Watercolor 101 | The Way I See It

Every painting I create is different. I work one way for a while, for months, 

maybe years and then one day things just shift a little or sometimes a lot. 

Quite honestly the change is not always a seamless transition. I don't know why. 

Sometimes it's the subject matter or the materials that dictate working a certain way.

Maybe I get bored and it is simply time for something new. 

All I know for sure is that it keeps things interesting and keeps me from becoming stagnant. 

The way I see it is that you have to be an explorer and follow the visual tangents. 

So many of you asked questions about how I work,
and I thought I would try to reply to some of them today. 
As you read my answers, there are always exceptions and 
while I may work one way today I could very 
easily approach things differently tomorrow.

***

Do you have a sketchbook? 

Yes, I keep a sketchbook, but I have to admit that I do not use it very often. 

I draw in it, paint in it, paste into it and save fragments of torn up paintings in it. 

Yes, I tear up a lot of paintings. All the time. You should see my shredder. It's very colorful.

Do you paint from life, photos or both? Where do you find inspiration?

Sometimes I paint from life, create a little still life from bits of nature that I have gathered. 

I take lots of pictures as you know, but I don't often work from them directly, they just inspire. 

I gather snippets of inspiration from everywhere. I love patterns and color, 

vintage field guides and herbariums. I visit museums. I love pop culture and fashion. 
I read a lot. Words tend to inspire images the most for me. 

All of these things get jumbled in my head and influence my paintings. 

I'm obsessed with pinterest right now and arrange all of my pins by color.

Do you sketch with pencil under your paintings?

No, not usually. Every once in a while. I usually just go for it. 

I let the washes take me in a direction. I sometimes don't know what the painting is going to be. 
Sometimes I know precisely what I want to do, but watercolor isn't an exact medium, 

so things hardly ever turn out as planned! Working spontaneously keeps things fresh 

and in the moment. That said, I will be drafting a bit more for surface pattern designs 

I am working on right now, so it depends on the project too.

Please tell us about your calligraphy. Does the typeface have a name?

I just love calligraphy, lettering and handwriting and like to incorporate it into my work, 

Old letters and ledgers with elegant penmanship make me swoon. 

My lettering is done with a dipping pen, black ink, and quill type pen nib. 

It's not a particular typeface, just my handwriting which is slightly exaggerated. 

It's not true calligraphy at all. I'm also left handed, so If I can do it, anyone can. 

Changing the angle and the pressure creates beautiful lines and 

makes any old handwriting quite pretty, I think.

I hope this watercolor series has been helpful.

Don't be afraid to take risks and make mistakes. Enjoy your adventures with watercolor!

Please post any questions you have below.

Frolicking Naturally

A new colorway for my frolic collection.

A natural strié background adds a very subtle texture and warmth to the fabric.

I really love this version and hope you do too!

You can see the entire collection here.

A Closer Look | Cicada

I let my parsley grow wild in hope of attracting black swallowtails.

I inspect every bit of milkweed along the roadside, eyes peeled for a monarch chrysalis.

Summer after summer I patiently wait but I never quite find what I'm looking for.

This morning after cutting back my now inedible parsley, 

I looked down to find a different kind of hatching.

Perhaps it's not a butterfly, but wow, isn't the cicada beautiful too?

Click Click Click

I love summer evenings. The hum of cicadas. The clicking noise of moths at my window.

Fireflies lighting up over the fields. The smell of hay bales.

It's delightful.

Growing Like A Weed

I thought you might like a little Cowboy update. 

He's grown a little bigger every week and he's definitely in his gawky teen years now!

A far cry from those early days. Remember this picture?

He's a fantastic retriever and will fetch a tennis ball all day long.

We're all having such fun with him.

By the Sea

 Starfish

 Sand Dollars

Shells

Watercolor 101 | Make Your Mark

It's time to get out your brushes and make your mark!
Gather up an assortment of shapes and sizes and mix up a big wash of soupy paint.

Load up your brush with paint and use the whole brush from tip to base and stamp with it.
Each brush will naturally create a different mark due to its unique shape and size.

Practice making strokes with your brush.
Start with the stamping action and then draw your brush in random directions.

Make short strokes, long strokes and swirling strokes.

Create calligraphic lines by change the pressure on your brush.
Start with a light hand and just use the tip of your brush,
then add weight and pressure to change the width of your line.
Lift the pressure off your brush to make a thinner, finer line.

Note the difference in the marks you can make by working with a dry or wet brush.
With a dry brush the bristles splay out and separate, creating a textured mark.
A wet brush will create a more even flowing brush stroke.

Paint simple shapes and forms in both positive and negative.
Try different brushes, layer your brush strokes and add in washes.
I'm sure you will come up with your very own marvelous combinations!
If you have any questions post them below.