Sunday, October 26, 2014


'elizabeth's younger sister' ~ watercolors in pocket moleskine w.c. book

it's like this:  when the days are sunny i wanna be out walking (or sitting) in the sun; when the days are cloudy the light isn't good for taking blog pics.   and so the days roll by...

thank you for your suggestions re: brown paper in the last post!   in case it's helpful, here they are:

1.  rolls of brown paper at home depot
2.  rolls and pads of brown paper at walmart
3.  rolls of brown paper at art stores
4.  brown paper bags
5.  bee paper company's brown bogus paper
6.  strathmore's toned tan paper

the brown bogus paper got the  most votes...

colored pencil and watercolors

the only thing i've done on brown paper since the last post!  the paper is from a mailing envelope with a beautiful orange-y cast. the way the green colored pencil on the bottom pops off the paper thrills me!

gansai tambi watercolors in homemade strathmore journal, 4" x 6"

mostly i've been messing around with my new kuretake gansai tambi watercolors.  i wasn't sure if i'd like them but the packaging was gorgeous, and the pale aqua irresistible.  this page is the first time that i used them, and i was impressed by their intensity...    if you click you can see how opaque the colors can be on the top left leaf.


the next day i painted this girl;  i used two colors of green for her hair, then went away to do something else.  when i came back and saw the way the colors had arranged themselves, the interaction between them, i was smitten.


here they are in my art room - they're huge.  i had to have the set of 36 because it's the only one with all of the iridescent colors. 


used with a lot of water they look like regular watercolors, but if you don't use much water they're opaque and glossy - like a glossy gouache.  the black and white are extremely dense.


i've loved using the iridescent colors.   if you click you can see the iridescence on the bird, etc.   in person it makes a lovely difference.


on the left side of the page i used gold over the red,


which you can see here if you click.  


here they are watered way down...  nice and transparent.


unfortunately the pictures don't capture the glossiness of the paints when they're not watered down;  the contrast between the matte of my other watercolors against the glossiness of the gansai tambi makes me smile...


these are all painted in the pocket moleskine watercolor book that i started in early september.


 i loved working in this book.


what it looks like now -  i glued one of my old paintings to the front and covered it with a couple of layers of liquitex satin varnish.

homemade book with s. & b. 'delta' paper

when i had a couple of pages left in the moleskine i read that stillman and birn is now selling the paper that they use in their books by the sheet.  what?!!   i did not hesitate...  i ordered five sheets of the 'delta' paper from ASW and made my next book with it.   it contains - almost exactly - one 22" x 30" sheet of 'delta' paper.  i could not be happier...  

homemade book with s. & b. 'delta' paper

yep, i made it in landscape format!   one day when i was painting outside i realized why landscape format is so useful - it fits in your hand when you're painting.   it took me a long time to figure this out.  ; )


another thing i've gotten since the last post is an 8 oz. container of americana's light buttermilk paint.  this is my absolute favorite paint for covering stuff up that i don't like.  masking tape + americana 'light buttermilk' = a fresh start...   there used to be a face on this page.


painted after looking at this article about maira kalman's new books.  here's another article about maira's new books.  both of these articles have pictures of maira's paintings, of course.

i am feeling the deep maira love right now.

* * *

The pieces that I chose were based on one thing only — a gasp of DELIGHT. 

Isn’t that the only way to curate a life? To live among things that make you gasp with delight? 

~ Maira Kalman,  'My Favorite Things'

25 comments:

  1. What a wonderful post!
    I just had my collage students use brown paper for a project.
    Have a great week = )

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  2. Another inspiring post Lynne! And now.."sigh"...new items in my etsy and dickblick carts! :)
    Hope all is well with you!

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  3. I always feel inspired when you post on your blog Lynne. Everything is amazing. I love the girl's face in green and the sweet face on the right on the page with the flower on the left. Gee, did that make sense?

    I've added the brown bogus paper to my wish list.

    Even with all your walking, you got some great work done in your beautiful books.

    xoxo

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  4. Check out this free offer of paper samples from Stillman and Birn:
    http://cdn.dickblick.com/items/118/90/StillmanBirnEmailSample.pdf

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  5. It seems ages since your last post. Thanks for sharing these lovely creations. I don't work in watercolour very often but these colours are amazing and the light buttermilk seems a more subtle shade to use for a cover up compared to the white gesso that I use. It is so generous of you to share these little gems of info with us. I have learned a lot from you since I started following your blog. Thank you so much.

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  6. wow !! that is one big palette !! it needs its own table ! love all your paintings .
    i got my paper .... now just need to try it out .( :
    xxoo

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  7. I'm gasping with delight (right before I go to work) but you are sending me off with a smile. Did not know S&B sold single sheets. Thanks. Love the results with those paints and it is heavenly to see your paintings and hear what you think about paints mingling, etc. I also love the way the two greens mingled to lovely surprise when you returned. I think that is one of my favorite things about watercolors...the surprises. You know I will have to check the other resources you mentioned...I always come to your Blog as a child on Christmas morning wondering what presents you have waiting. I have gotten some of my best products and resource ideas from you. Appreciated. Sending a sunny day hug! Cheers-Darlene

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  8. hey, you might have made THE perfect sketchbook! ;-)
    loved seeing all your art Lynne, I always do.
    that last piece has my heart xo

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  9. Great post and info ,love the green haired girl and Maria,s work also looks wonderful
    Big hugz

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  10. Seeing your post made me "gasp with delight"....Always lovely and a boost to my soul.

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    Replies
    1. anita, thank you!

      always smiling to 'see' you...

      xoxo

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  11. Lynne, I am smitten by all you paint :-). And all you do dear woman.
    Always love when you post.
    Right now I am loving all the rice paper I just invested in, my favorite paper of the moment.
    Happy Fall!
    xoxo

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  13. I love all the variety in your pages Lynne!

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  14. you are an art adventurer, always on the move. just fun to pop in and see what new goodies you've found. and your work always makes me smile :)

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  15. OMGosh! I just love these!!! and afer ordering some watercolors i think i am going to order the ones on etsy too! i wish i was a neighbor of yours, what we could do with all of our art supplies combined not to mention the absolutely wonderful watching you paint!

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  16. What a beauty of a post! Each image is a delight and then another delight when you enlarge them and can see the details! So yes I too gasp with delight! Thanks for sharing, it is always inspirational, and although I love all of the creations the last one is my favourite! I am struggling too with getting photos taken when the lighting is good - but this is because of the diminishing daylight in my northern home - and the hours that have daylight I am working at my day job. Hoping for some good light tomorrow to take some photos.
    Kim

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  17. LH, I have to add that your art gives me gasps of delight! It always does!

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  18. Lynne, so beautiful work and what a great set of colours...! <3
    Niina =)

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  19. I mean colors, sorry my bad english... ;)

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  20. LH, i am curious how you made your wc journal the landscape one using the delta paper? Can you maybe point a way to a good source on how to do this? :)

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  21. Just to update....received my paints and I love them! They cover so well and great colors!!!

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  22. Hi Lynne! Lovely to hear from you on my blog, I'm glad the review was useful for you :) These watercolours look fabulous, I'm very tempted by some! I too am a huge pale aqua fan :) x

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  23. ..."and saw how the colors had arranged themselves" !!!!! It's like they are your partners:) you left the room, and they kept working! Green hair...Fantastic:) Laura

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  24. hee, laura, they *are* my partners... : ) seriously, watercolors are the best partners...

    xoxo

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