Gel Sticks, Ink, and late night Latte's....

Happy Father's Day!

Hope you are safe and happy

wherever you are....

I wanted to share a bit of what I have been up to lately...

I have been trying to spend my evenings

at the table

drawing and painting.

I have always loved watercolors.

For me drawing and painting,etc. came naturally..

but 

what I have realized

is that I don't 

PRACTICE...

I can't expect to throw out something I'm really proud of
 if I don't.

 After taking a class with Melody Ross

it really stuck with me 

when she said

"I've done this thousands of times, it comes naturally now -

you can't expect to be perfect or for it to be easy your first time"

While I have always been artistic
 it hit home

that I'm too sporadic at what I do...

I decided to try a more

loose use of color and wash
versus 
the very intricate way I used to paint.

Then I decided to add in some pen and ink to the mix...

I have been using my Pinterest boards for inspiration...

I painted this the 2nd night I decided to start this journey...

 I'm just using a Sketchbook

not a watercolor pad...

Third night I came up with a similar version

but on watercolor paper...

on the fourth night

I went back to the sketchbook

and 

created this

I'm really happy with how she turned out...

I used a B&W photo that I have

on my Artsy Goodness page 
on Pinterest.

The image doesn't do her justice in my opinion...

I'm falling in love with the use of ink in addition

to the watercolors.

It has been a lot of fun   - honestly.

 I have been up quite late  a few of those nights.

It is funny though -
 when I am doing something I am so "into"
 I could care less about being hungry

or 
tired...I can't stop!

I'll keep you up to speed with some of my progress

during this  summer.

Do you have a new medium you have tried recently?

or

a new product that you think is amazing?

Here is a link to what the Gel Sticks are if you have not seen them before-

at  

Faber Castell

 I have both sets pictured...

 I think it is hilarious that they are marketing them

with the children's pictures
 I think these would be a mess

with a child who is not careful. 

They are very creamy - once onto  the page
- fine - 
but I could see 

a child getting them on other things before that 
and they'd be a pain to get off!

Hope you had a great weekend!