Palette

Did a little tonal guide to my current watercolor palette, and it looks like I could stand to add some variety to the reds. Watching paint dry is an expression that conveys the ultimate tedious activity...but I really love watching the way watercolor changes as it dries, especially the paints that have sediment (plus it happens pretty quickly). Small pleasures.

Sketch for zinnia painting

Initial sketch from life

and a photo reference for later (another bouquet from the garden). There's an electric blue-purple to the indigo spires that I haven't figured out how to mix yet, not to mention the fuschia zinnia. Hope to post the completed painting soon!

From the garden

Today's backyard bouquet

More sketches

Quick sketches of a ceramic figurine of a chipmunk and paste.

Afternoon sketches

The top sketch was done on Arches 140lb paper (great for pen and ink w/watercolor that involves NO washes). I decided to make my own watercolor sketchbook by tearing 7.5inX11in sections of this paper and joining with bulldog clips. The zinnia was done in a sketchbook with heavy, non-watercolor paper.

Flying

Guess I've got herons on the brain after a few days near the water.

Back from Northern California

Muir Woods redwoods and ferns, Mt Tam area, China Camp State Park, kelp that looks like Jack from Nightmare Before Christmas (Point Reyes), Tomales Bay (a place where they serve great clam chowder)

Germs

'Wyoming' canna

So, the foliage and bloom on this canna make me happy every time I look at it.

Pattern