Watercolor & Pen
Last time, I shared the first step of a sketchbook page. Simple shapes in green and beige watercolor:
The next step, after it was dry, was to add outlines and other details in pen. I used the Duke 600 fude nib pen again.
It’s nothing new, but it’s an easy subject for some fun and stress-free doodling.
More Neon Watercolor
Last time, I tried the yellow neon watercolor in moderation, using it alongside other, non-neon watercolor paints. I wanted to try the same idea again, but this time starting with one of the other neon colors.
I chose the hot pink, then went back with “plain” watercolors in greens, lilac, and spring yellow-green. Later on, it occurred to me that the yellow-green is almost so bright as to look neon, itself—but I do like these colors together, even if it’s not quite as much of an “in moderation” style as the other page.
I used the same fude nib pen to doodle over the very basic watercolor shapes. It was fun!
Collage Strawberries
This sketchbook page started out with watercolor blobs that I was planning to doodle over with pen. However, the first couple of doodles just weren’t working out, so I decided to change gears and do some collage, which would allow me to cover up the disappointing doodles.
On a whim, I chose strawberries as my theme. An easy organic shape to cut—and a subject that can vary significantly and still be recognizable.
I continued to frame each square blob with ink doodles, then cut my strawberry shapes (as well as some leaves and stems) from scraps of paper I’ve painted with the dregs of my ceramic palette. In some cases, I’ve doodled over the paint with markers. Others had a base layer of ink doodles or jotted notes—or they started off as colored paper or light cardstock. It’s just a random selection of paper.
I added ink details, as well as a few strategic touches of paint.
Some of the strawberries worked better than others, and the colors don’t all “go” perfectly, but it is just a sketchbook page for fun and learning what does and doesn’t work.
Selvage Quilt Progress
I haven’t been doing as much painting and doodling lately because the selvage quilt has been calling my name—an easy project to pick up and work on as and when the opportunity presents itself.
I’m still making them in groups of ten. Ten of one orientation, then ten of the other. I think I’m up to 60 units (30 of each type), which means I have half of what I need for the quilt. (Unless I miscalculated!)
I think I have enough selvages to make it work, so it’s just a matter of time before it’s time to start putting them all together! There’s no rush, though. I might slow down the piecing a bit and spend more time working on painting and sketching, instead. We’ll see!
