Goldfield Mountains in fountain pen ink

I sketched this lovely place in pen and ink yesterday, for my first entry in my travel journal.  Wanting to explore the vibrant color of this place, I am experimenting with fountain pen inks. I first sketched in the landscape with a half dry India ink pen.  Laying a bead of color with a dropper at the darkest part of a mass, I then went in with juicy wet wash brush, allowing the ink to spread at will.  To those very wet masses I added more color with my glass dip pen, letting the inks mingle. These inks are all from the 2021 Diamine Inkvent Calendar, and I chose the ones nearest the actual colors.  Some shimmer and sheen, so each mass has unique properties.  I even added a tiny bit of bleach water to a couple of areas, to see the reaction, just like a science experiment!  There is something about the strong color that is very appealing to me!  I so love the process of art exploration!  Painting number 3381 in 3381 days. 

Goldfield Mountain Inked

There is something very exciting about filling the very first page of a sketchbook.  This beautiful leather-bound book with dyed handmade paper is a treasure I picked up at a local market in Mesa.  Vintage in style, one of a kind, this book called to me immediately.  It was love at first glance, full of promise and dreams of places yet undiscovered, waiting to be sketched on it's pages.  So, I am starting with Arizona, and the rugged lines of the Goldfield Mountains.  I plan to use only pen and ink in this book, honoring the timeless handcrafted materials.  Only the best places will find themselves on these pages, and I'm so excited to start this journey.  Painting number 3380 in 3380 days.