Xieyi Lotus with flowers

xieyi Lotus with flowers,
originally uploaded by Donn2006.

This is one of my lotus that are painted by Chinese brush artists. The lotus is a symbol of summer and fruitfulness. It represents purity and perfection. The flowers are normally either white or pink, and the leaves are dark-bluish on top and light green underneath. The edges of the leaves start to turn brown almost as soon as they reach full size.
This was done with Derwent Inktense watersoluble pencils instead of Chinese brushes. Watercolor paper was 140# Canson. Size about 5 x 7 inches.

abstract

abstract,
originally uploaded by Donn2006.

Here is an abstract I did for class on watercolor pencil. I normally hate abstracts, but saw something like this and it was interesting. It was done with Albrecht Durer watercolor pencils on Strathmore Bristol Vellum paper.

Rock and Wood gate

Rock and Wood gate,
originally uploaded by Donn2006.

Here are 2 more pen and ink sketches done with the Lamy pen, Extra Fine nib, Noodler's black ink in Canson Sketchbook.

Sample sketches Lamy pen

Sample sketches Lamy pen,
originally uploaded by Donn2006.

Here are samples of pen and ink sketches using my new "toys"! I got 2 Lamy Vista pens this week, one with extra fine nib the other with a fine nib.
It was the discussions on EDM (EveryDayMatters) that led me to ask more questions about this pen and finally get them.
I am really pleased with how they draw and sketch with. I used Noodlers black ink on Canson sketchbook.
At least I'm fulfilling one of my goals for this year.....doing more with pen and ink.

Seascape 2

Seascape 2,
originally uploaded by Donn2006.

Another seascape attempt done on 4 x 5 inch black multimedia artboard sample I received.
Done mostly with PanPastels but it was very hard because of the size. Some pastel pencils were used for the flowers, grasses, and waves.

Tree stump

Tree stump,
originally uploaded by Donn2006.

Here is part of my new year's resolution to draw more with pen and ink. This was done on 6 x 9 inches Stonehenge paper. Used Micron and Pentel pocket brush pen.
Photo came from Wet Canvas and an aritcle on pen and ink shading techniques.

Fence sketch

Fence sketch,
originally uploaded by Donn2006.

This new sketch was done with an Ackerman pen, Hunt 101 pen. Some were having trouble with theirs so I thought I'd try mine. It was scratchy just like my regular dip pens, but this one has an ink resevoir. Done in my Canson 6 x 9 inch sketchbook.

Seascape with PanPastels

Seascape with PanPastels,
originally uploaded by Donn2006.

This was my first "real" painting using my new PanPastels. Paper was blue, pastels used were Phthalo Blue and its tint, Turquoise and its tint, Paynes Grey ting, Black, White, and Violet.
Using rougher paper makes a big difference. Easy to add one color over another, and the blending is easy. This was done in about an hour. Size 6 x 9 inches.

Our orange tree Jan 6 2008

Our orange tree Jan 6 2008,
originally uploaded by Donn2006.

This was done outside while sitting on our back porch, so I guess you can call it plein aire. It's sitting in a planter outsie our porch. It was a gread 70 degree weather today and enjoyed sketching outside.

Pen and Ink sketch

Pen and Ink sketch,
originally uploaded by Donn2006.

Got ambitious today and did some pen and ink sketches. One of my goals for 2008 is to do more pen and ink sketches. So I drew these while sitting on our back porch in 70 degree weather!

Barn scene

Barn scene,
originally uploaded by Donn2006.

Finally added a sketch to my Canson sketchbook. This barn scene was done with watercolor pencil, pen and ink. Colors are darker than shown. They scanned light.

Cherry tree

Cherry tree,
originally uploaded by Donn2006.

A cherry tree painting I did for Kate's Watercolor 2 class. This chapter was on fruits and veggies. I choose cherries!

Purple Cornflower

Purple Cornflower,
originally uploaded by Donn2006.

My latest attempt at painting flowers. I'm not much of a flower drawing or painting person, but did the best I could. This was for Kate's Watercolor 2 class.

Tulip

Tulip,
originally uploaded by Donn2006.

An exercise done for Kate's Watercolor 2 class on flowers and textures. Done on Fabriano Artistico 140# paper. M Graham watercolors except for leaf which was Susan Scheewe's Spring Green.

This is an attempt to lighten the background trees a bit from the original. It lightened it, but I'm still not completely happy with it.

Countgry Bus stop!,
originally uploaded by Donn2006.

An exercise in Kate's WC 2 class showing lichen, moss, and weathering.

Homework fir tree trunk 2

Homework fir tree trunk 2,
originally uploaded by Donn2006.

A homework assignment for Kate Johnson's Watercolor 2 class. This fir tree sketch done on Canson's 140# CP paper. Wet in wet for the sky, dabbing for the trees, spondge for most of the grass and wet on dry on the tree trunk.

View of Alaskan mushrooms. This was from a photo taken by Dabs of items in her garden. She lives in Alaska. They must really grow them big up there! Not sure how tall these are, but the leaves around it indicate they are quite large.

Found out these are called Amanita Muscaria or Fly Agaric mushrooms and are poisonous. The cap on these are about 5 inches in diameter. They get larger. As they age, they get redder on top. (Thanks to Dabs for the information).

Done in Prismacolor colored pencil on Strathmore Bristol vellum paper. It didn't turn out like I wanted it to, but I was too tired to do any more to it.

Another attempt at using colored pencils. This was done with Prismacolor colored pencils on Strathmore Bristol vellum paper. I never really cared for colored pencils until I started learning more about them on Wet Canvas. And the types of paper they used. I will say, the Bristol vellum paper is sure different and better to use than the sketching pads I have. Hope to try it on Stonehege paper next. It was interesting using my own colors instead of what was suggested.

Pueblo scene was from a kit by Ann Kullberg. I could not use her suggested colors because I didn't have them, so used what I had. My next attempt may be using her suggested colors since I have since acquired the Prismacolor 120 colored pencil set.

This was one of the July challenges with the Wet Canvas(WC) Colored Pencil group. We were give 4 pictures to choose from. Photo came from the WC reference library and was called Tahiti Rose.

This is my first attempt at really doing any type of drawing with Prismacolor colored pencils. I was determined to try and see if I could do anything with them because in the past, I just didn't like what I put down. I've had these sitting for some 15 years, gathering "dust"!

After laying down the various colors, I used a stomp and Prismacolor blender to do the burnishing. Interesting since I never did it before!