Category: Watercolor

Categories
Life in general Outdoors/Landscape Sketchbook Pages Watercolor

Cold morning

Cold morning

Watercolor, then Micron Pigma Brush Pen in Moleskine large watercolor notebook
(To enlarge, click image, select “All Sizes”)

I did this quick little painting this morning of the view out my living room window (more than slightly imaginated) (imaginate is my word for imagine and exaggerate). Even with the color in the sky, everything looked so cold, with frost on all the rooftops.

I’m counting this as yesterday’s post because last night my painting group got together for a little holiday celebration pizza dinner and I had some wine (which I usually don’t and so it tends to make me quickly tipsy) and even though we all sat around eating and talking and I could have been sketching them, it didn’t occur to me until just before everyone went home. I kept thinking we were going to get back to our original plan of taking a group photo, quickly printing and handing it out, and each of us spending an hour drawing/painting from the same photo and then seeing how different all of our paintings were. But with two pizzas, two bottles of wine, a yummy salad and lots to talk about….it just never happened.

Categories
Outdoors/Landscape Sketchbook Pages Watercolor

Cody’s Books & the Absent-Minded Artist

Cody's Books 4th Street

Micron Pigma ink & watercolor in large Moleskine watercolor notebook
(To enlarge, click image, select “All Sizes”)

After I saw Martha’s rendition of the Christmas lights on Berkeley’s 4th Street shopping area I decided to make my way there one evening to sketch. I hadn’t really planned on going there tonight though. I’d gone to the Blick Art Supplies store near there since Jackie (a knowledgeable sales clerk there) had offered to help me select some good oil painting brushes. I also gathered a number of other items I needed, even though I was annoyed that I’d left my sale coupon at home. That was the second absent minded act of the day. The first was trying to return my Masterpiece Theatre Prime Suspect DVD (EXCELLENT!) to the video store without the DVD inside. Before I left home this time I made sure I had the DVD in the box and in the car to return on the way home.

When I went to check out I discovered the Absent-Minded Artist struck again. Earlier today, in preparing to take a walk with Barbara, I’d removed my wallet from my fanny pack to lighten the load and never put it back in. Both Barbara and I were feeling like half-wits on our walk — I was recovering from yet another migraine last night and she’d been unable to sleep the night before.So there I was with all my items rung up and no money or cards to pay for them. (DUH!)

All was not lost though, since 4th Street was just around the corner. I drove down there, parked, looked for something to paint, moved a little, parked, moved some more, until I finally found a scene I wanted to paint.

Since I didn’t have much time, I drew straight away with ink, not worrying about perspective and straight lines (which is obvious). When I was ready to start painting, I put on my cool strap-on headlamp and it worked great. I tilted it to shine down on my paper and could see the colors I was mixing just fine. Unfortunately just as I started painting Cody’s turned off their interior lights so I had to paint that from memory.
When I got home I discovered Miss Absent Minded struck again. The DVDs were still on my car seat — I’d forgotten to return them again.

Categories
Every Day Matters Sketchbook Pages Watercolor

A Gift: Everyday Matters #97

Everyday Matters - Gift

Micron Pigma ink and watercolor in large Moleskine watercolor notebook
(To enlarge, click image, select “All Sizes”)
This week’s EDM Challenge is to draw and write about a gift we’ve received.

On the last day of a watercolor class I was teaching, Donna brought this cute little Santa as a gift for me (along with some yummy pumpkin bread to share). In past years I was very grumpy during the holidays but this year I decided to try something different. Instead of ranting about rampant commercialism, I would try to be a source of good cheer. I discovered that if I stayed true to myself by opting out of shopping, exchanging gifts and partying, I could go through the holidays gracefully. This little Santa sits on my table as a cheery reminder of the fullness and joy the holidays can bring.

I love hearing about other people’s memories of wonderful family Christmas celebrations with snow and gingerbread and all. I never had those growing up in southern California in a non-religious Jewish family. It wasn’t until my parents divorced and my dad moved out that my mom decided we could celebrate Christmas. So she hung some decorations on a big piece of driftwood she’d found on the beach and stuck in a pot of dirt in the living room. Not the sort of holiday that sugar plum dreams are made of.

When I was married and my kids were little we made a big deal out of Christmas, and had some cozy family traditions. But as the kids got older and the marriage ended, I began to gradually back out of the holiday. Each year I got a smaller tree until one year I just hung up a little picture of a tree. Once the kids moved on to their own lives, I dropped the whole Christmas/Hanukah thing. I continued enjoying and celebrating Thanksgiving and New Years though, since those holidays, to me, are about reflecting and giving thanks and spending time with loved ones without the shopping.

Now I’m letting Christmas back in again, just a wee bit, with my little Santa sitting on my table, reminding me about the fullness and joy of the season. It seems to be working — I haven’t had a single rant and it’s already a week before Christmas. (Thanks Donna!)

(To slip just a bit in the rant department, I laughed at Willie’s Christmas tree here (notice what’s under the tree!).

Added in response to some comments: It’s hard to explain, but I really don’t feel sad at all. It’s kind of like I just don’t have that holiday gene so I don’t feel like I’m missing anything. I think I feel more unhappy when I force myself to participate in things that don’t feel authentic to me. So instead I’m kind of vicariously enjoying the holidays by watching other people who do have the gene and seeing how they enjoy the season and appreciating it.

Categories
Life in general Sketchbook Pages Still Life Watercolor

My little cow glass is broken

Broken cow glass

Watercolor in 5×5″ Hand Book Journal
(To enlarge, click image, select “All Sizes”)

I found this little glass at a thirft shop and really liked it. I’d been leaving it on the kitchen counter where it’s handy to grab for a quick glass of water. Yesterday when I came home from work I found it in the sink, chipped and cracked. I guess the kitties were investigating the counter and knocked it off. It makes me sad that I can’t drink out of it anymore. It was just the right size and shape. I like it too much to throw it away. I’ll just keep it in the studio to look at and enjoy.

I know it’s odd that to be so fond of a cheap little thrift shop glass the way other people might relish jewelry or other fancy things. That’s just how I am though–I get more pleasure from simple things than fancy ones–like the old wool blanket on my bed. It’s warm and cozy but long ago lost all its satin binding. It has several holes chewed on the edges from when I took care of my niece Sophie’s pet rat for a few days. We kept the rat in its cage in my sons’ room next to their guinea pigs. But the rat’s cage was too close to the bed and it pulled the blanket (which had been my grandmother’s) into the cage and chewed off some nice bedding material for himself (or herself, I forget which).

My sons grew up and moved on, but I still have the blanket and don’t mind the scalloped edges. The blanket keeps me warm and it’s nice to sleep covered with something that my grandmother once held in her arms as she folded it (and probably ironed it knowing her).

Categories
People Sketchbook Pages Watercolor

Judith (and Fiona) in the Night Studio

Judith in the Night Studio

Ink drawing with watercolor Raffine 6×9 sketchbook
(To enlarge, click image, select “All Sizes”)

Tonight my painting group came by for our usual Tuesday (or sometimes Wednesday) painting session. Judith offered to pose for me while she was working on a painting and she was a perfect model. She actually was an artist’s model back in her art school days. Fiona decided to pose too — she’s on the window seat behind Judith.

This was the last page in this notebook and even though I’ve complained about the Raffine sketchbook from time to time, I’ve come to like it in a funny way. Because I didn’t love it I could be really free about sketching in it, not caring if I “wasted” pages. That way of thinking has rubbed off on all my sketchbooks (I have half a dozen going at once so I can pick just the one I’m in the mood for or that’s the right size) so I’m treating them all as working tools rather than precious items of value on their own.

I’m amazed and happy that my energy has returned and I haven’t had any caffeine since last Thursday. I guess I’ve completed my caffeine detox and I’m back to myself again…or maybe it’s the wonderful rainy weather I love so much, or the finally waning full moon. Whatever it is, I’ll take it! After a good night’s sleep last night, a productive day at work doing things that were not easy, and our painting session tonight, I’m still feeling cheery and not tired. Yay!

Categories
Drawing Life in general Sketchbook Pages Watercolor

Sorry Cody

(not) Cody's Car

Ink & watercolor in Raffine 6×9 sketchbook
(To enlarge, click image, select “all sizes”)

My son Cody is an excellent car mechanic, specializing in customizing 60s and 70s muscle cars like his 1970 Firebird. He wanted to put a drawing of his car on his new business cards. I said I’d give it a try but somehow managed to take his beautiful Firebird and turn it into a jalopy. I knew the proper way to do this would be to start with some pencil sketches, or work from a photo of the car in Illustrator or Painter, but I had a stressful day and just felt like drawing directly in ink for fun. (Sorry Cody, maybe you do need to contact that guy who does car illustrations or my blogger friend France at Wagonized who can really draw cars.)

In case you’re interested in “muscle” cars and want to see pictures and video of his handiwork, you can visit Cody’s website. There’s even a video of his car in my driveway with the engine running with full sound effects. I guess he made that video on the day that he put the car all back together and it worked! That must be a thrilling experience to take a car apart until it’s just a shell and then spend a year designing, building and reassembling every part of it. He replaced the engine with one he built, starting from scratch with the biggest Chevy engine block ever made. Many parts had to be specially custom-designed and built for the car. Cody used to be a wonderful artist himself, doing amazing drawings and spray-painted murals (also known as graffiti) and is still my best art critic, always knowing exactly what a painting needs. Now I guess he’s more of a sculptor, making cars into moving pieces of art. He’s a great problem-solver, incredibly determined and persistent (wonder where he gets that?) and a terrific mechanic. If you need work done on your car in the East Bay, you can reach him by email:  CodyBouc@yahoo.com

Categories
Outdoors/Landscape Sketchbook Pages Watercolor

On Sir Francis Drake Blvd.

Sir Francis Drake Blvd.

Pentel Brush pen and watercolor in 9×12 Aquabee sketchbook
(To enlarge, click image, select “All Sizes”)

I took the photo this sketch is based on when I was driving home from a trip across the bay to Marin County. There are a couple of small parks along the water on Sir Francis Drake Blvd. One was larger where windsurfers launch their rigs and then there was this little pocket park with amazing views and a little swampy area full of reeds and ducks. I’ve been doing thumbnails, trying to decide what to do with the pictures I took, and tonight decided to do this drawing in preparation for doing a monoprint.

I also made the monoprint, which was sort of successful — it will depend on how it dries and what happens when I try to color it with watercolor. I’ll wait to post it until then. I’ve discovered that printing paper is very soft and if you accidentally get a spot of ink on the paper there’s no way to remove it — wiping it with a damp paper towel just messes up the paper surface and leaves the ink right there, only looking worse.

Today was another day of feeling fairly uninspired and lethargic. I think what’s happening is caffeine withdrawal. Last week I broke my usual rules about no caffeine (I avoid it because it can cause migraines for the susceptible) and had caffeine three days in a row. Hence the migraine on Friday and now the withdrawal. I love coffee and that nice peppy feeling from caffeine but I don’t love migraines so I guess I’ll just have to deal with being tired for now. When I first gave up the caffeine a couple years ago I was railing against not being able to get that great artificial energy. I asked a friend who never uses caffeine what she does when she’s tired, thinking there must be some other way to get that energy and I was so surprised by her answer. She said, “I take a nap or just do something restful.” What a concept: rest!

Categories
Flower Art Gardening Sketchbook Pages Still Life Watercolor

Where did my muse go?

Winter Roses

Watercolor then Pentel Brush pen in large Moleskine watercolor notebook
(To enlarge, click image, select “All Sizes”)

I spotted these roses in my garden this morning, still blooming, even with morning frost and rain. I’ve enjoyed having them in the house and tonight decided to make a quick painting of them for posting.

I’ve been sleepy and uninspired all day today. First I lost yesterday to a migraine, then today all sorts of things got in the way of painting. I had to take Busby to the vet for a sudden bladder problem. When I got home I realized that I couldn’t put off vacuuming any longer so spent a couple hours cleaning house. Then I didn’t get into the studio until after 3:00 because I fell asleep in my recliner after eating lunch. I guess I’m still recovering from yesterday’s major migraine.

Once I found my way to the studio I worked on an oil painting for a few hours and I think I finished it but will wait to look at it with fresh eyes tomorrow to see if more is needed.

Hopefully tomorrow my inspiration, energy and muse will return.

Categories
Animals People Sketchbook Pages Watercolor

Scared by a Bear at U.C. Berkeley

UC Berkeley Bear

Micron pigma ink, Kremer Pigments Watercolors in Raffine 6×9 sketchbook
(To enlarge click image, select “All Sizes”)

Barbara and I were taking a walk across the University of California’s Berkeley campus a couple of weeks ago in a drizzling rain. As we turned a corner we heard barking and then saw this little dog barking at a stone bear (the U.C. mascot). His owners were laughing as the well-dressed pup gradually inched his way closer, barking all the way. I barely had time to get my camera out of its case and snap a picture before they moved on.

Tonight I started to draw the scene from my photo in my watercolor Moleskine with an .01 Micron Pigma but it just wasn’t happening — just couldn’t get in the flow. So I abandoned the drawing and switched to the Raffine sketchbook and an .03 Micron Pigma. Somehow the fatter line worked better and let me be more playful with my lines as I drew. Meanwhile, my painting group and I were listening to some good music, chatting, and drinking Bengal Spice herb tea.

Last night I had a brief and ugly night’s sleep that was cut even shorter by my cats at 6:00 a.m. Busby came crashing into my room, his head stuck in the handle of a brown paper grocery bag. He managed to break free of it with that grand entrance, but that was the end of my fitful sleep. So I’m off now to try for better luck tonight!

Categories
Every Day Matters Sketchbook Pages Watercolor

Brown Sugar Jar (EDM 96 – Something Sweet)

Brown Sugar Jar (EDM #96)

Watercolor in large Moleskine watercolor notebook
(To enlarge, click image, select “All Sizes”)

This week’s Everyday Matters challenge is to paint something sweet. I’ve been trying to cut down on eating sweet things (to lose the few pounds I put on from spending lots of time at art and not enough at the gym). So…no candy, cookies or (my favorite) donuts around here to paint. But I do have a jar of brown sugar for my oatmeal and that’s what I’ve painted. I drew it loosely, applied a bit of masking with a toothpick and a little brush and then started painting. It went really quickly, only taking about an hour, and I’m happy to say that painting it was more fun than eating a plate of sweets!