Garden Findings for Inktober

Hello all, a belated happy October to you.  I'm on the Inktober trail again, approaching things slightly differently this year.  Firstly, I'm trying to work from life rather than from photos as I did last year.  And secondly, I'm gathering small sketches onto a large journal page, rather than them each getting a page to themselves.  So I'm here to share the first spread with six sketches on it, as well as a few process photos.  I hope you like them.

(Yes, I know it's the 8th already, but I'm not bullying myself to do it daily, given there's quite a lot of other stuff going on at the moment!  I may catch up tomorrow, or I may not... we'll see!)  

And here they are in order from day 1, with a chance to see the pen sketch and the model in each case - which was just whatever I happened to pick up in the garden that day.

A sprig from the miniature crab apple tree...

Some random grasses from the "wilderness garden" round the back of the house... (some day I hope it will be a wildflower meadow under the plum trees, but for now it's a wilderness!)

A couple of slightly bedraggled leaves from one of the plum trees...

Some of the dried Aquilegia seed heads which I use quite a lot on my tags too (you've just seen them in action in the previous post)...

Some random dried out leaves (maybe plum?) - I thought this would be simple, but it was the trickiest one on the page...

And finally, some wild strawberry leaves.  This one took quite a few layers, and as I was doing chores in between layers, by the time I got to the finishing touches the strawberry leaves were starting to curl up around the edges...

So, that's the first page pretty much full.  It's a slightly stressful way of working, I've discovered... if each one is on its own page, if you mess up then it's only that one that's spoiled.  But here, if I do one I'm not happy with, that's in danger of undermining the whole page.  It was touch and go with those pale dried leaves, but I think I pulled it round!

For those who like to know these things, I'm using a Staedtler Pigment Liner 0.3, and Daniel Smith watercolours with Silver Black Velvet brushes, in a Moleskine A4 watercolour journal.

I hope October is treating you well, whatever you're up to, and I'll see you again soon.

I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.

From Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

(And it's on my EAB04 Autumn Edition quote set from PaperArtsy!)

Inktober 2021 Week 1

Hello all.  Yes, I know, I've been shamefully neglecting Words and Pictures - I'm sorry!  Life is busy, and I'm afraid writing blogposts has been the thing which has dropped off the bottom of the to-do list.  But I'm tackling Inktober again this year, so I'm going to use that as a way to make my way back towards the blog.

Just like last year, I'm not following the official prompts.  I'm just using it as a way to get back in the swing of some daily drawing and painting practice... another thing which dropped off the radar - I've barely touched the watercolours since last October.

So I've been feeling a little rusty, but I'm back on the learning curve and enjoying the process.  So here are days one to seven.  I hope you like them...

And here are a few work-in-progress sequences, just so you can see a bit of the process...  Sometimes you get to see the middle stage, sometimes we're just going straight from the sketch to the end, because I wasn't stopping to take pictures half way!  (Remember you can always click to see the images in a larger size.)

 

      

 

       

 

I've been using a Sakrua Pigma Micron 05 pen in brown (except for day one when I used the wrong pen - all black and strong and way too much for me!!) and Daniel Smith watercolour paints in a Moleskine watercolour journal, which is cold pressed paper.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I should be seeing you again soon (or at least not with as long a wait as we've just had here in complete silence!).  Hope you're all doing well and crafting creatively.  Have a great weekend, all.

Art is born of the observation and investigation of nature.

Marcus Tullius Cicero

Inktober Week 3

Hello all, thanks so much for your company on this bright autumn day (well, it is here anyway).  I'm keeping it short today but with lots of photos, as it's time for another Inktober catch up.  Here are days 15 through to 21, and the daily challenge is definitely paying off in terms of what I'm learning as I go.  (You can find out all about what I'm up to and what materials I'm using in Inktober Week 1.)  With no further ado...

UPDATE - dash it all, I was in such a hurry I completely forgot to say that some of these are from photo inspiration by Helen Lindfield of stampingbyh and photosbyh, from her weekly visits to Kew.  It's the rosehips on Day 17 and the Physalis on Day 20.  Sorry, Helen - I'm going to blame it on moving-brain!

Day 15

Day 16

Day 17

Day 18

Day 19

Day 20

Day 21

That's your lot and I hope there are some new favourites for you to enjoy... I know I have my own particular delights (and frustrations - but we won't go into those!).  

I hope you are all managing to stay safe, well and creative.  Take care out there and I'll see you again soon, either here or elsewhere in Craftyblogland.

The tastiest berries are often hidden.  Do not despair if you haven't found true love.  Look under the leaves and branches of convention.
Khang Kijarro Nguyen

I'd like to join in at Paint Party Friday where they have reached the Week 34, Year 10 check-in

And the lovely Chris still wants us to Hold the Line at Art Journal Journey - my line and wash technique is how I'm holding the line

Again, there's one painting where I've got Purple, Orange and Green, so I'd like to play along at the Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog too

#newbloggersucks