NATURE JOURNAL The Search for Kyanite, Looking for Blueberry Buds, Painting a Landscapito

More Possum Patty's Nature Journaling:

More info:

Disclaimer: I put these ads here for your information. Supposedly if you click on the ad to learn more about the item and then purchase it, I will make a few cents. But I haven't made any money yet, so don't worry about it. 

Journaling Journey: Painted Turtle Pond

Come along on this beautiful warm and sunny February day as I try to paint a small landscape!

Watercolor and ink in Jane Davenport Canvas Journal.

"Love-An-Inch"

"Don't cry because you think that your sketch 

is not as good as everyone else's - 

smile because you made a sketch"  

misquoting Dr. Seuss

This was suppose to be a bit of a landscape (or a "landscapeito" as John Muir Laws calls it). 

But I had pre-wet the paper and then used a waterbrush that was not very soft and the paper was piling terribly...

Frustration led to another John Muir Laws fix: if you don't like your painting, just draw and label and write on it. He sometimes puts a small landscape beside or behind a larger nature drawing for habitat reference. In this case I drew a large species reference over the landscape. 

Always remember these 

"Rules for Sketch Happiness"

1. ANY sketch done is far superior to any sketch not done.

2. Look for your favorite square inch in the sketch. Spend time admiring it and put into words what you love about it.

Here's my favorite inch:

I just love that I freely painted the negative spaces, sketched very loosely, and then left it alone. No fussing. It takes a very long time for a perfectionist to accomplish this!

Tree #143/10,000: The Temporal Aspect of the Standing People is beyond human understanding...

Wise Old Possum Woman was contemplating the temporal aspect of trees when she saw one in a rock.

The story in the stone inspired a journal page.

It's hard to see the texture and sheen of the page with a scan or photograph.

In the close up you can see the underpainting of light molding paste and resin sand.

The sheen is from iridescent acrylic paint.

In Kay's kitchen with acrylics and a Strathmore 500 Series Mixed Media Journal.

Winter is here....Meteorological winter and Astronomical winter.

"Winter is here." 

George R R Martin A Game of Thrones

We are in the "Dead of Winter". In the Mid-Atlantic it's the time of the lowest average temperatures, usually during the middle of January. Meteorological Winter is based on the weather. The further north you travel the earlier this happens. Astronomical Winter is the time from the Winter Solstice to the Vernal Equinox.

Watercolors in the Strathmore 500 Series Mixed Media Journal from a reference photo . Done in Kay's kitchen last week.

"Art In" at Mt Cuba

Mt Cuba is a wonderful native plant preserve that holds events where artists can visit without charge for the day. Any completed art work can be submitted for consideration to be included in the Mt Cuba program guide.

This year, the fall event was held on September 16th. The New England Asters were among the most colorful flowers in the meadow.

This side of the page was done with watercolors. The trees had not yet turned, but the fall blooms were gorgeous. Lots of Rubeckias and Joe-Pye-Weeds.

Loved the rustic wooded chairs set out by the pond. This side of the page started off as watercolor but morphed into gouache. Even with the gouache, the chair is wonky. Oh well, the weather and the day were "picture perfect"!

LEARNING LANDSCAPES: a conversation with myself

                         

On my journaling journey, I experiment with supplies, try new techniques, leave my comfort zone when it comes to subject matter, and share the good and the bad with my art friends. Today, as part of the learning progress, I  am self- critiquing my Neversink Overlook landscape.

Neversink Mountain Overlook: Tree #133

Looking through the Scrub Pines towards the Schuylkill River. Working on painting landscapes. Looking through green trees onto a river with a greenish tint surrounded by rows and rows of green trees fading out to mountains covered with green trees in the distance. hmmmm..... any suggestions?

The edge of the cliff.

Oak Leaves on Neversink:

Oak Nuts:

Deer Berries:

One more Inktense!

One more Inktense. Again, using a random limited palette. I think I shall call this "Eggy Yolk Night". 

Colors used: Felt Green, Mallard Green, Leaf Green, Deep Indigo, Sienna Gold, and Mid Vermilion. The Zig Writer is great because you can ink, ink, ink and it will stay put when you add media over it. Use any watercolors or pencils. It also works well with alcohol markers.

I lay down some color and then use a Niji Waterbrush or paint brush with water to activate the color in the pencil.

Click for more Inktense!