I have been sharing my hopes for a colorful "artist's garden" to sit and sketch in over the summer. I am impatient for all my flowers to start growing but I was inspired this morning by my colorful blooming flowers on the back deck, waking to the sun and warmer temperatures totally lifts my mood and urges me to step outside.
The hummingbirds were darting in and out of the feeders hanging from the eaves on the back of the house and the bees were buzzing among the flowers. It was peaceful. I brought my new favorite art supplies and my nature journal to do a quick sketch and watercolor. Honestly this page took me about twenty minutes start-to-finish, including deciding what to draw and finding a comfortable spot to sit.
I made a quick sketch with my Prismacolor marker and didn't worry too much about exact proportions or numbers of petals. I think that is the difference between art and taking a photo....if you want an exact representation you really should just take a photo. I was going more for capturing my mood and the vibrant color.
I used my little field box of watercolors. I shared this set of watercolors with some friends at a nature study presentation a few weeks ago and they were amazed at how small and light this little box is in real life. I am going to start carrying this in my daypack when I hike so I can add some quick color to my nature journal when I am out and about. It even includes a small brush and a vial to carry some water if you need it. (I rarely carry water for watercolors when I hike since I usually have a water bottle or there is a stream or creek to scoop up some water for my art.)
The paint colors are so vibrant! I filled in the sketch with some watercolors with a sort of "sketchy" style where I don't worry too much about filling in the edges perfectly and if I color outside the lines that is okay too.
I came back with my Prismacolor marker and just outlined the petals again to sort of clean up the edges. I added a date and a caption to complete my page.
This is my first garden sketch in what I hope will lead to a whole book full of colorful sketches.
Here are the links to the supplies. The watercolors are a little pricey but these paints seem like they are going to go a long way....lots of color for a little amount of paint. The Prismacolor marker set is one that I reviewed awhile back. There is such a great variety in this little set and I have been using mine weekly and have yet to use any of them up. You can read my review HERE.
Now for the Giveaway Details!
Leave a comment and I will put your name in for your choice of either the Koi Watercolors Pocket Field Sketch Box or a set of the Prismacolor Premiere Markers shown below. Tell me which one you would most like to have in your comment and make sure I can reach you if your name is drawn. I will hold the comments open on this post until next Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at midnight and then I will announce the winner next Friday! Please note the giveaway has ended.
Join me on Facebook!
Featured on:
