Ink & watercolor in small Moleskine watercolor notebook
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Today was a glorious sunny day — perfect for a mid-day walk to Peets Coffee. This is Cerrito Creek, a little urban greenway hidden away a block from Peets beside the California Orientation Center for the Blind and Albany Hill in El Cerrito. I got my coffee beans and an iced decaf latte and did these two little sketches.
It was a lovely spot except for the smell of dog pee along the fence I was using as an easel/table. This path must be a favorite dog walking spot. It’s funny how sensory experiences get embedded in a painting done outdoors — souds, wind, sun, friendly people…they’re all in there.
Tonight I tried adding a little Aquacover (a white-out designed for watercolor paper) mixed with some yellow paint to try to put back the falling water and reflections. I’m not sure it worked. Here it is before I added the splashy water.
Jana Bouc, Artist 
11 replies on “Cerrito Creek”
Hi Jana – these are really nice. I think the Aquacover was successful – at least in the scans. I love it when you sketch little out-of-the-way places.
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Well, I think it makes more visual sense with the splashy bits – without, it looks like a non flowing ‘stream’, maybe. Nice feeling of depth into the tunnels.
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LOVELY LOVELY LOVELY!!!! GREAT colors! It was a balmy day here too — spring is definitely enroute!
I’ve tried the aquacover before to restore lost whites and cover watercolor errors — I find it reactivates with water … I’m not crazy about it.
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I would agree with Alison: without the white splashy bits it doesn’t read as water at all. It took a few moments of looking at the amended one to “get it”, but I did get it…
And the bit about the odors–so true! I look at things I’ve done outdoors and remember the “aromas”…
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Virginia — Maybe the water should be white, not yellow. I don’t know why I made it yellow. It was late and I was tired…or maybe it was the memory of the scent of the dog pee….?
Lin — I have had the same experience with the Aquacover and usually use Pro White when I don’t want it to bleed but it’s a very cold white.
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Great! And the latte sounds good too. I have not used Aquacover-sounds interesting because it was just what I needed today.
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Hi Jana
I like these paintings and I think you’ve used the aquacover successfully. It doesn’t bother me that it is yellowish, I actually think that adds a nice “quirky” touch, gives it a different quality…I like it. Your little path also has a mysterious quality that I like.
Ronell
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I think it’s pretty amazing you got such a detailed painting in one of those little Moleskines!
Congrats on your interview – hope they use your words. (Sounds like they need a voice of reason in their article!)
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Wow, your work never ceases to amaze… I’ve been away from checking anyone’s updates lately – its great to be back and to see that you’ve had your own show! Congratulations!
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Wow! Those look very good. I can’t help, but Indiana Jones comes to my mind when looking at them 🙂
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Hasn’t this weather been amazing? I love the coolness of these sketches, and how you capture the light in the masses of greenery.
I don’t think I’ve been at that spot before – will have to seek it out.
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