Small Art Size Easy to Create in Limited Time

Working in this smaller size it is something you can accomplish with limited time opportunities.Here some watercolor and ink but use any of your favorite mediums. I can sit in the garden,on a porch,  or with my reference photos and feel good about my small accomplishments, no pun intended...Perfect size for when your traveling for a souvenir or mail out as a postcard.  Give the small format a try in any of your favorite mediums.

 Bikes and Blooms on a 4" x 6" Canson watercolor block. I have a couple so I can work on another while one is drying.

Watercolr and Ink Postcard Painting During 30 Paintings in 30 days

Some of these crazy days didn't allow me time to work on a mixed media piece for the 30 in 30 paintings but I did get a few watercolor sketches in. I keep this small watercolor set and some water brushes in my bag. I really should have a few as I am always moving them from one place to another. I have used up most all the original colors and re-filled it with tube colors. I have the name written in permanent marker on the edge. Some colors sharing a place in opposite corners.

 I am really working on not so much detail. I just get caught up in it. I guess my thinking is just automatic to want to include so much more than I need to. I don't even know I am doing it. But I do know the finished piece is not the look I set out to do.

Marigold from my garden . I would like to add a bid more variation yet with watercolor.But fear of over doing it. Good thing it was still drying as I couldn't wait and went to bed.

 

These were sketched from shared photos from Artist Dreama Tolle Perry during her trip to Italy. These photos were for the sole purpose of inspiring others. This was my attempt.

 

Close up. If you hope over to her post here you can see the photos and Dreama interpretation. After completing my window view I went back to see hers. She has far less detail...notice my shutters. But I really like how she uses white space and the loose feel. This approach too would help explain how artist can get so much done out in plein air. Not that they are working less, just working smarter in my opinion. I am just a nut for that impressionistic look.

The First image here I began to get to involved in the details of the wall and all the angels of the gondola. I stopped and started again. I like the first with no ink work though I am itchin' to put some in....Second I just may have gotten to much ink in the bushes and it is taking away from the gondola itself. I currently keep plugging away at finding a happy balance.

 

 

 

This is where I am coming from. This print is full of details I put in and love to do for this type of work. I guess it is true about old dogs...but this one is a rebel!

Plein-Air at Beechwood Farms Pittsburgh

 Plein - air artists that came to the paint out at the Beechwood Farm  Nature Reserve in Pittsburgh last Sunday

Carol at pastel

Vickie with oil

Bill Sketching

 

Barb with oil

My daughter Taylor,11 years old going on 30!

Sketching and watercolor

 

My attempt at adding book pages after sketching and starting. Though I know now I will try this again but probably put pages down before I go. I don't like it but I like it enough to keep seeing where I will go with this combination.

A Giveaway:Love the USA.Love Your Dad? Win a Print

"The Flag"Anywhere in the USA, print hand tinted with

watercolor by Susan Walker, all rights reserved.

Make a great gift for Father's Day or that Graduate.

I was inspired to create this ink illustration with my husband in mind who loves our country and flying the flag and I who too loves our country but love pumpkins/fall and hanging out at home on the porch.

So I want to give one away just in time for a man in your life this Father's Day or a graduate. This print is hand colored by me with professional grade watercolors so no two are exactly alike. It frames up into a standard frame 11 x 14 frame when matted.

So whatta' ya got to do to win you ask? 

1.)  LIKE this blog post. If you are not already a friend just let me know here in the comment section you 'LIKED' it.
2.) Leave a comment here on my blog
 3.) become a Fan on my face book Fan page.
There, Your name goes in a drawing.  Wed. Night I will draw a name- no pun intended.-For the print.

Do it each day and increase your chances!

Corn -it and a Recipe. Ink and Watercolor Sketch

Summer is now officially here for us here in Harmony, PA as the last day of school was yesterday! Can I say YIPPEE again!!  Summer isn't summer unless you have some fresh corn on the cob. This one I did in micronpigma pen  and watercolor. A little recipe recording there too.

What is your favorite way to prepare your corn on the cob?

Ink sketches splashed with watercolor

Moleskine watercolor sketchbook, some final pages in this sketchbook. I'm afraid and 'saving' the last for something. Though at the time of this post I have moved on to another sketchbook,my first that I have made and leave behind the blank white last pages. Instead of waiting for the right something and holding myself up I just moved on... 

Nobody in waiting room today...but me and the furniture

Registration area. Inked one day, watercolor added next day

Artist Pitt pen and watercolor multi tasking granddad

Keeping up the sketching while waiting-still

A few sketches I have been doing while waitng...all with either the Artist Pitt pen xf or micron .03 pen in moleskine watercolor sketchbook.

These top to sketchbool pages i did while waitng for

Zachary at occupational therapy.

some of the dads at Colton's boyscout meeting

I added the watercolor washes in the waiting room. I used the niji waterbrush and a small Daler-Rowney portable watercolour pallet.I laid a clear water wash around the images. then with a juicy brush full of Prusian blue and prusian green was my color choice to lay in the wet wash.very eay to push around.

Virtual Sketchout, Boston Mass

26 Beacon Street, Boston, MA
all art work used with permision

by Susan walker copyright 2011

My sketch for the Virtual Paintout January 2011 theme: Boston. You need to use the GoogleMap Streetview application.I did this one in my moleskin with Pitt Artist Pen XF in black ink and watercolor.

Again , sorry the image is dark, no sun here at the window sill of the hospital room. :/

Just joined the sketchbook Challenge for my ink and watercolor sketching

The sketchbook challenge is a new project launching on 1/1/2011. You follow  along with as we fill our sketchbooks based on a monthly theme that will be announced on the first of each month.


Each month a new theme on the blog and throughout the month they will  be showing you images from our sketchbooks and talking about the intention and inspiration behind them. Along the way sharing tips, techniques and tutorials. They hope that by giving you a peek inside other sketchbooks and showing you how different they all are that we'll be inspire to start keeping a sketchbook. And of course if you do, they want to see some photos of your book. I have kept a sketchbook of mostly ink and watercolor off and on. Off mostly lately and I thought that this might be a great way to get committed again to it.
 Thanks to the generosity of some terrific sponsors there will  be some givewaways and special shopping offers too!

THIS weekend Penn's Colonly Festival Sept 18.19 &25,26, Saxonburg, PA

'Ink Well' the booth of Susan Walker in Penn's Colony Festival

In one week I will be in The Penn's Colony Festival! 

September 18,19 & 25,26 2010

Saxonburg, PA

Well, It is finally here, this weekend Penn's Colony kicks off. The weather is looking good I am excited about my 19Th year in the annual award winning Penn's Colony Festival. It captures the spirit of colonial America with the region's premier marketplace of handcrafted folk art, primitive and fine craft and home decorative accessories.

Working hard and a lot of details to address this week but I think my new work will be well recieved. The customers their are always fo great and friendly. I will be debuting a new print; The Console Energy Center, along with several original pieces. Many customer favorites will be returning.- "The Flag", "Life of the Snowman", Heinz Field. See you there!

The Flag by Susan Walker, all rights reserved

                              

Heinz Field by Susan Walker, all rights reserved

Spider dance by Susan Walker, all rights reserved

Festival Hours:

Saturdays 10-6

Sundays 10-5

Admission:

Adult (16-59) $6.50
Senior (60+) $5.50

Child (8-15) $4.50

7 & younger are free.

Flowers and smiles

Ink and watercolor of a few flowers from the bouquetTom got me

 for a meeting I was having at the house.I can never say their name. 

Made my tea and went right to it. I read about many of you doing just this. I can't believe how good it made me feel. Great start to the day...now to do it again.