what I’ve been reading

When I take a break from reading something really thought-provoking, I often sketch the book while thinking about the bits I’ve just read. Somehow that action tends to cement the thoughts, helping me to remember. My cat, Bardie Mac, tried to help me as I drew this, coming between me and the sketchbook many times.

This little ebook (also available as an actual book, HERE) or can be read free on Wayne’s website (HERE) has many things that I wish to remember. So encouraging for those who have experienced the love of the Father . . . and those who seek Him.

another folded pocket journal

It came as a complete shock when I was chosen as one of three winners in Art Toolkit’s recent Summer Workshop Giveaway! With my love of sketching bits of nature, one of the awarded workshops I chose is “Pollinators in Ink” with Robin Lee Carlson. Her recommended supply list included toned watercolor paper; my current journal has white paper so I decided to make a small pocket journal of toned paper for the workshop and for practicing the learned techniques in further nature studies.

The tutorial for making these pocket journals was presented by Texas artist Judith Dollar and Art Toolkit’s Maria Cornell-Martin last March. The original one shown in the video started with an 11 x 15” piece of paper; I increased this to about a 14 x 18” piece of heavy double-sided wrapping paper. The original journal had an accordion-fold insert of multi-media paper; for this toned paper, I sewed folded papers together using a Coptic stitch. 

The third photo shows the version I made last March, measuring 3 3/4 x 5 1/4”, next to the new one, which is 4 1/2 x 7”. The pocket in front is a great place to stash a Pocket Palette!

granulating pigments

The pocket palette that I have been using recently (in the upper right corner) held 14 granulating watercolors. But I remembered that I had others that are listed as granulating, some more so than others. Many were remaining pans of colors I no longer have tubes for; that quinacridone gold is one of 2 pans I still have of the original discontinued formula. Others are from small sample tubes.

I wondered if they would all fit in one folio palette — and they pretty much do! I left out hematite genuine (I’m not too crazy about it), bronzite genuine (which has a bit of sparkle to it), and a couple of experimental pans I mixed myself of pigments used in the Schminke Super Granulating line of paints.

The cobalt blue is new to me. The guy that taught me about watercolor included it in his palette of 12 colors. At the time, I used Cotman student grade paints and I didn’t see much difference between cobalt and ultramarine. This week I bought a small tube from Daniel Smith just to give it another try.

I think I’ll keep these stored in the folio pan, removing only those I want to use in smaller palettes for various projects. 

This color chart was also an exercise in precision for me. For several years, I have experienced a slight uncontrollable shaking in my dominate right hand. Not all the time and not predictable. Later this month, I’ll be seeing a doctor to try and figure out what it is. But for today, slowly painting out these rectangles was a good practice in keeping my hand steady. Sometimes concentrating helps.

camping at Cagle

While we were camping at Cagle on the shore of Lake Conroe, I did manage to get a few sketches done after all. The large oak leaf was done directly with a brush and watercolor.

Most of the week, we had the Sweet Gum camp site all to ourselves. The heat and high humidity is probably to blame, but we enjoyed the peace and quiet of the forest.

packing essentials

Today we have been loading the RV for another week of camping, this time heading back to a site along the shore of Lake Conroe. I drew the art tools I planned to pack but it did not turn out as I had planned. Oh, well . . .

After gathering everything together, I thought “why carry both pocket palette and demi palette when all would fit in that empty folio palette?” So I temporarily moved all the paint into the folio for this trip.

Here’s a close up of the paints from the demi palette for those curious. This is what I currently carry in my bag for tiny sketches.

revisiting another old palette

In June 2018 I took part in Marc Taro Holmes’ 30 x 30 Direct Watercolor Challenge, filling this sketchbook with 30 watercolor-only sketches. I’m thinking of re-reading his book in the near future and maybe trying the same technique. At the time, I matched the Demi Palette that Art Toolkit put together for the challenge but I no longer have some of those colors. Instead, I put together the palette shown above. Instead of Perylene Maroon, I stirred a bit of raw umber and quinacridone red in a mini pan. Instead of Pyrrol Orange, I mixed quin. coral and nickel azo yellow. Then substituted a few other colors with those I had on hand.

The following photos are three of my favorites from 2018. Several sketches were removed from the sketchbook, the sketches either sold or given away.

after baking

This mess was on my kitchen counter after baking a loaf of sourdough, so I thought I’d sketch it. The initial layout had a very wonky perspective between countertop and brick backsplash — I decided keep it wonky. That’s a “breakfast bar” extending to the right, an easy surface to work the dough.

Drawn with a Kaweco Supra fountain pen, F nib, and De Atramentis Document Grey ink.

I bake my loaves in parchment paper because it makes transferring the proofed dough to the preheated loaf pan so much easier! I have a bread lame for scoring the top but kitchen shears work easier. The actual loaf of bread is in the wax-infused cloth bread bag — it keeps so much fresher this way!

a recently read book

Sometimes as I’m reading a book a line or two stick with me — so much that I jot them down to remember them. This recent book was a quick read but very good.

taking it easy

She smiles even in her sleep. But a much bigger, wider grin when it’s time to play ball.