Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Watersoluble graphite pencil

I got a 2B and 6B watersoluble graphite pencil the other day. I didn't even know these existed. I really like them. You can't move the colour around the page much, and I was surprised just how much darker the 6B was. They look fairly similar when dry, and then when wet, the 6B leaps out of the page. I used my water brushpen that I use with watercolour pencils.


Bridge near Wanganui River, North Island, NZ

Mini watercolour sketches 10 and 11/30


As usual, on 8cm x 12cmish Archers 300 gsm watercolour paper.





My second go at a watercolour portrait (still in miniature though). 

 Gratuitous photo of Mt Cook, South Island, New Zealand. Photo: Jonas

Mini watercolor sketches 8 and 9/30




I did the same sketch twice, quickly drawing on one while the other one dried.  I don't know which one I like better.


It was probably a bit ambitious to try to paint a watercolor sketch every day just before Christmas! But I'll try and keep at it. 


This is a sketch of a tiny old boat winch at the Pauatahanui boat houses. A lovely summer's day and everyone was out with their bikes and dogs.


Monday, December 22, 2014

Portrait thumbnails


Thumbnail size portraits, Staedler black Superfine pen. Sugar paper.


Wednesday, December 17, 2014

More pen sketches


More thumbnail portrait sketches. Staedler 0.1 fineliner in grey on A5 card.

Lighthouse, somewhere in Northland, NZ (photo from Jonas)

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Pen sketches




3-5 minute pen sketches on A5 smooth card. Staedler 0.1 (I think) fineliner pen)

Monday, December 1, 2014

Pastel Portrait #3




Pastel portrait #2

My second go at doing a portrait in pastels. I think I did better at the skin colours this time. A model from a magazine.



Sunday, November 30, 2014

Friday, November 21, 2014

Sketch with my new prismacolour pencil




Thanks so much to Kerri-ann for sending me a box of prismacolor pencils and lots of other art goodies. I love them. This is a portrait in french gray shade.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Watercolour 6 and 7/30


Somewhere on the Otago Peninsula, 4 x 6 inches


Rocky Kaikoura Beach, looking north.  2 x 2.5 inches
(The paper was a bit bent in the photo!)

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Watercolour sketch 5/30

Beach on the Otago Peninsula. 2x2.5 inches.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Watercolour sketch 4/30

Waimate, New Zealand, in the afternoon sun.

Watercolour sketches 2/30 and 3/30



 Waitete Bay (Coromandel, NZ), in the afternoon sun. Postcard size.

Miniature watercolor sketch, beach (not sure which one). 2x2.5 inches

Gratuitous photo of a waterfall, somewhere in Northland, NZ.

Some quick pen sketches



 Black biro. From a photo.


 Actual size. 1 1/2 inches tall.

Actual size. Practising drawing really small portraits.
 


 Gratuitous photo of somewhere in Northland, New Zealand. Bay of Isles?

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Watercolour sketch 1/30


The view from our deck: the Tararua Mountains

I haven't painted in maybe a year now, I think. I can't even remember which colours are which in my palette. I'll have to completely redo my palette, of course. I've forgotten which colours lift and which don't. I've forgotten which colours I used to mix for everything. I've even forgotten how to do clouds.

So I am going to try and do a quick 1-2 minute mini (2x2 inch) watercolour sketch of something each day if possible. Hopefully I will look back after 30 days and see lots of improvement!

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Sketches from Sixtus Lodge, Manawatu

  View down the road. Black superfine Staedler pen

View from the lounge. Black superfine Staedler pen

   A fellow traveller at the lodge, reading. Black superfine Staedler pen

  A fellow traveller at the lodge, reading. Black superfine Staedler pen

  A fellow traveller at the lodge, reading. 2B pencil

NZ forest, near Sixtus Lodge

Some sketches of people

Sepia fineliner

Black super fine Staedler pen

Black micron pen

Black superfine Staedler pen

 Black superfine Staedler pen
Sepia fineliner

Above all done on Big Yellow bee paper (a5 sketchbook), which I am loving using.

Medium Charcoal pencil, A4 sketchbook

2B pencil (4cm x 4cm)


B pencil, A4 sketchbook


 Sunrise

Friday, March 21, 2014

Envelope art: Mini racing

The front: a mini racing through the countryside. The address goes on the roadside sign.



The back: Driving through the countryside. The sender's address goes in the side mirror.



A gratuitous photo of 90 Mile Beach in Northland, North Island, New Zealand (photo by Jonas)