January Creek

 

What a gorgeous January afternoon at the creek for playing with my new inks! Using three of my Diamine Inkvent Calendar inks - Three Kings (the yellow gold), Bliss (blue) and Dusted Truffle (brown).  It's fun to mingle them in the field, letting them flow at will.  It would have been helpful to have brought a cool blue or violet, so I'll try to do that next time.  I have a favorite blue violet that has gone missing - and is probably at the bottom of one of my bags!  I'm looking first to more fun with inks en plein air!  Painting number 3668 in 3668 days and day 20 of the #stradaeasel challenge. 

O Christmas Tree

The morning light was stunning on the Union Station Christmas tree - golden and warm as it streamed in through the massive windows.  I sketched this one first with India ink, then laid down watercolors as usual.  Today, I brought 4 additional fountain pens with me, loaded with the primaries and a green.  I next added little bits of ink work, followed by my water brush pen, then a little more fountain pen work.  I like the depth this achieves, and there is so much more to explore!  Painting number 4114 in 4114 days. 

Autumn Home

I love how those oaks hang on to their autumn color!  My grandma planted them all 5 decades ago, two giant pin oaks when my uncle went into the service, and the foreground live oak that she babied for years.  As children, we needed to be careful around it, and now it spreads and is glorious in it's growth.  I am again using Diamine fountain pen inks, Candlelight, Wonderland, Yuletide and Winter Spice.  That foreground green is Yuletide (turquoise) bleeding up into Candlelight. So cool. I wonder what else they can do! Today, I'm thankful for a glorious afternoon to paint after a 5K with the girls!  Painting number 4399 in 4399 days. 

Loose Park Cherries

I try to come here each spring to paint when the cherry trees are in bloom, and the experience is magical.  Their heady fragrance wafts through the air as petals drift down gently.  After first sketching this place in ink and watercolor (yesterday's post) I sketched it again on watercolor paper.  Returning to my car for my fountain pen inks, I dropped in color and floated water in the masses to see how they would mingle.  All Diamine inks, I am now thinking of a few Robert Oster inks that also have amazing chroma. I am embarking on a whole new art adventure, messy, bold and loose!  So much fun!  Painting number 3387 in 3387 days.