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When Your Pen Leaks Make It a Feature
Here’s a sketch from 2018 when I was doing some experiments to find my favorite toned paper for mixed media. I was testing a bunch of different chipboards. They soak up watercolor and gouache but you can use acrylic markers on them. Most I found were too expensive (when you locate them and pay postage) […]
How Do I Keep a Journal or a Sketchbook?
I get asked all the time “How do I keep a journal or a sketchbook?” I teach journaling classes in which students create in visual journals. I teach drawing classes that require students keep a sketchbook. Some people also ask me how journals and sketchbooks differ. The questions have so much “extra” weight. What those […]
In Context: Looking at the Arteza Watercolor Book Part 8
Again I didn’t write anything on this journal page, so it’s a bit weird for “In Context” but it’s one more in my series of mini review comments on the Arteza Watercolor Book. What I enjoyed on this spread was the manner in which I could get some delicate wash techniques. I was using a […]
Fabriano Mixed Media Paper in Economical Pads
So the other day I was in Wet Paint and I saw a pad on display—Fabriano Mixed Media Paper in a 9 x 12 inch pad from Savoir Faire. There were 150 sheets in the pad. It was on sale for $15.99. (Which meant each sheet was about 10 cents which is a great […]
Introspection and Gratitude
Today’s image has nothing to do with Memorial Day. I simply like to post a sketch with each blog post. I have written a post on Memorial Day pretty much every year I’ve had the blog. I think I’ve covered what I need to say about Memorial Day. I have a lot to be grateful […]
Using Only a Few Brush Strokes
Earlier this week I wrote about working quickly with the brush pen and all the benefits of different quick approaches. But you can also work quickly with watercolor washes. You pretty much force yourself to do this if you work with a large flat watercolor brush. (Here I used a 1.5 inch wide brush.) Why […]
Another Portrait on Canson Heritage Watercolor Paper
One thing I found that I really liked with Canson Heritage watercolor paper was the way a wide range of pens worked beautifully on its surface. (I was testing the hot press surface.) In this portrait I used a fountain pen filled with Platinum Carbon Black and two Sakura Pigma Professional brush pens with solid […]
Another Peek at Canson Heritage Watercolor Paper
I have already given my thoughts and recommendations about this paper and you can find them under “Canson Heritage” using the blog’s search engine or category list. This is a 100 percent cotton paper that has a non-animal sizing. But I wanted to share another piece I did which had some lifting out. This […]
Painting on Canson Heritage Watercolor Paper
I’ve already written a little bit about Canson Heritage Watercolor paper in a couple posts on the blog. I’ve admitted that I like the way my pens work on its hot press surface. I’ve admitted that even though it has a non-gelatin sizing I enjoy working on it either with transparent washes or with […]
Mop Brushes Are Your Friend
I know that sometimes you want that special brush that has the delightful point and gives you all the detail you crave. Today’s post isn’t about that brush. That brush is great when you need it, but if it’s the only brush you’re using your work is going to look fussy very fast. So what […]