It's A Watercolor World

  Hey y'all!...............Did you know that on this day in 1961, A chimp, by the name of Ham, went up in space?  He was the first primate in space. He was the one responsible for discovering that there are no bananas in space. What an accomplishment!

  But I digress..........Enough monkeying around. I will cut to the chase.

   Today's post is all about watercolor. I know, I know, I still owe y'all more posts on "Must Haves" in the studio and I will get around to that too. But, I have had a couple questions and some comments on watercolor that I thought I would address today.

  This week and possibly spilling over into next week, I have decided to spend my time in the studio, playing with all the many kinds of water media that I currently own. Yesterday I painted a Barn Owl using tube watercolors from a company called Mission Gold. These are very highly pigmented paints and create very saturated, intense color. I am still working on him and I plan on finishing him sometime today.

  I also have other materials I want to play with this week and next such as....watercolor pencils, watercolor crayons, water soluble graphite, Hydrus watercolors, which are a very concentrated form of watercolor paint and some water soluble inks. Those are going to keep me busy!


  I understand that some of you find watercolor to be intimidating, hard to control and plain scary. Well, I just want to say that, that's not necessarily so.

  Don't get me wrong, I am by no means a watercolor expert. I am still learning too. All art, of any kind is a never ending, learning experience. I am just going to share a couple things that I have learned along the way that might help some of you to get over that fear of water media.

  First....a couple of watercolor myths. ......"Watercolor is hard to control"  one thing to remember is, when applying watercolor to paper, the watercolor is only going to go where the water is. If you take watercolor, straight off the brush to dry paper, you will have total control of it. But, here's the thing. Part of what makes watercolor so exciting is the fact that it flows. So, if you put down a wash of water before adding the paint, the color will flow out and stay where the water is. You can get beautiful results this way. In my opinion, that is the true beauty of the medium!

  Second...... "Mistakes can't be corrected",  so not true! There are many ways to correct a watercolor boo-boo. Depending on the staining ability of a particular watercolor, color, The offending error can be lifted. You can use a damp brush to lift color back off. you can wet the area and use a tissue to dab the color and lift it. Use caution here though. DO NOT rub the paper or you may damage it. Just dab gently.

  Watercolor "Blooms" can be fixed as well. You can soften hard edges with a damp brush. And, here is an FYI for ya......Mr. Clean sponges are great at lifting unwanted color! yup! good 'ol Mr. Clean!

  If water puddles up in an area that you don't want it, just soak it up with a dry thirsty watercolor brush. That's it, easy peasy. Mistakes are not the end of the world so don't toss that painting, fix it!

  Okay........on occasion, you may find that you can't fix something. That's okay too. All you have lost is a little paint and a little of your time. But.....you have also learned! you have gained experience!

  I hope this post might inspire some of you to at least try out water media. You have nothing to lose. You won't know if you like it unless you try it. And like anything else in life,  the more you do it, the better at it you will become.

  In a future post, I will tell y'all how I go about creating a watercolor painting so stay tuned for that. Now go out there, fill up that water bucket, grab some watercolor paint and a brush and get creating. No fear!!!

 

A Serious, Series For Opposites Day. Seriously?

 Good Morning!      Did y'all know that today is opposite day? so I guess what that means is, whatever you say is actually the opposite of what you are really saying. Just so y'all know though, this post is going to be the opposite, of opposite day.  Capice?
   
     I am going to blog about something different this morning.  I have been blogging about studio "Must Haves" and I will continue to do that but......today.....I want to answer a viewers question about my reasons behind creating this particular series.

  I have been working on an art "series" now for awhile. The name of this series is "Childs Play". It is a series of graphite, black and white drawings of young children. I could of chosen any number of subjects for my series but this one struck a chord with me. There are a lot of artists that have drawn children, Norman Rockwell comes into mind as one of them.  Below is the first drawing in my series, drawn in 2016.........

  One of the reasons I chose children as my series subject was that I wanted to capture the simple innocence of being a child.

  To be a child, to see the world and everything in it as a new adventure waiting to be conquered. So many new things to do and explore. The feeling of freedom. Not being hampered by "have to's" and life agendas.

 It's a simple life. it's not complicated.

  I grew up way too quickly, although, I do consider myself to be an adult/child still. There is a part of me that most likely will never grow up, and that's okay. I have found that creating this series for me has been very healing.

  I don't know how many drawings there will be in this series. It is ongoing and as of right now, still going strong. Some series go on for years. Only time will tell.

  I am still working on the third drawing titled "Day Dreamer" This one is an 8X10 where as the other two are both in 9X12 format. The sizes may vary throughout this series but they will all be graphite. here is the new work in progress.....................

That's it for today's quick blog post. I am always happy to answer any questions. It's now time to go to work for me. Have a great day!

Studio Must Have's ....Part Deux

Well..............I am a couple days late posting this second post in my Studio Must Have's series, my only excuse is......I really don't have one. I just got distracted by some shiny object...again.

  Although hubby was off work yesterday so that does throw a wrench in the works. I find it difficult to concentrate on my work when he's home. I love spending time with hubby though and I try to take days off when he has his days off. Nuff said about that.

  Today's "Must Have" is a good one!  This is a small piece of equipment that I think every artist or even all you "doodlers" out there should have.

  But first, a small disclaimer....This piece of equipment will NOT draw for you. You still have to have a basic knowledge of drawing skills such as proportions. The best way to learn to draw is just by drawing. It's like learning to play the piano or any instrument, or learning how to ride a bike. The more you do it, the better you get. Practice makes perfect. You can watch all the videos and read all the books you can find but, unless you sit down and put pencil to paper, you won't ever improve.

So this small piece of equipment, what does it do?  It helps with judging distance and enlarging or reducing. It looks like this below and it's called a Proportional Divider........

  I picked mine up on Amazon.com but you can probably pick them up in a good art store. There are a few different versions of this on the market but they all do the same thing. How this works is, by using the orange tab, you adjust just how much you want to enlarge or reduce your image. Like when you take a photo with your cell phone. The photo image will naturally be small and you might want to make it into an 8X10 drawing say.

  By using this tool, you can do that. Also, it will help to measure distance between eyes in your drawing for example. But still, remember that it won't draw those eyes for you.

  I use it to double check my accuracy when drawing to check my proportions. I usually "eyeball" everything but this really helps get that initial sketch down correctly. I really find it to be an invaluable addition to my arsenal of art tools.

  So there it is, another tool that I just gotta have. Let's see, whats on my agenda for today? I am going to put more work into Harley Quinn..............

  And then I think I am going to break out my fine liners and do some pen and wash techniques. I have been wanting to play with my pens ever since i participated in this last #inktober2016. If I end up doing something half-way decent, I'll post it up later.

Olaf and I hope y'all have a great Thursday and a fantastic weekend. I will dig around my studio and find more "Must Have's" to share with you.

A New Year And "Must Haves"

It's 2017.....Can you believe it!..I still had not put away my Christmas decorations from last Christmas, seriously. The years seem to go by so fast now.

  I am not one for making New Years resolutions. I either don't seem to follow through on them or, by the time February rolls around, I don't even remember what my resolutions were. I instead just make them up as I go now. That seems to work better for me.

  What I thought I would do to start this year off is blog about some of the things that I just can't be without in my studio. I'm not talking about paint and pencils and paper, I know I need those things, I am talking about the work horses of my studio. The materials that make it possible to create my art and the little things that make my studio an inspirational, inviting and comfortable place to work. Maybe, you may discover something that might work for your personal space too. So, in the next few weeks, I will post some photos of what I do have in my studio and explain why I have them. I will also post photos of some of the oddities I have as well and I have a LOT of those!

  I find it's important to have a personal space. whether it's used for creating or just a place to hide from the world and find solace for a few hours a day. What you have in your personal space says a lot about who you are and boy....does my studio scream ELLEN !!!

  So lets see........first up is my drafting table..........

  I received this drafting table a year ago, from my hubby, for my birthday. Before, I was using a small table top easel with a masonite board propped up against it. It worked, sorta, but, it was precariously balanced and because of that, I would be working at it and suddenly it would fall to the floor. Let me tell ya......it's not fun when the corner of a very heavy masonite board hits your toe. Yep. Being an artist can be painful.

  This table was purchased through Amazon, (I love Amazon, who doesn't!), It was a Lightning Deal at the time. It was normally priced at around the $250.00 mark but my hubby got it for just $78.00!

  It has a smoked glass top and what I see a lot of artists doing is putting a clamp light underneath the glass which turns the drafting table into a light table. A very cool idea. I don't personally use a light table so I don't own one but I think it is a clever idea and a great reason to have a glass topped drafting table.

  What I like about the glass top is that it is very easy to clean and maintain. Nothing stains it or sticks to it. A little window cleaner and it always looks like brand new. It has three small drawers built into it. I have erasers in the top drawer, yep, I have a LOT of erasers, all different shapes and sizes.  I have cutting tools such as my box cutter and my exacto knife as well as my art tape in the middle drawer and the bottom drawer is one of my assigned junk drawers. I have no idea whats in there but we all have a junk drawer don't we.

  A really good reason to have a drafting table is this......A drafting table lets you keep the drawing surface at a more vertical angle. Why is this important you ask? because when you draw on a flat surface, such as a table, it is harder to get the proportions of your drawing accurate because your view of your drawing is distorted by the flat angle. A vertical drawing surface allows you to see the drawing at the same, natural  angle that a viewer would be seeing it thereby allowing you to get it drawn correctly.

 Also important................We, as artists, spend hours at a time drawing and stooping over a table will wreck your back, shoulder and neck. A drafting table keeps you upright and your posture correct so less pain. And less pain means you can get more art done.

  So there you have it. My first and foremost, most needed "Must Have" I do have a lot of others too. Lets all welcome in the New Year.   Keep learning and keep creating. I will be back soon with more. Happy New Year everyone!

Announcements and Stuff.........

Good morning all you Christmas shoppers out there! Not me.......I'm not brave enough. To be honest, I do most of my shopping online these days. gotta love Amazon!

  I bought some new watercolors a couple weeks ago and I have to say that these colors are the most vivid I have ever seen with watercolor! So much so,  that there is a learning curve to using them. I need to dilute them much more with water than some of my other ones or the color stays very opaque. They are however beautiful. I also bought a new, at least for me, watercolor medium that I am going to try out today, should be fun. If it turns out half way decent, I will post it later up on Facebook.

  I do want to announce that I am now taking commissions for January. I only take three at a time as I don't like you guys having to wait long to get your drawings and paintings. I like to get them done in a timely manner. They will be done on a first-come, first-serve basis so be sure to get your requests in early!  You can private message me or just give me a call, anytime at  805-404-4093. My pricing and policies are up on my website at   Pencils and Paint

  I also want to announce that I am now offering prints! Some of these will be limited edition prints meaning there will only be  certain number of these prints made. Once they are gone....they are gone. Right now I have only printed 5 of my "Captain Spaulding" painting and my "Labryinth Worm painting. One of Captain Spaulding has already sold so I only have four left. Get them while you can!

  These prints are signed and numbered. I send my work out to a third party printer so you are guaranteed that they are professionally done. The quality is really amazing! 8x10 prints are only $24.00 including shipping and 5x7's are $18.00 including shipping. It's an affordable way to own some original artwork.

  I can have prints made of most of my work. Feel free to inquire. I have Giclee prints as well. Giclee prints are images of my paintings that are printed on actual canvas, just like an original. More information is up on my website, click the ink above.

For something extra special, I can have my artwork mounted onto wood! These wood panels are ready to hang. Again contact me for more information on pricing and sizing if you are interested.

  It's a busy day as usual. I have commissions to get to so I must be going for now. Happy Holidays everyone. Stay safe and warm out there and no fighting in those store aisles!



   

A Mixed Bag

Hello y'all!!.............How are we all holding up in spite of current events huh?

  Ya know....I make it a policy to never post anything pertaining to politics in any way, up on any of the social media platforms, but, I will say this.......

  We are all human. We all breathe the same air.  We are all in this together. Lets all make the effort to put the hate and fear aside and not let it rule our lives. Let's be kind to one another. Show compassion and tolerance and have respect for our differences. After all, our differences are what makes each one of us unique and interesting. Stop the arguing.

  With that said......I got an idea. Last month, in October, I took part in a worldwide event known as Inktober. I had to create an ink sketch every day for the entire month. I managed to do it too!...Here's a couple I did........

Anywho......Jake Parker, the man behind Inktober, put up a "prompt" list of things to sketch,  on his website, filled with ideas for those artists that got stuck not knowing what to draw. So I thought I would make us all our own prompt list of things that we can REALLY argue over. So here it is. Feel free to use one or more of these ideas, and have fun creating some of your own ideas too!

1.  Just how many colors of Silly Putty do they make?

2.  Who spilled the coffee beans all over the kitchen floor this morning? (um..that was me, sorry. no argument there).

3.  Why are bras so expensive?

4.  Just how much wood can a woodchuck chuck?

5.  Who's taller? you or me?

6.  If they can build a  rocket ship....Why can't they make a can opener that works?

7.  Regardless or irregardless?

8.  The proverbial question....(you can fill in the blank), "What were they thinking when"?......

9.  Why did Ellen only post 9 questions instead of 10?

There you have it. Something to argue over so go ahead and get it out of your system. you will feel better!

  On to the art question of the week.....................

  I was asked which medium is my favorite. That's a toughy. I work in several mediums and it's really difficult to choose a favorite. I can however, say which one I probably work in the most.

  I would have to say the answer to that is graphite. And why you ask. okay, maybe you didn't ask why but I'm gonna tell you anyway.  I think it's the immediacy and the simplicity of the medium. All I need to do is grab a pencil and something to draw on and there it is.

  Also, graphite was the first art tool I had access to when I was a child. Just a N0.2 school pencil and some lined notebook paper and I was good to go. I didn't have any REAL art supplies other than pencils and crayons and maybe a stick to draw in the dirt with until I was an adult and could afford to buy them so,  pencils were my friends.

  And that brings us to the end of this blog post. I am going to attempt to get another small painting done, we will see how that goes and also work on this....................

  So let's all take a deep breath and get on with our week shall we. Have a peaceful day y'all!

Ellen

Birthdays All Around...and Toys For Me

Happy Thursday the 13th!!.....Look at me, blogging twice in one week, you lucky ducks!!

  First off, I have a couple birthdays to announce. My grandson Shane is seven whole years old today!!!  Happy Birthday Shane!  I can't believe how fast the years are flying by. Please Shane, slow down will ya.

  For some reason, most likely "pilot error", my phone won't let me crop photos. I downloaded IOS 10 yesterday and since then,   all H E double hockey sticks has broken loose. I'm sure I will figure it out eventually.

   And, one other birthday to announce. My baby Sadie has turned seven whole years old too! Same thing goes for you Sadie, knock it off! stop getting older because your dragging me along with you! She is taking advantage of her birthday and is being lazy. Well deserved.

  New toys came in yesterday. I am not affiliated with this company in any way, I am just, so far, a new customer trying them out.

  I am going to assume that this is a fairly new company. I have not checked out their website yet but in my search for some new pens, I came across these. Like I said in my last post, I have been using Micron pens and I do like them but, they just are not holding up with all the inking I am doing for #Inktober. I had read an article about Airship and their Autoquill technical pens and they received some good reviews.

  I found them on Amazon and decided I would give them a try. They come in a three set, a six set and a 10 set. The price was right and again, the reviews were excellent so,  I bought the three set to start with. I have found that I gravitate to the smaller nib sizes. Maybe because I am not a cartoonist. In looking at other artists work that they are posting for #Inktober, I am seeing that the artists who do a lot of cartoon images, tend to use the larger nib sizes as their drawings require bolder line work. Since I'm a realist artist, the smaller nibs allow me to get that tiny detail in much easier than the larger nibs do. I mostly reach for my .02, .03 and .05's. Yesterday's #Inktober sketch, was all done in the smallest nib size of .005. It's very tiny and delicate, and I was able to get some very tiny fine lines with it........

 So far I have just messed around with these new pens, making lines etc. Today, when I do my #Inktober sketch, I will officially break them in.

  I'm glad that I decided to participate in #Inktober this year. I had dabbled in inking but had never taken it seriously. I am enjoying it to the point where I am investing in new inking supplies.Who doesn't like new toys? I do have another toy coming all the way from Japan that I just ordered last night. It will take a while to get here but I am looking forward to trying that out as well.

  Now....I have some studio organization to take care of, then my #inktober sketch and then some commission work. Off I go. Have a great day!