Holbein Gouache Color Chart

It's going to be a little while before I can really share my thoughts or feelings using these pigments versus watercolor. 

Right off the one thing I really notice with these is you can "feel" the heaviness when applying to paper.  No surprise considering their opaqueness. 

One other note.........it would take a real heavy application for these to cover, fix a passage or hide an error if using white or other light colors.  At least not with the Holbein.  The white barely hid the light pencil mark of the flower shape.  And if one painted over the covered area this gouache covered, the pigment would "reactivate" and mix with what ever you applied on top.

This chart was done in my Hand-book journal sketch book.  I'm sure the pigment will behave a bit differently on true watercolor paper....especially paper that is heavily sized.  This journal book paper is truly for sketching and absorbs water/pigment quickly.

My note (in case you can't read it) deals with vehicle separation when squeezing color from the tubes.  An * was placed next to those pigments this showed up in.  Been a long time since I've dealt with that.  I had problems with vehicle separation in some of the Winsor & Newton watercolor pigments as well as other brands but I don't recall experiencing that with the Daniel Smith line.

Landscape in Gouache

Today has been quite a relaxing day to where I could do whatever I wanted without feeling I had to be somewhere or work on chores.

I'm part of a small group and each month we set up challenges to try and encourage one another to sketch and paint.  There are actually several challenges each month to include a monthly photo, sky photos (day and evening examples), cameo challenge (doodles or illustrations), and a graphite sketch challenge.  It's been awhile since I've felt up to participating and especially painting.

This is from the June's photo challenge and as you can see the notes, I decided to first do this using gouache since I'm playing with the pigments right now becoming familiar with how they behave (at least in my journal book).

Wing Practice - Gouache

Using Sandy's method of sketching but using gouache instead, I played a bit with wings (and tail feathers).  The idea was to use quick brush strokes so not to over-do or over-work.  I still have a ways to go with what I'm trying to accomplish.  Part might be due to paper I'm using because the paper soaks up the water quickly giving very little time to put pigment to paper and it "move" or disburse as maybe on sized watercolor paper.  Then again it could be the one applying pigment to paper and not the paper at all :)

This is from memory using no reference so anatomy or structure may be off a bit.

Trying out Gouache

I received my set of Holbein Artist's Gouache and thought I'd try a quick sketch playing to see how they do in my Hand-book journal book.

The little building is done wet in wet or more like damp on damp and then a few swishes here and there with color after the initial wash dried.

Also trying out my new Noodlers Flex Pen.  Can't get it to work like I know it's capable of working.  I'm not getting the flex giving variations of marks from thin to thick.  I'm learning you can adjust the nib but haven't found the right adjustment yet.  Or maybe it's not the pen but instead the person trying to use it.  ;-)

As for the gouache.......talk about rich pigment.  I'm used to using transparent watercolor so this will be a new venture / experience for me.  This sample doesn't even begin to portray what these pigments are capable of producing.   Time will tell, I'm sure.

Blue Bird in Watercolor

Except via photos seen by other people, I had never seen a blue bird until we started staying up at my son's property.  Now we get to watch them on a daily basis.

We often see them sitting on the cable or telephone lines as they watch the ground.  Then they swoop down and snatch what ever they might see on the ground.

I love their coloring!

This is watercolor using Cerulean plus Cobalt Blue and Burnt Sienna plus a touch of red.  Indigo with Burnt Sienna was used for darker areas.

Added a touch of 005 Micron pen/ink work for detailing.

This guy was up on our telephone line which is a super dark blue but I chose to leave it light so the feet would show.

Derwent Water Soluble Sketching Pencils

I have had my pencils for sometime and have never really used them with water.  After being asked if I used water with these pencils, my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to do a simple play.

What I found I like is the results being subtle - at least on this paper and using the Light Wash (HB) that I normally use.  Using brush with a little water makes for a nice tone but leaving some texture showing as well.   I'm sure with the darker pencils, one could achieve some dynamic results combining dry marks with areas washed over.  I'm definitely going to play more using the softer pencils considering I love the Ink and Wash look.  Why I haven't up till now is anyone's guess :-D

Another Hummer for Sandy

I love these guys!!!!  I can sit for hours on end watching and photographing them!  And I'm enjoying recording on paper with pencil too :-D

I took several photos of this little guy close to dark a few evenings ago.  He's sitting on the perch of this feeder and it's almost like he's saying "Hi" to me.  He's very vocal too with a chirp here and there as if talking to me.  Unlike the other two.....one being quiet and very shy and the other with his quick excited chirp as if to scold me for being there.


Here are links to my "tools of the trade" mentioned above for those who might like to check them out.

The Hand-book Artist Journal

Derwent Water Soluble Sketch Pencils

Hummingbird Challenge - sketchingeveryday.com

Sandy on www.sketchingeveryday.com has set a new challenge to be completed by Sunday for those interested in following along.  Please do check out her site and give this a try.  Definitely fun to do!!

Reference photo provided by Sandy.

Completed using Derwent water soluble sketch pencil - Light Wash (HB) in Hand-book sketching book.  (love that paper texture for drawing on)

 

Thank you Sandy for the reference photo and challenge :)

Cute Episode Trailer

It's been years since I've watched any TV but here lately I've been relaxing late evenings watching old discontinued TV show series.  One was called Beautiful People from back 2005 or 2006 and then What About Brian.  The episode trailer or whatever they might call it was cute and on the last show, I decided to capture that on paper.

I wonder who might recognize or remember this?

Mouse in the Seed Can

We were cleaning out this metal garbage can we keep bags of bird seed in and at the bottom we found some spilled seed, a corner piece of one of the packages, part of the string to one of the seed bags and a surprise bonus with this little guy........he was adorable!  How he got in there no one knows.  The lid fits tight and we keep a cinder block on top to keep raccoons out.  Evidently or possibly he was in one of the bags of bird seed when we purchased it.  How long he's been in there is anyone's guess.  It's amazing to me too because there is no water.

This is from a photo I took looking straight down into the can.  His feet were all tucked beneath his body where you couldn't see them.  Kind of reminds me of a cute rubber mouse or one that has a wheel beneath the body that moves it across the floor.

Quick Flower Sketches

Something dawned on me this morning as I stood outside sketching these flowers.  Somewhere along the line I've undergone a transition and I honestly can't say when this happened.

For the longest time I would only draw and paint from photographs.........never on the spot "live."  I just felt photographs were easier for me rather than from live models.  I've challenged myself on various occasions to try using a live model but I would always fall back on photos as my preference.

What I've taken note of this morning is the fact I'm doing more and more work from observing the real thing rather than relying on photos.  For me that is a MAJOR step forward.  Not to say I won't use photos but I guess I'm no longer bound by that as I was in the past.

Maybe that almost 75 Day Sketch Challenge (notice I said almost.....snicker) has helped in ways I didn't expect.  :-)

This first is the last bloom that is fading on my Mother's Day lily given to me by my eldest son and his wife.  I included the remnants of some of the other blooms that once accompanied this last one.

And yesterday we planted these marigolds in front of the house.  Two different varieties of yellow with maroon markings (at least here I spelled it right - I think) - one being a single and the other double.

Do You Know What This Is?

Earlier this Spring before all the leaves filled out, I came across this "thing" attached to a branch.  I am guessing it's a nest of some sort but really not sure.  I wonder if anyone recognizes what this might be.  If so, please share because I'd love to know.

Quick sketch using my Derwent water soluble Sketch pencil - HB 

Hummingbird Profile

Thought before I got busy today that I'd get at least one sketch in.  This is from another of the photos I took a couple nights ago.

These last two posts on same page - one using a mechanical pencil and this one using an HB Sketch pencil.

This was the little guy just sitting there perched on the feeder looking at me almost as if he purposely posed for the shot :-)

Hummingbird Quick Pencil Sketch

Wow have the last few days been busy!!!  Not enough hours in the day. 

Today I did manage to do a quick pencil sketch.  I took several pictures at dusk last evening of one hummingbird that was in a feeding frenzy before the other one chased him off.  He's not shy and was quite the model for me to include my using a flash.

I would have liked to have done a few pages of various poses but I was lucky to get this one done and wanted to share it since I've not posted anything for a couple to few days.

Yorshi

Upon request...........I have tried doing a front view of one of my two little dogs - This time Yorshi is my model who is a Yorki-Shih tzu mix. 

I haven't had much success in the past (I've tried several times) because of the ragga-muffin look of the fur.  Yorshi's fur is wiry and thick whereas Miya's is soft and fine.  Both quite a challenge for me as I'm not real sure of what I'm doing with regards to the fur direction (one of my weak areas).

With this attempt I think I came closer.  Definitely not ready to attempt this in watercolor (maybe next year) :-D

Used a Light Wash (HB) Derwent Sketching pencil for this in my Hand-book sketchbook.

Clover

Tomorrow I return to work and today's stormy so I'm taking advantage by getting more sketching in.

Here's one of a couple varieties of clover growing in the field around us.

Stabilo water soluble pens (two different violets and three different greens) as well as watercolor (Sap Green, Per Green, plus touch Aureolin) with black Micron 03 for final ink detailing.
 

Miya from Pencil to Ink/Wash

Few posts earlier I shared a quick pencil sketch of Miya.  Today I went over with the Tombow marker and waterbrush.

 

The Lonely Daisy - A Survivor

Yesterday walking the field I happened to notice this one white little daisy popping up from the ground.  We had just mowed last week on a low cut and amazed that this little guy managed to survive the blades. 

Not the type daisy one would purchase at a garden center.........these are definitely a wild weed type variety that spreads by runners (or so it seems).

This was done using the Stabilo watercolor pens (primarily black with a touch of green) and small waterbrush in my Hand-book sketchbook.  I am finding I really like the texture of the paper in this book especially for this type of work. 

And I definitely prefer using water soluble pens to standard ink pens simply because I can add form and tone with a little water and brush rather than hatching or other means used with other pens and permanent inks. This method just seems to work better for me.

 

Is it a Duck or a Goose?

This is a watercolor sketch using Sandy's sketching method

My French Ultramarine and Burnt Umber mix leaned towards the blue side (as pretty evident).  I then went to add water soluble ink and ran a waterbrush over it only to find I had used the dark green rather than the black.  Ooops.  :)

Sketch in my Daler Rowney sketch book.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 61

The way I've worked this exercise is not as it was intended.  This should have been done 75 consequtive days but didn't quite work out that way.  But as mentioned in one of my previous posts, I'm determined to finish 75 days worth of sketches..............just kind of stretched out a bit longer than 75 days from the start of this project.

This was at the Columbus Zoo as a prop.  I goofed on this one as I probably should have contoured shaded the neck area of this.  Plus (and I'm laughing as I type this), I should probably grab my Right Side of the Brain book and do some practicing of mirror imaging left and right sides.  This looked really wonky until I added more pen lines to 'try' and balance both sides.

Horse at the Columbus, OH Zoo

I have to admit that I did not use the triangle/square/circle method with this sketch.  Instead I just eye-balled the best I could using one of my photos.  I do feel however that the two previous horse profiles I sketched using the shapes method helped tremendously in my coming close with overall shape and proportions this go around.

As for what breed of horse this is......I have no clue.  He was in the petting area for children.  Here's the photo I did this from and I'm sure those familiar with horses will probably recognize what kind he is.

Here is my sketch using the Tombow marker pen (black) and brush with water (I used a synthetic round #5 rather than a waterbrush for better control of water flow).

 

My Favorite Sketching Tools - Ink and Wash

Several posts I've made have been Ink and Wash using a Tombow Dual Marker Brush/Pen and Waterbrush.  Another pen is the Rotring but for some reason I seem to prefer grabbing the Tombow Marker.  Part of the reason is that now and then the black breaks down showing blue and pinks whereas the Rotring does not.

The Tombow is there in the center with the end caps taken off.  One side is like a brush pen whereas the other is a finer nylon nib for finer detailing.

Here is an example showing steps with one of my birds I posted some time ago:

First I use a pencil and sketch my subject;

Next I outline and fill in areas with the Tombow Marker.  You can see where I've marked with the black.  A gray marker was also used within the body area for a lighter tone but not showing well in these illustrations.  The gray may seem as dark as the black until you take a wet brush to it.

Another demo I did earlier is here and I followed the same method with this one;

 

Taking either a Round Brush and water or Waterbrush, I go along the edges wetting the ink and pulling in towards the center.

 

If after it's dried I need to darken some of the areas, I will take my Tombow Marker with the brush end and scribble ink onto an acrylic surface (plastic butter lid will work or even a bad DVD) and with my brush and water or Waterbrush, mix up a pool of ink to apply to my sketch.  You don't necessarily have to wait for the sketch to dry as you can drop in darker ink from that pool you mixed like you would with a watercolor mix.

The Tombow Marker Brushes come in various colors but do not behave the same.  Some do not bleed as well as others and only experimenting will you learn which work best for what you are hoping to achieve.  I prefer using the black more than any other ink color.

If you click on the color chart, the size should hopefully give you an idea of how well the ink "moves" or bleeds when water is applied to it.

You can get Tombow Markers at many of the online art supply distributors like Dickblick.  (This link will take you straight to the Tombow page giving more information and showing the available sets you can get.)  Check out eBay and also Amazon.  I normally order through Dickblick but have on occasion purchased marker and pen sets through Amazon.

Fungi Growing on Tree - Ink and Wash

This is using my black Tombow Brush Marker and waterbrush.  Only tree around behind us that has this fungi growing, which seems odd.  You'd think there would be others as well.  The fungi is growing fairly high up on the trunk above our heads.  

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 60

One of Miya's favorite toys.

My Adorable Fun-Loving Brat Dog - Ms Miya

Miya is a yorki-poo mix we got when she was seven weeks old.  She will be three this year.

Talk about a dog with spunk and personality!!!  She is such a joy to have.  She's lovable and so full of playful energy.  Hope she never loses that playfulness.  We call her our brat dog but that's meant in a loving way :)

Miya is my companion while hubby is away each week due to his job.  I would be so lost without her.  And she's one that can make people laugh with her antics.  One of her all time favorite activities is bobbing for ice cubes in a bowl of water.  You can see and hear her blow bubbles as she goes after the ice cubes.  She will pick one out at a time until all are sitting on the floor beside the bowl.  And there they will sit and melt because the game is over once all ice cubes are retrieved.  Although, once in awhile she might bat at one to make it slide across the floor and she go after it.

 This quick sketch was while she was sitting in my lap trying to get my husband's attention who was sitting across from me.  I knew I had to be quick because it was just a matter of time she'd move or jump down.  And sure enough she jumped down to go physically make hubby aware she was calling on him to pay attention to her.

A mechanical pencil was used for this sketch.

Hummer in Nest - Watercolor Sketch

Again using the technique Sandy from www.sketchingeveryday.com teaches, I did this sketch of one of my favorite subjects.  I love birds in general but hummers are special to me................especially after having one sit on my finger a few years ago.  I will NEVER forget that experience!!

I am adding my own twist to the basic sketching technique with a little added pen and ink for final detailing.  Also with this sketch, I splashed a bit of green in the nest for added interest.  I did that to denote the mossy look of their nests.  Technically speaking, however, I probably should have added a splash of color to the hummer instead since it's my main subject.  Next time, maybe :)  I was just having fun and didn't think about that until after the fact.

Sandy starting back up for the summer has definitely helped re-ignite my enthusiasm.  I truly love her 6-step sketching technique!  I find it to be simply laid out making sketching not only easier to accomplish but fun as well.  And I love the KISS concept she's mentioned as I have a tendency to over do it. 

This is done in a Daler Rowney sketch book.  I'm quite surprised how well it's taking the wet in wet although it's proven to work well for the Tombow soluble ink and waterbrush.

Second Attempt at Horse - following Sandy's Sketching Method

Here is my second attempt done this morning following Sandy's exercise using shapes to create a profile of a horse.  http://www.sketchingeveryday.com/

I'm much happier with the proportions with this one (as my notes indicate).  Not knowing enough about animal anatomy, I do lack in portraying muscle.  Something I need to study and work on.

Also stated in my notes, I have a tendency to be a bit impatient working wet in wet and dropping in darker pigments.  I love the wet in wet method ..... it's magic watching the pigment and water work together if one allows themselves to slow down a little and not try to push things along.

First Attempt at Horse - Special for Sandy

This is for Sandy at  http://www.sketchingeveryday.com/

My first ever attempt at sketching a horse.  This is following Sandy's first sketching exercise for 2011.  Those folks who might be following this blog, please check out her website at the link above.  She has a wonderful tutorial sharing her sketching method.  I am sure she would love to hear from you and see examples where others are following along with her exercises.

On a personal note...............something I've struggled with through the years is the use of shapes in forming my subjects.  Sandy's first exercise for 2011 is just that..........using simple shapes (triangle, circle, and square) to create this horse's head.  Although there's room for improvement with my results, I found her exercise easy and definitely fun to follow along.

 

Thanks, Sandy!  Great to see you back!! 

Sketchbook Pro - Ipad and Photoshop Elements

Today I decided to try out a new app on my Ipad.  I was playing with various brush tools to do the initial sketch.  Then uploaded to computer so I could use photoshop elements to add the shadow I forgot under the table plus merge sketch into a background.

Something a little different :)

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Days 58 and 59

I fell behind with this but hoping to pick it back up at least to finish 75 days.

Couple of quick sketches from photos taken at the Columbus Zoo this past weekend.  I'm using Stabilo black pen for these two.

 

New Pens - Stabilo 88s

Received a new set of pens I ordered to test out for ink and wash sketching.

These are fine tipped pens that seem to glide across the paper surface with ease.  They do not bleed out quite like the Rotring or the Tombow marker pens but definitely nice to work with.  I like for sketching with an added dimension of the wash but still maintaining that "sketched" look with pen and ink.

This set includes the wrap and I like that there's an added zipper compartment there to the left as you view the screen. I can stick my little waterbrush in that compartment; grab a small sketchbook; and off I go. 

 

 

Here are a couple quick sketches playing with a few of the colors along with a color chart for all the pens in this set.

 

Left done in Moleskine Watercolor book

and right side in the Handbook Sketching book.

One of the advantages to these pens is the fact they are fine-lined and water based/soluble for wash but will "set" first application of water brushed over the lines.  After that, you can use watercolor and brush to add color if you wish without worrying too much about ink bleeding and contaminating the watercolor wash like I've found with the Tombow pens.  Of course if one doesn't "set" the ink first and goes in with brush and watercolor, the results will not be the same and probably disappointing.

With that said and in defense to using the Tombow pens (which I absolutely love), it seems the ink does set to some degree but maybe because it's a thicker application, not all the ink is set with an initial water brushing.  That possibly leaving unset ink to bleed in with the watercolor when it's applied.  I'll have to do some more experimenting and playing ........ comparing the two type of pens ......... but so far this is what I've concluded on a quick trial.

Wet n Wet Practice

This is a sheet in my journal book practicing the wet n wet technique.  I started with the left side and first go didn't turn out.  My mix was too thick and found myself having to force it with too much brush work.

The two on the right plus the leaf turned out as I had hoped.........at least with the effect of paint spreading without my having to manipulate as I did with the first.  I truly was hoping for a spontaneous and loose feel rather than one that has been "manicured."

My Mother's Day Lily's First Bloom

I've been watching the buds from my Mother's Day gift as they go from very green to a maroon/red coloring to now two buds in full bloom.  They are deep red lilies and this is the first red of its kind I've ever seen let alone owned.  

#10 Round
5 x 8 " in size
Daniel Smith Perm Aliz, Sap Green, Perylene Green, Fr Ultra Blue, Cad Yellow Med and a touch of Indigo.

Went back over some of the petals and leaves with a light touch - Quin Gold and Quin Rose

Little bit of pen work with 005 Pigma pen.

Mother's Day Gift - Ink and Wash

Here's an ink and wash of a lily plant my eldest son and his wife gave me as a gift for Mother's Day.

The boys when younger used to always get me plants that I could put out in the garden every year.  They haven't done that in years since they've grown up and their Dad not helping them get their gifts for Mom.

Well this year my eldest son thought about what they used to do and how much I loved getting the living plants so that's he and my daughter-in-law decided to do.

All the buds were small and very green.  Now they are getting bigger with the larger turning a deep red as they get close to opening up.  I'm not sure what the actual flower color will be yet.

Sitting Outside - Ink and Wash

Today relaxing and enjoying the sunlight before several days of possible rain.

Oh how I love using the water soluble ink!!!  Can't say it enough.  It's such a joy to work with.  Makes sketching fun and brings ink sketching to a different level (for me that is).   I just like the results compared to pen and ink with cross hatching or speckling for adding depth.  It's easier for one thing because a little ink goes a long way adding substance and depth with just a few lines and a water brush taking it further.

More Dogwood Examples

Today I was in a better frame of mind and think it reflects in the results.  At least I enjoyed what I was doing without the uncertainties I felt yesterday.

Top is using watercolors and a little Pen and Ink and the bottom is using the Tombow Marker pen. 

I just love working with the black water soluble ink.  To me it's like magic watching all that ink dissolve and move about with the flow of the water.  The water soluble ink worked really well in this Hand-Book journal.

Tried a small petite Koi waterbrush.  It has a really small fine brush but worked perfect for these small examples.  Especially when working with the center of the dogwood flowers.

Colors of Spring

Thought I would do something a little off the wall by using color for my white dogwood sketch.  If nothing else, it makes for a bright colorful page in my journal book.

I have not done any serious watercolor painting in some time and found myself struggling with this.  Add my using paper I'm not accustomed to and I truly feel like I've stepped back in time as a beginner.  Think I need to dedicate some time with the brush and paint.  Maybe do some exercises to help get me back on track. 

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 57

With each passing day, the woods surrounding us are springing to life with all the new growth covering the trees.  Amongst the greenery you'll see scattered whites from the wild dogwoods growing.  Deeper in the woods, you might come across a pink or lavender but in our surrounding area the white dogwoods dominate.