.  Even after the high winds we had over the last weekend, they refuse to drop.

All the remaining trees on our property are evergreen or are not affected by the colder temperatures we MIGHT have during the winter.  In fact as I look down the road in all directions from my window, there are very few trees looking like this one.

Fabriano Hot Press / Lamy w/Doc Brown ink / DS watercolors

Trying to Stay Warm

Over the weekend our temperatures dropped 30 degrees over night.  Florida winters are crazy with it being in the 80s for a few days and than drop to the 50s or 60s daytime temps.  There was a cold front that moved in bringing gusty winds and cold temperatures.  Yesterday and today daytime temps being low 80s but then we will get another round of cold over the next several days with daytime temps in 60s and night time temps dropping into high 30s and low 40s.  Nice sleeping weather :-)

One of the things I noticed were the doves sitting in our flat feeders......not eating, but instead just sitting with necks tucked close to body as they tried to stay warm.  You'd think they would sit in a tree instead surrounded by leaves rather than exposed to the wind out in the open.

5.5x6 journal with Arches / Lamy with Doc Brown ink / DS watercolors

Loquat Fruit - Stage as of Feb 24th

It's a beautiful sunny morning with temperatures low 60s.  Took notice of how loaded our Loquat tree is with fruit this year.  A few had already ripened but quickly disappeared from what we suspect are birds feasting as the fruit turns orange/yellow.

I've yet to try one that wasn't tart but a lot depends on the variety from what I've read.  Some varieties are sweeter than others.  Might be I'm still unsure when they are at their best/ripe stage.  And I might be pleasantly surprised should I get it right in trying one this time and not be so tart.

Our neighbors love these for making jam :-)

FIbook75x75 / Stonehenge Aqua / Metropolitan pen with Noodlers #41 Brown / DS watercolors

Lemon Buds and Flowers

After six years living in Florida, it still amazes me the number of various plants and shrubs budding and flowering this time of year.

Spent some time outside enjoying the cool weather (60 plus degrees) soaking in the sun.  I walked around looking at all the flowers going strong here in February.  We still have oranges and lemons hanging from the trees with new buds and flowers already forming.  Terry spent the day yesterday clearing off the fruit so that the trees' energy could concentrate on the new growth.  We have three lemon trees and two orange trees and they are such prolific fruit producers that we and our neighbors can only make a dent in what's out there.

This is from the Lemon tree in our back yard.

Journal with Arches watercolor paper / DS watercolors / Metropolitan with #41 Brown.

I actually mixed my greens with Phthalo Blue (RS) and New Gamboge.  I still prefer just using a tube green adding other colors to it but decided to do something a little different.  Where so many artists like the variation with blues and yellows taking precedence in different areas of the green, I prefer working with a more predictable green base.  But that's just me :-)

Watercolor first and then the line work with pen and ink

Unknown Shrub

As I'm playing with various mediums on different papers, I was looking out my window at this shrub with these little clusters of white flowers.  What really captured my attention was the fact some have greenish-white stamens whereas others have red.

The flowers are primarily growing on top and in the front where they get the most sunlight.  The side facing me is bare of flowers.

Wish I could identify this shrub but internet search has not been real successful.


Saunders 90 lb watercolor paper / DS watercolors / Albrecht Durer watercolor pencils / Lamy pen

Added image of the actual shrub........

Playing on Arches 140 lb Watercolor Paper

Trying to use up some of my old paper stock, I made three small journals last year with Arches watercolor paper.

I'm not crazy about using Arches as I prefer a bright white paper.  My scanner has an issue scanning this and any other slightly toned or off white/yellowish paper color.

The Arches was originally purchased for straight watercolor painting before I started using Fabriano many, many years ago.  Today.......I prefer to use pen and ink plus a wash in journals and because of that, this is my least favorite papers.  In addition to the yellowish tint, I prefer a smoother tooth for how I work now.

I'm finding if my fountain pens have a dryer feed, they struggle putting down a nice line due to the tooth.  If a wetter feed, it's not too bad.  So far I've tried two different TWSBI pens with EF nibs, a Metropolitan with a F nib, and a couple Lamy pens with EF nibs.  I feel I have to take care so not to put too much pressure for fear of ruining the tines.  On another page I actually tried a Sharpie F marker pen which didn't fare as well as I would have thought.  Too much skipping unless I moved slow and with pressure.

Original Scan versus color cast fix playing with water soluble graphite and watercolor pencils.

Previous few pages in the journal with Arches as I try the different fountain pens:

Playing on Saunders 90 lb Watercolor Paper

A dear friend sent me some Saunders 90 lb watercolor paper to try out.  I used to use their 140 lb and 300 lb but never tried the 90.  It's been years and I couldn't recall my experience or feelings on using Saunders...that's back when I came across Fabriano and after that stopped using other brands.

Too soon to really say a whole lot but proving to be another I might like to have on hand for when I make future journals.  I still have a lot of playing ahead of me with other mediums before deciding.

Just a few little illustrations done so far testing how it takes watercolor in the way I use it along with a couple fountain pens.  Top with TWSBI Eco EF nib and bottom with Metropolitan F nib.

Walking Down Memory Lane Using Various Mediums

After working the watercolor sketch of Aransas Pass, I was interested in viewing other mediums I've worked to include some of my full size watercolor paintings (safely stored away) I had prints done for ATC cards.  It shows I haven't only worked sketches or strictly in a journal.  I love "journaling" however, so I haven't really done anything recent like these shown here.  I like having my work in books I can sit and flip through and that do not take up a lot of space.

Back in my acrylic painting days (painted decades ago):

My only oil and pastel.  I quickly learned with first attempts that I can't handle the fumes associated with oil painting and I can't handle the dust from the pastels.  I still have the pastel protected between wax paper and cardboard and my brother displays my oil painting:

Watercolor Paintings through the years:

Drawings (which I feel more comfortable calling sketches but back when I actually tried to meet composition rules that I now rebel against......ha ha) in various mediums to include ballpoint, fountain pen, and pencil...one with a watercolor.

The top left is from one of my trips to the UK.  Top right is the back of my house before moving to Florida.  Middle left is where my Nanny (grandmother) lived in Mannington, WV.  Middle right on location sitting outside the funeral home my step father was being viewed before the funeral.  Bottom left also from my trip to Rockport, TX.  Bottom right again during one of my trips to the UK.  The gal I stayed with was also an artist who belonged to the same forum I did for so many years.

The funeral home is definitely more of a sketch but I included it as I remember trying to place things as guidelines say we should.  The others are prints and not just works in a sketchbook.

Sometimes I think about doing more "formal" work but then I remember why I was drawn to working in journals.

Reliving a Memory

Last night I was looking through various sketches I've worked through the years.  Sketches that were more than individual illustrations.  I came across a pencil sketch I worked while sitting in the car during a trip visiting my sister in Texas.

I didn't do much in the way of documenting on my pages back then as it was before I found the Artist Journal Workshop book by Cathy Johnson when I learned about visual journaling including descriptions and titles.

In the mood to paint, I worked this loose watercolor sketch from what I had of the pencil sketch adding a little artistic license to fill in something behind the sign (trying to recall what was there from memory).

FIbook75x75 with Stonehenge Aqua / Metropolitan pen with N#41 Brown ink / DS watercolors

Playing with a Forgotten Pen and Noodler's 41 Brown

Years ago I purchased two Pilot Metropolitan pens.  It was back when I first started using fountain pens and trying various ones out to see which I liked best.

With the trial and error of various pens, I found I preferred the EF nibs and unfortunately, the Metropolitans finest nib was a Fine.  What I failed to understand at the time was that not all similar size nibs are created equal depending on the country they are made, and because of that, I placed the Metropolitans in a drawer and forgot all about them.

After reading a suggestion Cathy Johnson made to a beginner asking what pen she should start out with, I decided to bring one of my Metropolitans back out and give it another try.  Cathy explained that she found the Metropolitan to write smoother than other pens many people choose to use (to include me) and was one of her favorites. 

Following a day of playing, I have to agree.  The Fine on the Metropolitan lays down a line as fine as the Lamy EF nib.  I found it to be smooth even on Fabriano Soft paper my Lamy struggles moving across.  I was pleasantly surprised and may have found a new favorite.

While playing with the pen, I also decided to load it with Noodler's #41 Brown to compare with my other De Atramentis Document Brown ink. 

This next was worked on Stonehenge Aqua 140lb watercolor paper which has a smoother surface than the Fabriano Soft.  The pen just seemed to glide across the paper. 

I first worked an initial outline of the flowers/petals leaving the inside line marks to later.  I wanted to see how the nib would lay down the ink over dried watercolor.  I have found that most often, ink applied afterwards appears to be thicker and darker.   It could be the ink....could be the nib........could be a combination of both....I don't know but I liked how it worked out with this pen and ink combination.  I was able to obtain lines that didn't overly stand out as has happened with other sketches where I applied ink after the color dried.

Cauliflower Prep Tool

Terry does most of the food preparation and a great deal of cooking; although we both cook since we eat very different things.  I prefer to clean the dishes than to cook.........most of the time........ha ha.  Neither of us get into making elaborate dishes keeping our meals quick and easy to lesson the time spent in the kitchen.

For Christmas I gifted him with two kitchen gadgets he absolutely loves with this being one of them.  Normally he uses a very sharp knife but finds this gadget to be easier to use (and safer).

Cauliflower is one of my main foods I eat, along with zucchini, spinach, and now kale.

FIbook75x75 / DS watercolors / Lamy with Document Brown ink

One of Our Regulars

Quick sketch for today of one of our regular hummingbirds that come around the feeder. 

FIbook75x75 (Stonehenge Aqua) / Lamy with Document Brown ink / DS Hooker Green with Lunar Red and Lunar Black (for the granulating effect) and QoR Pyrrole Red Lt, Dioxazine Purple and Ultramarine.

The paragraph to the right of the hummer is a personal reminder when I start comparing what I do with other people I highly admire when it comes to their journal pages.  I will catch myself wishing my pages looked more like so and so (especially with design and layout).  I may feel like putting more effort into designing the page but it's not something I would do on a day to day basis as that's just not my style.


Note to myself:  The eye should probably be a little larger.

Playing with Liquid Pencil

Just to do something different, I took out a bottle of Liquid Pencil that my friend, Clare, sent to me for Christmas back in 2016.  Although not what I'd call liquid, it reacts with water like dried pans of watercolor.  Inside the jar it's more of a soft mass at this point (3 years later).

FIbook75x75 (Stonehenge Aqua) / Sepia

February 2020 Challenge Between Friends - Take for Granted

This month was my turn to set the monthly challenge that Clare (from the UK) and I work together.  I chose the theme "Things We Often Take for Granted."  The challenge is to choose any medium and work three to six items we personally or people in general may take for granted.

At first I thought about using watercolors but chose color pencil since it's my least favorite medium to use.  I find it tedious taking too long to fill in color often leaving me feeling bored and wanting to rush to finish.  I love graphite and you'd think it would affect me the same way but it doesn't.  I don't think using graphite takes nearly as long to work compared to color pencil.  Anyways, being a challenge, I chose to use a medium I avoid using.