Witches Brew

This was a fun Halloween, spending time with the family!  After stopping by Mike's parent's house with Gus, Michaela, Kirby and Casper, we went trick or treating with the grandkids near Tyler's house. Gus is staying over tonight, sleeping in the "robot bed" and watching whatever he wants on the TV in there!  The painting is watercolor batik on rice paper, to celebrate the day! Painting number 4686 in 4686 days. 

Witches at the Cauldron

Happy Halloween to one and all!  Keeping with the theme of the day, witches at their cauldron are on my Halloween easel!  I've chosen rice paper for this watercolor batik, and have sketched my composition with India ink.  This ink has the staying power to remain visible after multiple layers of watercolor and hot wax. Though it will fade considerably before the finish, it is all I need. The watercolor mingles freely on this paper, and I must allow plenty of drying time between layers.  It's so fun to play in this medium - and always unpredictable.  Painting number 5175 in 5175 days. 

Jack-o-lantern Mouse

 

It's fun to sketch this little trick-or-treater with a favorite TWSBI Diamond Mini fountain pen and ink!  In this small pen I keep De Atrementis archive ink, which does not move with water.  I use it for the initial sketch lines before I start to fill in with more ink and watercolor.  This pen has an extra fine nib, one of the few that do, and it in perfect for early sketch lines.  I do need to be careful not to tear this thin handmade paper with that extra fine nib. Every sketch is an exploration of both ink and paper!  Painting number 5174 in 5174 days. 

Witches Brew

Witches Brew
Watercolor batik on rice paper, 7.5x5.5
purchase here

Happy Halloween!  How's this for getting into the halloween spirit?  I have never done anything like this - well, not since I was a child, so why not branch out and have a little fun?  The watercolor batik technique is perfect for creating a vintage mood as these witches make their brew!  Unlike all the other batiks I've done, I painted the background first - getting the glow of the fiery sunset in.  I painted the sky with hot wax and then proceeded to drop color into the figures, cauldron, and land.  It was fun to let those paints just mingle together.  Did I mention that the only color I premix on the palette is orange?  This is painting number 671 in as many days :)

Trio of Pumpkins

Trio of Pumpkins
Oil on panel, 7x5, palette knife

FINALLY, after three days of cleaning, painting and reorganizing, the pantry is finished.  Oh, how I dreaded that job....even with the amazing antique cabinet waiting to be put in place.  With just a few odds and ends left in the kitchen from the project, I can let go a sigh of relief.  Needing a little art therapy, I started this painting at 10:00 tonight - finishing in an hour.  Besides being fast, the great thing about using a palette knife - no washing of brushes!  Just a wipe and its clean!  This is painting number 297 in 297 days - and halloween is fast approaching!

Raven at Nightfall

Raven at Nightfall
Oil on panel, 10x8

I bought this wonderful pie safe to put in my pantry - knowing it would add historic charm.  Well, I have spent the ENTIRE day removing all things kitchen from that room, as well as the attached cabinets in that particular spot.  The pie safe fits perfectly - with many of my antique serving pieces on top, and my kitchen is a wreck!  Tomorrow, I will be putting the old cabinets back up on the opposite wall next to the fridge, and hopefully getting the rest of the food back into those cabinets!  This is a horrible job!  The only thing that keeps me going is knowing how much better it will look when all is done.  Painting number 295 today - something spooky :)

Jack-O-Lantern!

Jack-O-Lantern!
Oil on panel, palette knife 6x6

I have stepped back into "crazy town" tonight!  After a FULL day of shopping with my youngest daughter, we got home late - getting a late start on my painting.  With this one, I picked the opposite color to lay down first of whatever area I was blocking in.  The reason for this strange approach is that the opposite colors should make the "real" colors pop like crazy.  It is challenging to lay those colors on top of the others without completely neutralizing them.  This is the first jack-o-lantern I have ever painted - so of course, I have to pick the new, crazy palette knife way!  Haha!  This is painting number 294 in 294 days - maybe I'll do some fun, spooky pieces leading up to Halloween :)