While summer is moving right along I seem to be lagging behind a bit. Probably because of the heat. But even with that we have been experiencing some truly gorgeous days and our usual cool nights. The season seems to have slowed my pace though. That's all right with me.
Above is a watercolor sketch in my summer sketch journal - my new journal which I forgot to show you earlier. Again, it's handmade with antique white Canson Edition paper. I used up the remaining paper from my stash, adjusting the format to 5.5 x 7 inches to get the most out of what I had left. The resulting journal is a little less rectangular than my previous 5 x 8 inch journals, and I am liking this format better. It also has more signatures. This makes it thicker with more pages to fill. Like my previous journals I included signatures in the front and back with plain copy paper for scribbling notes and calendar pages in the front. Plus a pocket in the back for business cards and a few watercolor postcards. And yep, I put the bookmark in upside-down. I don't want to talk about that. It still works fine. I'm okay with it. Really I am.
Moving right along, here is what I have been using lately for my sketching kit. The small tin I found at
Cheap Joe's, which I filled with paints from the Professor's stash. I added my raw umber watercolor stick because he didn't have that color and I do like using it sometimes. When we were in Ohio last month, I found the plastic box at the super market in the school supplies aisle. For a 99 cent investment it holds a water brush, a few pencils and a couple of pens, a handi-wipe cloth and a baggie with a pencil sharpener, and either this travel tin of watercolors or my tin of watercolor sticks. I like that this set up is so compact. I find that I will sketch more often if I don't have to drag out a lot of stuff just to get started.
Like these strawberries I sketched while I was fixing dinner the other evening.
I am also devoting a lot of time this summer to reading and studying. I took advantage of a couple of special offers at
North Light Books and
Dover Publications recently to stock up on books. Can you tell I am still obsessed with trees?
I also neglected to mention my Print of the Month for July. Perhaps you noticed it anyway over there on the side bar. It is from an original colored pencil painting on pastel board, titled Reeds.You can see a little slide show of how I drew this piece
here. Fine art prints and cards from this image are available through
Imagekind.
15 comments:
I have been looking for a pencil case like yours; hopefully when the new school supplies are out (which sadly won't be long!). Your flowers and strawberries are delightful!!
I'm getting a contact high from looking at your artwork -- along with instruction books, pencils, sketchbook (handmade, no less!) and all. It really makes me feel like - I dunno - the first day of school? I always loved that feeling.
The flowers are gorgeous and the strawberries look really really delicious. I am so delighted when I look at these drawings, slow of fast, you sure don't lack any impressive elements there!
Your paintings are so beautiful, Ann, I could look at them all day.
Ann thank you for the kind comments left on my page.They are very encouraging and have led me to your site.I really like your pencils and pastels, they are so vibrant and full of light, and really shows what you can do with this media.I will return again for inspiration.
Absolutely love the July print; just an exquisite scene of serenity, something I am always searching for. Love the bouquet and had to laugh at your upside down book mark and pilfering of Gary's paints. LOLOL The bouquet is just lovely and I for one am thankful that you are slowing down for the summer. Hopefully that means you are relaxed and enjoying the days with your family!
Beautiful flowers. Love the bright summer colors.
Monique
I love your flower painting - and your new watercolor journal. I actually laughed when I read about your bookmark because I have inserted my page block into my book covers upside down more than once!
Beautiful summer bouquet, and the strawberries look delicious!
I like your outside artkit, seems very practical.
Your flowers and strawberries are beautifully done!! And I really appreciate that you posted a picture of your art kit! Now that looks portable!! (without the shoulder pain!)
The flowers are lovely. Thanks for the link on the wc palette. And for sharing your sketch kit. Great post.
Looks like you are taking the Summer nice and slow, as it should be. We've also been doing lots of reading on the backyard swing, and also sketching. Good thing you can "raid" the Professor's paint stash. :)
So many great things in one post! Love the flowers watecolor, lovely and happy colors! The strawberry drawing is great, with a neat composition on the page (and I'm awed : you can draw and make dinner at the same time - a new world opens before my eyes ^^!)
I need to learn to make my own sketchbooks, yours look great, and I love the nearly square format.
And your "reeds" pencil painting is beautiful - you always do water so well!
I am sure, everyone of those pages in this sketch book are gorgeous as these. The reed is also a stunner!
Love the flowers, and the composition of the strawberries is stunning! Beautiful.
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