Mansion House 1 & 2

These are the first sketches in the new Hand*Book Journal. I was horrified to find that the watercolors bled through. Argghhhh! That doesn't happen with my cheapo daily journal.

These are details from a historic house here in Our Town. The fruit swag is one of a matching pair of plaques on the western wall. "Plaque" is probably not the correct architectural term for it, but it's the best I can do.

Next is a leadfree sketch of the western entrance. I'm having trouble finding the correct watercolor formula for the side of the building in the shade. Mine keep coming out waaaay too violet. Any suggestions?

Right Brain - Left Brain

Days like today I struggle to find my creativity. Real Life keeps giving it a punch in the jaw.

The day started with Hubby saying, "The credit card bills and the electric bill came (Ow!); I think the truck clutch is going out (Ow!); there's no food in the house (Ow!); and I don't have any clean underwear (Ow, Ow, Ow!)."

I replied, "Honey, I think you need to go play golf....all day long."

Giraffe

It was a giraffe kinda day I guess.

Einstein's Solitude

Some days solitude is what I need.

I held up my journal and asked Hubby, "What is it?"

He said, "Looks like Albert Einstein."

Progress!

Drama Queen

Vicksburg National Military Park
Vicksburg, Mississippi

Statue of Brigadier General Lloyd Tilghman, C.S.A. - Commanding First Brigade of Loring's Division - Killed May 16, 1863 near the close of the Battle of Champion's Hill, Mississippi.

I was drawn to this statue because of the sweeping gesture and the wild horse. The gesture is a bit melodramatic, don't you think?

There's probably a special place in hell for southerners who make fun of Confederate war heroes, but meh, there it is.

This was another attempt at watercolors without ink lines. I caved at the finish and added the ink details to the two faces and a bit around the cuffs.

New Art Supplies

I love it when a box from Dick Blick arrives on the doorstep!

The "Paint with Jane" watercolor starter kit included the little 10 half-pan watercolor travel box and mini brush, eight 5x8 greeting cards made of heavy watercolor paper, a how-to CD, and a black marker for $12.97. (On clearance - 65% off!)

Immediately threw the marker away - it was crap. The cards will be cut in half to make 16 sheets to paint on. The paints in the travel pan are student grade but I can use them for adding bits of color in my journal. May watch the CD if my computer will behave.

All I really wanted was the empty travel pan to put my own paints in. Purchased separately it would have been $14.53. It was cheaper to buy it in the kit plus I got 16 sheets of nice Fabriano watercolor paper to boot. The paper, purchased separately, would have been $2.99. I have to stretch the budget these days.

I have no explanation as to why I purchased different brands of watercolors. I had them in my wish list on DickBlick and dumped the whole list in the cart when I bought the painting kit. I suppose I had my reasons at the time.

Love the square Hand-Book journal. The square sketchbook I'm using now is spiral-bound and has micro-perf pages that are in danger of being ripped out if not handled gently. I've read good reviews of the Hand-Book on the performance of the papers under inks and watercolors so I'm hoping I love that aspect of it too.

A very good day! Yay!

Donkey vs Horse

Text reads:
Hubby said my majestic bronze horse statue looked like a braying donkey. So I drew a donkey to show him they don't look anything alike.

Then it hit me...
...he had a point.

Dang.

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Hubby also had some snide comments about the donkey.

I think the ink lines drawn all over the horse improve it. I knew it!

Green Horse Statue

More watercolor practice. Experimenting with watercolors *without* laying down black ink lines. It feels so strange.

I painted just the shadows in purple and was going to leave it at that. Then I got the bright idea to wash it over with patina green. It looked too cold, so then I washed it over with Raw Sienna. Thought it looked pretty good. Well maybe it looks OK. Finally darkened up the deepest shadows a bit to make them pop.

Meh, the jury's still out.

Hubby says it looks like a braying donkey.

Sigh.

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Photo credits:
Charmaine Swart, photographer
Morguefile.com