Something Totally Different

No idea what prompted me to look into family crests but I spent awhile looking at those, wedding crests, and mono crests.  I was intrigued by those not traditional with shield and armor and started thinking about what I could come up with that fits me.  And rather than designing all new content, I decided to go through my previous sketches and paintings and use some of my favorites.

This would be classified probably as mixed media digital since I used both digital and watercolor sketches to make this up and designed it in photoshop elements.

This represents my favorite bird which is the hummingbird.  It includes my favorite colors which are greens and golds.  Green represents nature and life and golds represent warmth and comfort.  This "crest" represents my love for art, fishing, gardening, and includes my favorite sketching model, Opal.   And the quote is how I live. 

Printed and placed in a magnetic acrylic block using old stock of Arches Infinity Museum Quality Digital Art printer paper (I found another box I hadn't used yet).  My go to for ATC cards before Canon partnered with Arches and that particular paper is no longer available.  This was always my favorite before finding Red River papers.  The one thing I like about the Arches was the texture of the paper.  Red River Aurora that I purchased is more like a hotpress surface but is bright white and makes your prints pop.  Arches Infinity is a softer white with a coldpress like texture.

Monthly Theme for May 2021 - Items I Tend to Collect

Alexa chose the number assigned to "Items I tend to Collect" which covers quite a few ideas I can sketch this month.  I have quite a collection of pens, various trinkets, and stuffed animals to include my miniature bears.  One of my biggest weaknesses is collecting various cases.  

Most normal women get into buying/collecting dozens of shoes and/or handbags but then no one can call me normal.......ha ha.  I find a handbag I like and I'll use it for every occasion until it falls apart.  And shoes......I have two pairs of dress shoes (navy and black), pair of sneakers until they wear out, and pair of flipflops ... given the choice, I go barefoot.  I never got into matching shoes with clothing or handbags like many women do.  And as for clothing, my wardrobe is very simple with maybe a dress or two, t-shirts, a few blouses, and jeans.

Anyways......for my first example for this theme, I went with a few cases I have sitting right here near me that hold mainly pens but also a few other art supplies to include drawing pencils.

Second to last page in the journal Fay made for me / TWSBI 580ALR with Urban Grey ink / QoR watercolors.

Wood Burning Tool Sketch

After working several wood blanks, I am finding just how much I enjoy using this TruArt Pyrography set the boys gifted me for Christmas.  I have spent several hours burning and the pen handle is comfortable to work with and has yet to get warm.  Not sure I can say that if using high temperatures but the settings I feel most comfortable with do not cause any issues with heat.  I love the fact you can hold this like a pen or pencil close to the tips whereas the solid tip wood burning tools you can't due to heat.

In addition to wood blanks, I have now tried my hand at burning cork and find that I really enjoy how it burns.  Much faster than burning the wood and cleaner and more consistent than burning watercolor paper fibers.

Heat settings I find most comfortable with are 50 for the poplar plywood wood blanks and around 32 for the cork.  And the tip I use most often with these settings is the Universal or standard wire tip.  The other tip is the Flat wire tip and settings for that depends on the amount of shading I want from light to dark.  For now I plan to stick with these two tips until I have more experience.

Sketch worked in journal with old stock of Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper.  TWSBI 580ALR with Lexington Grey ink.  QoR watercolors.

Sketching with WC Pencil versus Graphite

 A few people I know use a watercolor pencil to work their preliminary sketch before inking and adding color.  One I know normally uses a blue-gray and another uses a light brown.  My friend who uses the light brown chooses that color because she prefers to ink using brown ink.  

Out of curiosity I thought I would try using a brown watercolor pencil since I was planning to use brown ink.  I chose a Bt Sienna so I could actually see what I put down on paper.  A lighter brown would have been way too challenging for me to see.  

My goal was to compare using a WC pencil versus using graphite with regards to erasing the lines later, smearing as I worked, and how well the ink flowed over the pencil lines.  

What I found was the WC pencil did not smear like graphite would while working.  The side of my hand or finger did not pick it up like it would working with graphite.  I worked my little experiment on Fabriano Hotpress and found the WC pencil erased easily with a kneaded eraser.  The nib and ink covered over the WC pencil lines with ease whereas it doesn't always over graphite.  

I was encouraged by my findings thinking I might start using the WC pencil more often when working my light pencil sketches UNTIL I used the same pencil on Stonehenge Aqua.  My findings on a different paper surface showed just the opposite.

Looking closely at pencil lines using WC pencil, you can see they did not erase cleanly.  I not only used a kneaded eraser, I also went over with a plastic eraser.  With the remaining pigment embedded in the paper fibers, the WC pencil bled when going in with wet brush and color.

This was a great learning experience for me.  I have learned to just embrace my graphite pencil, smears and all.  At least that can be easily remedied either by using a tissue or paper towel while working or erasing later.

Pencil Case Sketch

This morning I was up early and rather than turning on the TV or playing games, I decided to try and sketch something.......anything.  Instead of looking around hoping something jumped out at me to sketch, I chose to sketch the first thing I saw sitting in front of me, which happened to be my pencil case.

I'm still lacking motivation and this slump I've been in is really starting to bring me down.  I so want to get past it!!

I think part of my problem is lacking purpose for what I do.  It used to be straight forward in my reasons but somewhere along the line, I started questioning those reasons.  Now I'm dealing with a great deal of confusion and just not sure what direction to take to regain a sense of purpose.

This is digital sketching using Procreate and Ipad using the HB brush tool and the Pastel brush tool.

New Pens - Metropolitans

Not that I need any more pens but I treated myself to three Metropolitans after learning they came in other than black or gold like back years ago when I first bought two.  I like the nibs on these pens compared to the Lamy nibs.  Fine nibs in the Metropolitans are like the Lamy Extra Fine nibs but not quite as scratchy.

Although the site says they no longer come with converters, the three I purchased did.  The type that came were the squeeze type converters I've never used before.  Will be interesting to see how well they work and how much ink they hold.  I also purchased the Con40 converters but quickly learning I don't care for them.  They do not hold very much ink.  I'd rather refill an old cartridge than to use those converters.

I have filled each pen with DeAtramentis Document inks of similar colors to the color of the pens for easy identification.

Illustration worked using watercolor pencils dry.  Worked in journal with Fabriano Hot Press watercolor paper.

UPDATE August 4, 2020:  The squeeze type converters seem to be doing OK.  The Con 40 converters are absolutely useless!!!  Other people stating they don't hold much ink is an understatement.  Plus, I find I have to physically turn the piston to push ink up towards the feed in order for it to continue feeding ink. 

Mixed Media - Graphite Sketch Plus Digital Coloring

I thought I would play a bit with the last pencil sketch I worked of the standing fabric pencil cup.  Not wanting to add actual color to the sketch, I decided to import into Procreate, add color, and export back to my computer.  Now I have both a graphite sketch untouched by color and a color version either for digital viewing or printing off and adding to the journal.

First thing I did was erase all the writing.  Added color in layers and then inserted a photo I took of a blank page in a handmade sketchbook with rough textured paper.

One of the things I love about procreate is the blending of colors.  In ways it's like working with oil paint without the mess and fumes.

Standing Soft Travel Pencil Case

A new pencil case that stands on its own.  Second type I've tried and I love them both.  This one has the top portion that slides down into an open cup for easy retrieval of contents and then slides up to close with zipper.  Love the variety offered with colors and patterns.  I prefer these over glass jars or coffee cups I tend to use.......always fearing I'll knock one off the table and it shatter.

Purchased from Jetpens.

Quick pencil sketch in Stillman and Birn Beta sketchbook using Graphgear 1000 mechanical pencil .7 (gifted to me by my sons for my birthday in Oct).

Who is Your Favorite Online Art Supplier?

My top favorite trusted art suppliers:

Fountain Pens / Ink:

Other Art Supplies (in order of ordering preference).  When choosing who to go through, I compare prices first.  Then I look at the minimum dollar amount I have to reach that gives me free shipping.  Another thing I take into consideration is how fast the order is processed and arrives at my doorstep (based on order history).

I used to use Amazon before any other place; but, these days it's difficult knowing if you are purchasing actual name brands or knockoffs.  I've been burnt a few times so I tend to go through these other websites when ordering online.  Might be a little higher priced but at least I feel more confident that I'm getting the real thing. 

As for supporting local businesses, we have a local art supply (DK Art Supplies) that I use occasionally and would love to shop more often; however, for many people, price is a major consideration and often local means much higher prices compared to ordering online.  Those times I do shop locally is when I only need a single item rather quickly or do not have time to wait until I have a large enough order to get free shipping from other sources.  Plus local businesses can only maintain a limited choice of supplies and brands.  DK Art Supplies WILL order anything for you they may not carry; however, if that's the case, it's just easier to order myself.

Pentel GraphGear 1000 Mechanical Pencil Set

This evening, two of my sons treated us to Chinese for my birthday.  My birthday was actually last week but due to work schedules, we normally have to celebrate holidays and birthdays when we can grab an opportunity to be together even if it means days or weeks after the fact (sometimes before).

After we ate dinner, the boys surprised me with this awesome gift I've been drooling over for months but wouldn't purchase for myself. 

Knowing their mother, they knew I'd be sketching using the new pencils and my middle son made a comment that not only would I be sketching, but that I would sketch them...........and of course they were right.  They were not even out of the driveway before I started sketching my gift :-)

The pencils feel great in my hand with a nice weight to them.  I love the lead guard on these that retract when you click the clip on the side.  I am also impressed with the quality of lead........especially the .3 lead which I struggle with breakage in other brands (even with a light touch I'm known for).  I was able to use the .3 on this paper surface and not break the lead.  That's encouraging for when I want to use the super thin lines for hatching.

I also love the color coding that tells me at a glance which lead it holds.

FIbook75x75 / Stonehenge Aqua / Pentel Mechanical .5 / Pilot Vanishing Point pen w/Lexy Grey ink.

Starting a New Journal

I purchased a couple of handmade sketchbooks from a dear friend of mine and started one of the two last night.  

The sketchbooks I purchased are 6 x 8 inches and 7.5 x 7.5 inches.  The 6 x 8 has Fabriano in it and the square format has Stonehenge Aqua.  Since I've been working in my handmade sketchbook with Fabriano, I decided to start the one with the Stonehenge (one of my favorite papers) for a change.

The first page I decided to work a simple color chart of the colors in each of four palettes I alternate using.  Although I basically use the same colors in each brand, they are different either in tone or transparency.  I like to experiment too with brands and this collection has taken years to build.  My Winsor and Newton paints go back to 1992.  Holbein not too long after that after going to class that gave out a few tubes and I purchased other colors I wanted to use.  Daniel Smith came years later and ones I use most with QoR next in line.  

Second and third page I wanted to work a comparison with different pens and inks...to include the hacked fountain pen with the Zebra G nib.  The TWSBI Eco has a dryer feed and after doing this, I will probably load it with a darker grey ink or even black versus the Urban Grey now in it.

And today we learned two of our new rooted trumpet plants have a flower growing on each.  Took photos and immediately came inside to make this entry in the sketchbook.

New Toy - Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen

I have had my eye on this pen for some time but kept putting off making the purchase.  A couple of days ago, I had it up on my screen again and was showing my husband.  Initially, I was looking up and debating on purchasing another three DeAtramentis ink colors when I went off track pulling the pen back up to drool over.

My husband told me to go ahead and get the pen after my telling him about it and how long I'd been sitting on the decision to buy it; however, I said I would wait since I was considering the ink.

It ended up I ordered three colors of the Document Inks and while I was doing that, my husband went back in his room and later returned saying he ordered the pen since I wouldn't.......lol

Today, I received both orders :-)

Pilot Black/Gold Vanishing Point with Fine Nib.  What a beauty!!!  And what a joy it was testing it out with my first sketch (seen below).  I was a little skittish sketching with it due to the gold nib.......fear of damaging the tines.  But I chose to work on a smooth paper surface.  I have a light touch anyways with fountain pens and with the wet feed of this Fine nib, I realized I didn't have anything to worry about.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around a retractable nib.  I keep finding myself attempting to remove a cap to use the pen and looking for cap to put back on.

DeAtramentis Document Inks - Love all three colors!!!!

First sketch in Stillman and Birn Zeta sketchbook / pen loaded with DeAtramentis Urban Gray / Qor watercolors.

What's Next

Although it's probably just silly superstition, it's seems to always play out to be true for us when something bad happens, it comes in three.

First it was the refrigerator and now it looks like our vehicles.

Wednesday evening Terry went shopping for groceries and came out to his truck only to find it wouldn't start.  My first thought was the battery but we didn't have cables on either vehicle to test that out.  He was thinking starter because he thought he heard a clunk sound when he turned the key in the ignition.  I brought him home and Thursday he had his truck towed to Toyota.  As it turns out, it was only the battery and an expensive one at that!!!  Here he was sitting in a parking lot where Advance Auto sits and could have had a choice in batteries at I'm sure a lower price.  Oh well.  The positive to this.........he FINALLY has maintenance done on his truck while at Toyota.  Something he's been dragging his feet on for over a year.

My SUV has had an ongoing issue with the tailgate.  Started years ago and three trips to Toyota only for it to work just fine when they tested it.  And we always left feeling like idiots because they would just pass it off as needing to hit the reset button on the tailgate.  Each time following the trip to Toyota, we'd get home and it would not operate correctly.  This went on until it reached the point where we had to forcefully open and close the tailgate 90% of the time.

Friday we scheduled for my car to have it's maintenance done (only a few months late) and Terry went to the service manager about the tailgate rather than relying on one of the techs.  We were tired of being put off without them holding onto and really taking the time to check it.  Of course at first try, the tailgate opened and closed just fine.  The service manager said they would test it while doing the maintenance and lo and behold, it failed to open.

Out of three prior trips only one tech bothered to document our complaint and fortunately it was when our car was still under warranty.  The service manager did some research and found this was a common complaint for our year SUV and is submitting for approval for Toyota to cover the cost since it was first reported while still under warranty.  No promises though (and I'm not holding my breath) but we can keep our fingers crossed.  If they don't cover the repair under warranty, we're looking at least $1300 just for the part.  We won't know until this coming week.

So we're asking ourselves, will these two added issues with vehicles be considered #2 or #3...........lol  What's next?

Yesterday was rather uneventful here but my nephew was married up in West Virginia.  I hated we had to miss it!!!  The entire day my mind was on them while I tried to focus on here at home.  At least my oldest son and his family were able to make it and I'm so thankful for that!!  At least someone from my side of the family made it to the wedding.

With yesterday's lack of focus, I at least managed a little illustration of the wedding and then decided to chart my greens for comparison.  I have all these tubes of green paint but normally only grab the Sap Green.

KG sketchbook / Mixed brands / Micron 01

Trying Out Grumbacher Watercolor In and Out Journal Book

Yesterday I stopped at our local art supply shop called DK Art Supplies.  I hadn't been there since they expanded mid last year.

I was really impressed with the layout and how everything was being displayed making it more enjoyable to shop there.

The owner, Dennis, was sharing about the changes and the supplies he carries and letting me know if he doesn't have in stock, he can always order anything we might want.  Then talking about particular graphite between water soluble to standard to Artgraf color graphite bars and kneaded graphite I had never heard of before.  Really interesting what companies keep coming up with.

What I really like about this place and the owner, he's quick to do little demonstrations showing what one can expect with various supplies before you buy.

Then he was showing me the Grumbacher In and Out journals that are spiral bound but pages cut to where you can remove them and then put back in place in any order you wish.

I like the fact you can remove the page for laying flat in the scanner and then return it to sketchbook.

I'd never painted or sketched on Grumbacher paper so I was intrigued and bought a 7 x 10 watercolor journal.  It has 12 pages 140 lb acid free paper which is heavily sized for lifting and blending.  I personally like paper like that with how I work.

These are just a few play examples as I get a feel for the paper surface.  Front has a hilly surface and the back is silky smooth.

So far this is playing a little with watercolor and with water soluble graphite (Wolf's Carbon pencil B).  Also did a quick ink smear test but not waiting any real time before trying to smear.  I wanted to know how careful I needed to be writing or sketching moving my hand around the paper as I worked.

Pencil Sketching

These next two sketches are both worked with Mars Lumograph HB pencil. 

The burlap looking container (which is actually a flower vase) holding sketching supplies started out with intentions of taking pen and ink plus watercolor but I ended up losing myself in the pencil sketch, shading along the way, and just left as is.  There's just something to the sound and feel of the pencil lead on paper I love.  I could go further with darker pencils to build up the values but I decided to stop where I did.  At least the HB does not smudge like the darker/softer pencils do and I didn't feel like messing with a fixative.  The plus...........I can always return and add darker values, if I choose. 

Worked late last night / early morning hours.


Although our group didn't have a planned outing today, I wanted to go back to Discovery Gardens.  Each time we go, something else is blooming and I'm always finding new things I didn't see before.  I sent an email out to a few regulars to let them know what I was doing and invited them to join me........three came making it a really beautiful relaxed time together :-)

At first we weren't sure if we should attempt it or not as it was forecasted to rain starting morning hours on one weather website and afternoon on another.  It was super cloudy looking like it could rain at any time.  We decided to take our chances and so glad we did.  We sketched from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. and it soon after we left, it started to rain.  GREAT TIMING!!!

The morning was cloudy but pleasant.  Low humidity, no blaring hot sun, and cool.  We were able to sit where the cacti grow since the sun wasn't out to chase us away.  I chose the young cactus,  again only using an HB pencil.

Pen/Pencil Case

Today has been one gorgeous day!!!  Sunny, breezy, and low 80s.  Husband was weeding and cleaning up a small garden bed in the back while I supervised (ha ha) and worked off and on sketching this pen/pencil case.

I started the sketch with pencil late last night and added pen and ink today.  Then had to leave it for awhile as I tried to decide on what medium I wanted to use.  I was trying to decide on watercolor or watercolor pencils because of the texture of part of this case.  I ended up using both........watercolor and then taking some black watercolor pencil adding a little bit of texture on the inside part of the case that folds over as shown.

My Everyday Sketch Bag / Handbag

I bought this bag specifically for a sketching bag through Amazon.  I've tried various different bags but this one is my all time favorite.  It's not too big but big enough to carry the essentials I need for sketching.  And as a handbag, I don't normally carry very much with me beyond what I really need....wallet, keys, phone, IB, lip balm........and mace.  I'll often clip a small camera to one of the metal rings to the shoulder strap if I plan to be on a sketch crawl but if I forget, I have my cell phone.

Sketching gear that goes with me everywhere includes:

Thin customized palette made from a NeoColor II crayon tin
Small sketchbook (no larger than 4x6")
At least two fountain pens
Micron and/or sharpie pen
Mechanical pencil
Kneaded eraser
Mini sprayer
Ballpoint pen
Waterbrush
Tissue.

Fabric Traveler's Journal, worked on Strathmore 500 Imperial 140lb watercolor paper / Lamy Safari with DeAltramentis Document Brown ink / QoR watrcolors

Sketch of Cricut Tools Received at Christmas

Not very colorful considering these are all white tools but wanted to record in my journal.  My two younger sons gifted me these tools at Christmas.  In error, they were sent two sets and they decided one can't have too many tools so gave me both.

I have a Scan n Cut machine but these will work beautifully even though a different brand. 

Stillman and Birn Beta 9 x 12 sketchbook / Lamy AlStar with Urban Grey ink

When Your Watercolor Paint Dries Inside Its Tube

Back in 1991 when I first started painting in watercolor, I started out with Winsor and Newton watercolors.  Through the years since then, I've purchased various brands in the pigments I normally use (plus a few others I don't).........building quite an inventory of watercolor tubes.

My Daniel Smith watercolors are not quite as old as the Winsor and Newton and one of my favorites to include pigments unique to it's Brand.  One pigment I like is Buff Titanium.  When I went to replenish the pigment on my palette, I found the pigment was dried solid inside the tube. 

This is what I do when I find pigments dried up (which is more often than not at this point....especially with pigments I don't go through as quickly).  I don't pitch but instead cut the tubes as shown...

Fabriano Soft Coldpress / Lamy AlStar with Lexington Grey ink.

One of My Pen Cases

This is the original pen case I purchased either last year or the year before.  This past Christmas, my sons gave me another one that has an extra compartment.  That one I haven't set up yet but definitely plan to.

Today is not rainy but it IS cloudy and quite chilly outside.  Terry's working and I'm sketching off and on listening to TV. 

Worked in Fabric Traveler Journal on Strathmore 500 Imperial WC paper.  Main pen used was the Lamy AlStar with Lexy Grey ink but then after painting I went back over the lines with my Lamy Safari with Urban Grey.

I actually thought to scan along the way for a change.

I sat for awhile trying to decide how I wanted to work the book the pen case is standing on.  The journal book is a solid black and although I could have painted it any color, I was trying to capture true to life including colors.  That being the case, I didn't want a large area of black so decided not to paint it at all.  Instead I worked the little color swatches for later reference.