Happy Halloween! I’ve been crazy busy and recovering, but this is a recent effort of cheer! I LOVE October colors! BTW, I did not add the stars… Why can’t they make things simple ..read more

I sketched my newest TWSBI Eco, a beautiful blue with gold trim — gold trim is not my usual (I love silver) but this is stunning — and matched it up with Robert Oster Signature ink’s Lost Dutchman’s Gold (a special shimmer ink from Pen Chalet) and Blue Night. I am working in a Handbook A5 journal, shown below, not my usual journal.  I am using up older journals before ordering more sketchbooks.  This journal is supposed to be an A5, but as you can see below, it is smaller by about an inch from the Hahnemüle A5. After I work in it for a bit I will publish a review. ☾  Handbo ..read more

I’ve been a little depressed lately, some for “good” reasons but some because I-don’t-know.  The world has gone mad, and I’ve been journaling about it to get to the truth of it.  I think talking about it helps others and so I mention it. I bought new colors, the first I’ve bought in a long time, from The Merri Artist, an Oregon company.  (I like supporting small businesses whenever possible.) Above, the new palette colors from Holbein and Daniel Smith.  I have never bought many cadmium colors so tried a couple of those. Above, my palette as it has been since September 20 ..read more

I LOVE TWSBI Ecos.  Well made, good price point, and they hold a lot of ink.  They are my go-to sketching pens, and the only pens where I have all the variations inked up.  (See bottom.) The when the two new pens arrived (a gift) I was shocked at the color.  As you can see, it is not a “new” color. In the design business, and probably many other businesses, slight color variations in fabrics are due to dye lots.  As these two “new” colors are almost identical to colors from a couple of years ago, they look more like a dye lot shift. They were a gift, I’m keeping them ..read more

Continuing my sketchbook on early memories of moving to Laguna Beach, California. The first place we lived IN Laguna was in the gold apartments on Cliff Drive, which was above the Chevy Dealership off the Main drag from the Canyon.  That summer was grand, as we had friends visit every weekend who were applying to the Peace Corps.  The guys brought sleeping bags and threw them on the floor, and we cooked great meals (fried chicken was a big hit) and walked to Main Beach everyday. We also went to this little happening in the canyon, a festival of craftspeople selling their wares, whic ..read more

Robert Oster Signature Inks is having their  7th Anniversary, and have created three special inks for their celebration: Their first true black, a beautiful purple storm, and a shimmering green-gold jewel: Let’s look at each anniversary ink. Remember that others review these inks just for writing; I am also interested in how they are used for ink-painting! Majestic Black Majestic Black is the first black created by Robert Oster. It is a tribute to his family history.  Of course, no black is just black, and while appearing a perfect deep black, this ink moves into purples and even bl ..read more

The month of June is when many watercolorists around the world participate in the 30×30 Direct Watercolor Challenge, created by Marc Homes and Uma Kelker. Rules are simple:  Each day post one watercolor, but no sketching, no inking, no pencil, just straight watercolor. I particularly like this challenge, but sadly work is keeping me from participating. Someone needs to pay our bills! I chose to use the images from IG’s @landscapeartclub to play with direct watercolor, or as it is known on Facebook and IG, @30x30directwatercolor. This poppy image, left, is from an earlier post. ☾   ..read more

The month of June is when many watercolorists around the world participate in the 30×30 Direct Watercolor Challenge, created by Marc Homes and Uma Kelker. Rules are simple:  Each day post one watercolor, but no sketching, no inking, no pencil, just straight watercolor. I particularly like this challenge, but sadly work is keeping me from participating. Someone needs to pay our bills! The image I used for this #directwatercolor was from @landscapeartclub on IG. ☾  Hahnemühle 100# Cotton Watercolour Book, Hahnemühle Watercolour Book, Sennelier, Holbein and Daniel Smith Watercolors ..read more

Robert Oster’s Australian Opal Grey ink is one of my favorite greys, leaning into turquoise and blue when touched with water. My delicate shell (that I have carried around since high school) was painted in a Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook with a Pentel Aquash waterbrush. Remember that others review these inks just for writing;  I am also interested in how they are used for ink-painting! Properties of Robert Oster’s Australian Opal Grey ink: This ink is well-behaved, and does not feather on any of the papers I normally use, even Post-its.  It has found a permanent home in my favorite ..read more

I have a favorite grey tee shirt from Bass & Co that is as old as my marriage. It is on its last legs, and I am grieving.  I cannot find another one like it ANYWHERE and it is so sad because I love grey heathered cotton long-sleeve tees. I created the sketch above in Robert Oster’s Australian Opal Grey ink, the perfect match for the actual color.  The two images are due to flash and no flash. Mitchell loved it and told me not to do any more to it… Okay, but there is more, so I did another. I tease him and tell him I always do as he says, but this time it is true. What was mis ..read more