Sketching & Watercolor: Journal Style

Well, I won’t be taking commissions any time soon, but I’m tickled with what I’ve been able to do with my first two attempts at sketching and watercolor. This week we are working on FRUIT in Jane LaFazio‘s class. Here’s what I did on Wednesday after I completely read the directions and got myself all cozy with some fruit at the kitchen table:

I scanned this image and the shadows didn’t completely come through. The very light gray at the edges of the shadows were too light to pick up. I may be forced to take photographs of these in the future.

And here is Thursday’s romp with a pomegranate, avocado and mandarin orange:Again….shadow edges have dropped out and some of the violet “frame” as well with my scanner. My shadow on the mandarin orange won’t make the cut, but hey, I’m still encouraged. The right water-to-paint ratio is a big learning curve so I’m happy with where I am so far. I am enjoying the meditative actions of sketching first, then apply the color. Because you’re working with water and paint, you have to work quickly but with a sure hand. It take complete focus — I think the very definition of meditation. So, even though this is all new to me — and doing something completely new would normally be sure to set my FEAR METER at #10 — I’m completely at ease with this process. Go figure.

The work is done on 5″ x 7″ sheets of really lovely watercolor paper. With the exception of the top right corner, the four sides are glued tight, making it possible for the paint to dry and keep the individual sheets absolutely flat and true. When all dry, you carefully tickle the free edge and lift — viola! it releases from the tablet so nicely. Jane promises to share ideas for keeping the journal pages at some point in the lessons.