Stonewalling...

A Picture Story. 

Derwent Watercolor Pencils in a Jane Davenport Canvas Journal.

#SBSColoredPencils #PlaysWithPencils A Picture Story: The Pequot (Art Process)

Inspired to color this folk tale-like picture after spending the day at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum. This is definitely not an exact copy of a piece of art at the museum, but there was a piece with figures (many more than in my small sketch) in a canoe that I was mesmerized with.

Inspired to get out bunches of colored pencils by the new Sketchbook Skool Kourse Colored Pencils: Sharpen Your Skills.

I really don't need inspiration to get out the Derwent Inktense Pencils because I love using them but I never thought to use them on Bristol Paper so that inspiration came from the Kourse. Here is the swatch test.

The spiral journal is a Canson XL Bristol Smooth with 100 lbs paper. This first picture was disappointing because I normally love to add lots of juicy washes with the Inktense pencils to get vivid colors. 

The Bristol paper would not let me do that without buckling and pilling. I added some extra color with a few Prismacolor Premier pencils to satisfy my color crave. The figures have a black outline made with a Pentel Brush pen. This pen is great and will write over waxy pencil marks and most anything else. The dark outlines were inspired by several pieces of art in the museum. 

Studio Supervisor gives final approval.

The Pequot: A Picture Story (Video)

Famous Easter Quote by Bunny Big Ears: Without chocolate... An Art Story

#30Pages30Days Page 20 March 20 The Lion and the March Hare

Happy Spring!

#30Pages30Days Page 20 March 20

Sktchy Challenge 

It's the first day of spring and I am sitting here looking out the window at the snow flying by! We are preparing for our 4th Nor'easter this month of March. I wanted to do a quick journal page to remember the day.

I chose a Lion to represent the Nor'easter Storm since "March comes in like a lion." And the March Hare to depict how the spring keeps getting chased off.

Graphite sketch, Lamy pen, Neocolour II Crayons, Derwent Coloursoft Pencils, Pentel Brush Pen, and Micron Pen in Jane Davenport Canvas Journal.

Art process video: 

#30Pages30Days Page 16 March 16 Sktchy Challenge The Making of The Gnome Baby

Margaret tightly gripped the sturdy blue pole as Muriel glanced out from under the old worn crazy quilt. That night several inches of newly fallen snow covered the ground, but the fresh young leaves of the daffodil that had sprung up in the warmth of the February sun, were snug in the blanket shelter. It was important to the gnomes to protect the secret hidden in the tender bulb just inches below them in the fertile soil.

#30Pages30Days Page 16 March 16

Sktchy Challenge: Children's story character and some text.

Gouache in Jane Davenport Canvas Journal. 

During the video about the making of The Gnome Baby, I explain how the baby got into the daffodil bulb. Watch here!

The March Snow Gnomes

What secret lies beneath the snow? 

The Wise Old Possum Woman