Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Sketchbook Tuesday - Happy Groundhog Day!

And Candlemas day, and Imbolc and St Brigit day. Did you know there was so much significance to February 2nd? This day marks the half way point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. So no matter what the groundhog says, we are now half way to spring.

We spent most of this past weekend putting together Valentines for a Valentine exchange that Kiddo is doing this year. She made loads of beautiful Valentine cards with collage over watercolor backgrounds. Little pots of mixed watercolor were left over, so I looked for something with color to use up some of the paint. This apple was a handy subject and fun to paint with these watery colors. They are Stockmar watercolors that come in a little bottle. You only need the smallest dab of the liquid color to mix with water. The colors are very intense and the little bottles last forever. (No, I don't work for these people, I just really like Stockmar's art supplies for kids.) I do think it is important to give kids good quality art supplies, otherwise their experience making art just becomes frustrating and they may lose interest altogether. The apple was done in my hand made sketch book.
Still having paint left I drew in watercolor my poor geranium for Everyday Matters challenge #257, draw a house plant. I have been wanting to get back to doing these challenges. My hand.book journal dedicated for Everyday Matters drawing challenges has been neglected far too long. This geranium lives on our front porch during the summer and winters inside where it becomes leggy and pale. When it gets moved outside again it never fails to revive into a bushy plant rewarding us with lots of soft pink blossoms.

13 comments:

Leslie Hawes said...

These are brilliant watercolors!

And you are right about good art supplies for kids. I cringe every time I think about the "fat" crayons. It would be like trying to draw with a baseball bat.

Alex said...

I am crazy over that Housplant drawing... maybe it hits the right mark on me.... GREEN!! :) I simply love it Ann.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful color and the promise of spring. What more could one ask for? Well done!

Penny said...

I suppose that that means that on Feb 2nd we are half way to autumn, I hope so it is terribly hot and sultry here and no rain, which they promised.
Too hot for painting, sketching is about all I can do.

Cathy Holtom said...

Lovely watercolours, I can't wait for spring.
Your oil paintings are looking good too, you can see that they are yours even in a different medium.

nanke's stuff said...

Really like the apple, especially the shadow. I've never heard of Stockmar watercolors, but from the results here, they must be really good ones. The geranium make me laugh - I've got one or two plants in a similar state - I hope they recover like your geranium does! nancy

Autumn Leaves said...

This is such pretty little watercolors, Ann. I truly love them both and wish that my best efforts looked as good. What a neat insight into quality art supplies for kids. I'd never thought of that way.

Janet Ghio said...

Your apple is very pretty. All the nuances of color in it!!

Teresa said...

Good for you encouraging Kiddo to be creative! I think that's so important for kids and really helps them to be more well rounded and grounded as a person.

I didn't know you could overwinter geraniums and they'd blossom again!! Darn! When I think of all the pots of geraniums I've thrown out after the frost took its toll on them......

Anonymous said...

Love the apple! Especially keen on that one as, at the moment, I am trying to loosen up my painting and you do 'loose' so well!

Unknown said...

I love the apple too! I wish that I could circle that little section in the upper right that makes me so happy!

Ann said...

Thanks everyone for your wonderful comments :-)

Krista Meister said...

Happy Groundhog Day to you too! I like your thinking - Spring is on its way, hooray!!! Sounds like you guys had a great time making Valentines.

LinkWithin

Blog Widget by LinkWithin