Playing with the new Strathmore toned paper journal

I have a journal I use almost exclusively for writing, and decided I needed to try the new Strathmore hardbound journal when I ran out of my faves.

It's nice! Smooth surface, a pleasure to write in, tempting mid-tan color, and fun to do some art in, taking advantage of that middleground tone.

This is a Prismacolor dark grey pencil with touches of white...

Whee, more colored pencil and ink!

Pilot Penmanship pen with water-soluble ink, plus white Prismacolor and gouache.

And a female bluebird in gouache.  The paper really buckles VERY little, and it's just plain fun!

It was just a very quick pencil sketch...the gouache brings her to life!

I'd definitely recommend these...I'm having a ball trying out different mediums in addition to my daily journaling!

a new beginning

a new beginning, a photo by vickylw on Flickr.

I've started a new sketchbook, with cleaned up palette and re-filled watercolor pans . . .

This handbound journal contains mostly Fabriano Artistico 140# hot press paper, plus a sample of Canson Dual 140# (cold press on one side, rough on the other). In the binding process, I forgot to add end papers . . . and found that I actually prefer it this way, using the same watercolor paper for end paper as well.

Though I'm no longer limiting myself to 3 primaries + 2 neutrals, I have larger pans of them in this palette. But I dropped Payne's Grey, switching to Monte Amiata Natural Sienna as my second neutral --- mixed grays and blacks are so much more interesting.

November 2012: Tea Time

November 2012: Tea Time, a photo by apple-pine on Flickr.

More Playing with Primaries

I did this a few years ago with my basic primaries...in this case, Cadmium Yellow Medium, Phthalo Blue, and Quinacridone Red.  I was happy with this little farmscape.

Went for bolder mixes yesterday, in my journal...Quin, Rose, Phthalo Blue, and Hansa Yellow in this set.

You can go very subtle, too, if you wish...this is those same three primaries, but blended into varied blue grays.  (Hero M-86 pen with Polar Brown ink, for the under-drawing.)

So are you still experimenting?  Share on our Artist's Journal Workshop group on Facebook if you like! https://www.facebook.com/groups/artists.journal.workshop/?ref=ts&fref=ts or in our Flickr group!

Saying Goodbye to Our Pumpkins

Saying Goodbye to Our Pumpkins, a photo by apple-pine on Flickr.

My Usual Colors...sort of...

This is what I was using last year for my usual palette in my old repurposed Prang box.  I'm moving away from the Cadmiums now, and I don't use Transparent Yellow as much as I did...the sap green is gone, too, but everything else is pretty much standard, when I'm NOT using the limited primaries palette!

My color-challenge continues...

This one was done right after I did all the color tests in my journal...I had an old Shaffer calligraphy pen in my purse and added the color from memory, which often works better for me.  Fresher color!

Down in the Ozarks this past week, I knew I'd have a REAL challenge, with all the fall colors.  This one was done on the spot...

My new walker gave me a place to carry all my art supplies and my camera, as well as a place to sit while I worked, but I found I did need a separate table of some sort.  The arm rests really kind of got in the way if I tried to sit and work in my lap, and my journal tended to slide off my knees onto the ground.  So I'd usually park near a bench...

The same day, as evening came on...I wasn't really happy with the one on the left, the darker colors got muddy on me and the brights were TOO bright.  The sun was going down behind this big hill, so I wanted the shadowy effect, but think I should have kept it cooler and grayer...

Still, it was fun to try to capture the effect of fire in this small sketch that was on one corner of a journal page...

I kept it simple with this one...and liked the effect.

Did I stick completely to my primaries-only plus Burnt Sienna and Payne's Grey palette?  Nope, occasionally I just wanted the colors and textures offered by my original set.  I LOVE granulating colors, and the simple set doesn't offer that.

I also found myself reaching for my original little Altoids kit with the primaries instead of the newer kit...but basically it's the same primaries, a warm yellow, Quin Red, and Phthalo Blue, plus B.S. and P.G. It's light and handy and slips into my purse.

I'm enjoying the challenge, but don't consider myself tied...it's a choice, not a geas!