Category Archives: Ink and Watercolor Wash

Calavera

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I was talking with a friend this morning and I realized I hadn’t yet uploaded anything for November. With all the upcoming holidays it just wouldn’t do to miss the first holiday of the month: El Día de los Muertos also know in english as The Day of the Dead.

A sugar skull is also known as a calavera and I’m comforted by the thought that they aren’t considered grotesque or macabre but instead are a reminder that, even though death is unavoidable, we need to remember to not only celebrate the lives of our family and friends but to seize each day of our own lives.

I found this blog post had a wealth of information.

She’s Really Not Looking at Me

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I’m drawing & painting from a photo posted all over the internet. Credit goes to Win McNamee/Getty Images. Ms. Cheney is not looking at the camera but try as I might, I just cannot paint her eyes to show how she’s looking straight ahead to the video setup. I must have painted & blotted three or four times. Finally, I just have to accept it.

“Tonight, I say this to my Republican colleagues who are defending the indefensible: There will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonor will remain.”
—- Liz Cheney
09 June 2022

I’ve found the ONE!

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After trying one and then another, at long last I’ve found the perfect corner rounder for me! I hope you’re not disappointed because you were hoping I was going to dish on something much more juicy.

I present the Sun-Star Kadomaru Pro Corner Cutter. At the time of writing you can find it on Amazon for $12.67 USD

This little beauty can be used to round three different sizes depending on what’s needed. There’s a 3mm, a 5mm, and an 8mm. Does it measure radius? I think so but I’m not sure. I cut a sample card.

5mm is the same as the rounded corner on a self-healing cutting mat and the 8mm is the same as the corner on one of the Hahnemühle watercolor postcards.

Nice smooth corners with no leftover notches or tags like those left by my other rounders. I’ll be reaching for this one from now on!

Jack-o’-Lanterns Galore

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Over the years our extended family has gone camping over Columbus Day / Indigenous People’s Weekend. 2012 marks the start of the family pumpkin carving ritual and my ritual of documenting the artwork in my journal.

The more members of the family, the more come camping, the more pumpkins to carve, and the more pumpkins to draw and paint.

And we love every minute of our Pre-Halloween festivities!

2012 – Lake Champagne Campground
2013 – Pine Hollow Campground
2014 – Seven Maples Campground
2015 – Getaway Mountain Campground
2016 – Shir-Roy Campground

2017 – Sorry, no sketchbook page… we were unable to join the group this year.

2018 – Woodmore Campground
2019 – Woodmore Campground
2020 (1 of 2) – Woodmore Campground
2020 (2 of 2) – Woodmore Campground
2021 (1 of 3) – Woodmore Campground
2021 (2 of 3) – Woodmore Campground
2021 (3 of 3) – Woodmore Campground

Gouache and #paintwithGJ

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An online class with two of my art heroes? Definitely count me in!

Gayle Kabaker spent a week at the Jersey shore and invited Jennifer Orkin Lewis, aka August Wren to join her and host an online gouache class from the beach house.

Since I haven’t been able to get to the shore and walk the beach this year, or last year for that matter, I have been longing to escape. Painting with buff and ochre for beach sand, cerulean and ultramarine for sky and sea, brought the ocean to my drawing table. My goal was to paint along during the hour and a half presentation. It felt so good to stretch my artistic muscles.

Thank you Gayle and Jennifer!

#paintwithGJ