March 2nd - Pull Pen Paint with Nature Inspiration Cards

Today's card is The Strawberry Tree (native to the Mediterranean). So exciting to learn about something new! Arbutus unedo is a rare small evergreen tree or shrub that has ripe fruits at the same time that new blossoms appear in the autumn. This tree predicts that two great events could occur at the same time. 

The fruits are edible and the seeds can be dispersed by birds. Folk lore tells us that it is lucky to find a cluster of 3 fruits.

The sweetly scented blossoms are pollinated by bees. 

This is my 3 wishes rock because it has 3 complete white bands that encircle it.

Watercolor and ink in Strathmore Field Watercolor Hardcover Spiral Bound 400 Series Journal with alternating 140 lbs watercolor paper and 60 lbs sketch paper.

 I'm using the sketch page for the "pen" portion and the watercolor page for the "paint" portion of this Pull Pen Paint 2019 challenge.

Journaling with Tree Magick inspiration cards 
by Gillian Kemp

Nature Journalist Kelly Johnson 

https://www.wingswormsandwonder.com/  

Art Journalist Kiala Givehand 

https://www.kialagivehand.com/
at Pull Pen Paint 2019
https://classes.kialagivehand.com/p/ppp2019

March 1, 2019 Nature Inspiration Cards

Journaling with Tree Magick inspiration cards 
by Gillian Kemp

Nature Journalist Kelly Johnson 

https://www.wingswormsandwonder.com/  

Art Journalist Kiala Givehand 

https://www.kialagivehand.com/
at Pull Pen Paint 2019
https://classes.kialagivehand.com/p/ppp2019

My opening card was the Fig tree symbolizing Enlightenment. My image take-aways from the online discussion were a Metal Rabbit (my Chinese birth sign), a crystal for clarity, the universe (my belief system), and of course a fig leaf. A quote from the Tree Magick Fig Tree card "To see what is evident and what is hidden brings wisdom."

Quartz Crystal

Chinese Birth Sign: Metal Rabbit

A representation of the universe filling half of the page.

Ficus carica

Watercolor, marker, and ink in Strathmore Field Watercolor Hardcover Spiral Bound 400 Series Journal with alternating 140 lbs watercolor paper and 60 lbs sketch paper.

 I'm using the sketch page for the "pen" portion and the watercolor page for the "paint" portion of this Pull Pen Paint 2019 challenge.

Possum Patty Packs up her Possessions and Proceeds to the Quiet Corner of Connecticut

Taking a bit of Pencil-vania to the quiet woods of Eastern Connecticut. Looking forward to new adventures and fun family times.

Mixed Media Fall Bouquet - The last of the garden flowers.

Watercolors, gouache, and ink to capture the last of the garden flowers.

Art Process:

I pulled the large watercolor palette out of the closet for this page. First layer of color.

Decided to add gouache to the background. Love this blue aqua!

I liked the background so I used more gouache on the flowers and leaves.

I also added Sakura Black Glaze Pen and Dr. Ph Martin's Bleedproof White Ink with a dippy pen to add shadows and highlights. I like the liveliness of lines!

Full journal page in Strathmore 400 Series Wirebound Watercolor Journal.

Playing with Distress Crayons - Swatches

Color Swatches

Playing with 2 packs of 6 each Tim Holtz Distress Crayons by Ranger that I picked up for little money at the Farmer's Market.

Art Process for Distress Crayon Poinsettia:

Playing with Distress Crayons - Poinsettia

Playing with Tim Holtz Distress Crayons by Ranger. I was lucky to find two packs of 6 each for a very reasonable price at the Farmer's Market.

Art Process:

I started with blocking color for the bracts, leaves, and stem of the Poinsettia.

Close up.

Brushing with water to activate colors but not obliviate the crayon marks.

Close up.

After the page dried, I added a second layer of color with the crayons.

I thought I was done but I wasn't happy with the way that the Poinsettia was looking.  A bit too stiff!  

So I added more color plus black lines with a Sakura Glaze Pen and white lines with a dip pen and Dr. Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White to create movement.

Strathmore 400 Series Wirebound Watercolor Journal.

Distress Crayons color swatches:

Working in a Series can be "Puzzling"

Pinus pompeius, The Puzzle Pine Tree

I started out by creating a "lithification" process whereby I turned flowers, cacti, pumpkins, and finally trees into stone.

Click on picture to see blog post:

   

   

    

     

      

But, alas, my latest stony subject looks more like a puzzle!

Maybe this series is "all" and it's time to move on.

Don't forget to look for the one square inch of your picture that you just love! I love the way that the blue and brown play so nicely together in the tree trunk!

Strathmore 400 Series Wirebound Watercolor Art Journal.

Acer pseudovicus, A "Rosier" Rose Quartz Maple and a "Redo"

Acer pseudovicus

I wanted to make another Rose Quartz Maple that was lighter pink. I got so wrapped up in the pinkish-goodness of the tree,

 that I didn't pay much attention to the stiffness of the multiple trunks! 

Love the leaves, but not happy with the rest, so I used gouache to bend the trunks and add a few smaller branches.

Side by Side Comparison of same picture before and after:

Original Process:

Watercolor layer first.

Iridescent Pink!

Black Sakura Glaze Pen for "lithification". 

Strathmore 400 Series Wirebound Watercolor Art Journal.

Acer pseudovicus, commonly known as the Rose Quartz Maple

Acer pseudovicus

The Rose Quartz Maple has a striped trunk with a natural bifurcation which divides it into several smaller ones. This usually occurs between 10 to 12 feet off of the ground. Individuals of this species of Maple can be either polygamodioecious or polymomonoecious. 

Process

Step 1: First layer of watercolor.

Step 2: Second layer of watercolor and Possum Patty Lithification Process" with Gelly Roll Metallic black pen. Sky color added.

Strathmore 400 Series Wirebound Watercolor Art Journal.