QoR Color Charts on Two Different Paper Surfaces

I've been playing lately with these new Golden QoR Watercolors to include making charts on different paper.

The bulk of these pigments are staining to some degree.......more so than I have found in other brands, but really beautiful colors.  I like how they reactivate with water after allowing to fully dry in the palette.  I like how they seem to explode when dropped in an area that has been pre-wet with water.  And, I like how they blend.  As for how much more vibrant they may be on paper due to their "exclusive" binding properties, I haven't been able to make up my mind when comparing with my other brands on hand.

These following were done in the Stillman & Birn Beta watercolor sketchbook.

These were the first charts I did using the Strathmore Visual Journal with 140 lb cold press watercolor paper.

Lake Griffin Kayaking/Fishing

Yesterday, for my birthday, Terry, Travis, and I went out early kayaking and fishing at Lake Griffin.  This is our second trip out to this particular spot with the first trip being very productive catching fish.  Yesterday the fish were breaking the surface but really not all that interested in what we threw out to try and catch them.  I did manage to catch two small bass and Travis caught three.  Poor Terry was skunked by us :-)

Even without the fish activity, I enjoyed being out on the water paddling around, taking pictures, and I even managed two quick pencil sketches.  Only problem with that was the fact I grabbed a less than desirable sketchbook that doesn't like watercolor added to the paper surface.  I did manage to work one page of the two with watercolor when I got home and then decided to create a journal page in a better sketchbook.

Moleskine Sketchbook:

Strathmore Visual Journal Watercolor - 140lb CP

Now although I've put 6" down on the page (which Terry jokingly said was the size), I do believe it was a little larger than that but not by much.  I'm thinking compared to my hand, it was more like 7 or 8 inches.

Finished the Sennelier Accordion Fold Journal

This particular journal gifted to me last month was dedicated to Terry's and my trip to Venetian Gardens in Leesburg, FL.

Here are the rest of the pages completing this journal:

And yes his legs are really that thin :-)

To see the other pages making up this journal, you can see from this link:  http://sbwatercolors.blogspot.com/search/label/accordion

Earnest Ward - Artist - New Ebook

One of my favorite artists who enjoys capturing many of the same subjects as I do as well as keeping a journal recently launched a new ebook called "The North Cascades: Tale of Two Seasons (Spring)," through the Apple Itunes store.

This morning I finished reading this beautiful Artist Journal and adventure ibook by Earnest who’s a naturalist and an artist who loves to observe and record the wonders he encounters in his daily life.

This particular book focuses on his trip to Stehekin......a very remote area of the North Cascades National Park, located in Washington.

As the reader, you accompany Earnest on his daily adventures as the ice and snow begins to melt and the world around awakens with the warming of Spring weather.  You get to experience these wonders via his wonderful illustrations, photos, video clips and descriptive commentary of his encounters; which includes wildlife, flora, means of transportation, people, buildings, and the surrounding landscape.

What I really enjoyed was the variety of mediums used in his illustrations.  Something to tickle the fancy of all artists regardless of their personal preference in medium (graphite, pen and ink, watercolor, acrylic, and oil.)

The other aspect of this book I really enjoyed was his choice in going with the ibook format.  I love the interactive nature of these enhanced ebooks which is a far cry from a standard page by page flip ebook.  From scrolling sidebars of photos and descriptions/observations, to the enhanced illustrations and photos one can view full screen, to the wonderful videos that leave you feeling like you are standing right there experiencing the moment in sight and sound.

This adventure was truly entertaining, informative, and visually pleasing.  A fantastic example of what one can do keeping an artist’s journal and sharing the world and experiences with others.

I hope others will check this gentleman and his ebook out as I believe you'll enjoy the experience as I have.   Here are a several links you might enjoy viewing:

Earnest Ward - Drawn to Life Blog

Earnest Ward Web Site

Earnest Ward Photos - Flickr

Earnest Ward Facebook

Couple of Quick Sketches

Here are a couple of quick sketches in the cartridge paper sketchbook.

This first is a bear key chain I have on hand.  It reminds me of my sissy in law, Darlene, as she is an avid bear anything collector :-)

This next one is pretty well self explanatory with the notes on the page.  

Productive Two Days

Nothing like Internet Withdrawal to help motivate a person into doing more journaling :-) 

These were all worked in the Strathmore Visual Journal.  Micron pens and Daniel Smith watercolors used for each entry.
 

 

 

 

Trying the Strathmore Visual Journal

I picked this journal up a few months ago and decided to give it a try.  I wasn't really sure what to expect as I haven't used Strathmore paper outside of watercolor pads many years ago that I didn't really care for.  This journal, however, promises to be fun to use.

I like how color lifts; like how the paint spreads wet in wet; and even with a fan blowing over head, the paper stayed wet long enough for me to work an area without fear of it drying too quickly.  The surface is bumpy on the front side of the page and slightly smoother on the back side.........both sides fun to work on.

One thing I noticed using a Micron pen, the ink could be lifted with the corner tip of a slanted flat brush.  That's not such a bad thing either when necessary.

Very first page in the journal which consists of 140 lb Cold Press paper.  Using Daniel Smith watercolors and Micron 03 and 005 pens.

Backside of the first page in the journal.  Slightly smoother surface making it easier to use pen and ink; although, I really didn't find it to be much problem on the front either.  Using Daniel Smith watercolors and Micron 03 pen.

Another from Venetian Gardens

I'm truly loving this accordion journal!!!  The paper surface is a real joy to work on.

This next journal entry continues with my last trip to Venetian Gardens when Terry and I went last Sunday.

I have several more pages to do with various birds I came across that day.  There are also landscape scenes and other subjects.............lots of tidbits to fill this journal :-)

The right page was done first with pen and ink (Micron) and then using Daniel Smith watercolors.  Then I wrote the bit on the left side.  I felt it was too plain looking so I then used pen and ink to draw the little bird illustration.  That still didn't do it for me so I added a touch of watercolor.  For me it added that little something extra to the page of notes.

Jade Plants - Two Different Varieties

It's been a super long time since I attempted to grow Jades........mainly due to the fact I never had decent locations in the house that provided the sunlight needed.   Now that I live in Florida and the house we are in has a Sun or Florida room, I'm giving them a try again. 

I purchased these through the local Lowe's and each is a little different......one with the larger leaves and muted greens and the other has smaller and lighter green leaves.

As noted on the pages, I'm playing with Daniel Smith tube greens.  These pages are side by side in the Stillman & Birn Delta journals.

Lilies or Lotus - Venetian Gardens FL

These were completed in the Accordion sketchbook that was gifted me Sunday.

What I call Water Lilies are actually Lotus after doing research on the internet.

Pen and Ink plus watercolor. I am really enjoying this paper surface which is Sennelier.  The surface is smooth and very forgiving.  Also lifts color off easily.

 

Sunday Sight Seeing

This past Sunday, I finally met a gentleman in one of my Art Groups through Facebook.  There are several people in my group that live in or near where we have relocated and hope to meet them in person soon.

Lee picked me up Sunday morning and drove me around to various places he likes to sketch.  The locations included Emeralda Marsh, Venetian Gardens, Eustis, Tavares, Mount Dora, and the main heart of Leesburg.  These towns have such a charming quality about them - especially Mount Dora.  Before returning home, he drove me to where he and his wife live and I had the opportunity to meet his lovely wife.  Both are such nice people!!!!

After I was dropped off, I drove Terry out to see a couple of the places Lee drove me to.  Venetian Gardens was one of those places and Terry and I spent quite some time there walking around.  

Here is a pen and ink plus watercolor sketch of the swimming pool building where we parked. This was worked in a new Accordion Sketchbook Lee gifted me he picked up in France.  I enjoyed working on this paper I've never used before.  I've decided to dedicate the front fold out pages to Venetian Gardens and then not sure yet on what I'll dedicate the back sides to.  I'm sure another location here where we live.....maybe Emeralda Marsh or maybe some of the wildlife - birds in particular I've seen already living here.  :-)

Catching Up - Post 5

This post brings me up to date and completed over the last 10 days.

Worked in the Stillman & Birn Delta journal.

Catching Up - Post 4

Now that we've pretty much unpacked what we're going to use here at the house in Florida from Trip #2, I've been able to settle down a bit and work in my journals.  We still have one more trip to make but needed a break.

This was done in the Handbook:

A plant we've never seen before picked up at Lowes.  This house has a Florida room so I've picked up several flowering plants.

Catching Up - Post 3

August - Graphite and Polychromo Pencil - As you can see, I was not productive at all with my art.

When unpacking, I came across this pendant that belonged to my Mom when I was just a toddler.

Worked in the Cartridge Paper sketchbook.

Catching Up - Post 2

July Continued - Mixed

 

Cathing Up - Post 1

WOW, I cannot believe how far behind I am on posting here in my Blog.  July and August was a tough month with Part 2 of a 3 Part relocation to Florida.  Then some health issues hit and now here it is almost the middle of September.

Several of my posts here will be just including what I managed to accomplish without a great deal of "commentary" 

Accomplished in July - Pen and Ink Only: