Squirrel Mini

 

I absolutely love the tactile feel of the glass nib as it glides over the cotton paper, pulling so slightly on the soft texture.  Each glass dip pen is different, too.  The extra fine ones actually tear at the paper, and the medium ones deliver a better flow of ink.  The squirrels have gotten so close to the house lately! They have given up trying to get in my bird feeders, so now they just hang out below them, cleaning up after the birds.  Nearly every time I go back to the bay window, I startle one in waiting.  After a gorgeous day full of outdoor chores, it's nice to get in a miniature painting!  Painting number 4753 in 4753 days. 

Moon Cactus

I come to my easel late tonight, after a gorgeous day spent outside gardening and painting the wood for the new garden gate.  At 64 degrees, I could hardly spend this January day another way with so many tasks piled up.  The cows, chickens and sunset were all calling out to be painted, but I just could not answer that call.  So, I choose this flashy moon cactus to paint, in honor of the bright full moon outdoors.  I am exploring what my fountain pen inks can do, on paper I do not like. These Diamine inks are very fluid, and mingle with water.  The colors separate with a will of their own, making each painting completely one of a kind.  When I don't have much time, I turn to a miniature ATC sized paper which I cut up from scrap paper, or papers that don't make the cut for my regular work.  It's the perfect way to use them in a playful manner, and see if perhaps a certain method could make them acceptable.  It's all about the process after all.  Painting number 4752 in 4752 days, just over 13 years for daily painting and posting.  Wowza. 

Moon Beam

I LOVE living in the country where wildlife abounds. Any moment could be an opportunity to paint, and this little squirrel caught my attention today!  We have both red and gray squirrels who are constantly picking up acorns and walnuts around here. This one is a gray, allowing me to choose an ink of a matching color to use - Moon Beam. The ink gets pretty dark in heavy applications, and there is a delightful teal shimmer, too.  Another of the Inkvent 2023 selections, this one is matte with no sheen or chroma really. It's fun to try these inks on miniature wildlife paintings - and challenging at this size!  Painting number 4014 in 4014 days. 

Golden Meadow

 

This was the peaceful meadow finish before a purple fountain pen ink catastrophe.  Rushing to meet a friend who needed the frame in my car - I did not tighten the cap on "Festive Joy" - and THAT cleanup was neither festive or joyful, lol!  It took hours to clean that purple ink from all the other bottles and brushes.  Thank goodness I had them in an airtight container - or that mess would have traveled in my trunk!  As it turns out, this ink is completely water soluble, and every bit of it washed out of my supplies when soaked in water. The lesson I learned here is to be extra careful and methodical when closing up each bottle - especially when in the field!  Painting number 3777 in 3777 days. 

Memory Lane

 

I love using Diamine's Memory Lane ink for this miniature painting out by the barn!  It's a lovely red violet that washes with water and turns turquoise with a little bleach!  I think this ink will be lovely in the spring when blooms are lighting up the landscape!  Painting number 3677 in 3677 days and day 29 #stradaeasel challenge 😍🎨

January Stream

What a gorgeous January day for a little plein air with ink by the stream!  With temps in the 50s - this day was a gift not to waste!  I am using just 3 Diamine inks from the 2022 Inkvent Calendar - Yulelog, Bliss, and Three Kings, with a tiny bit of One More Sleep for that cool violet blue in the water.  After floating in water, I drop in the ink, allowing it move and blotting where I need it to stop.  As one mass is drying, I work in another, careful to hold my painting level - or all masses will run south! It sure is fun to play with these bold colors - perhaps I'll add a few to my plein air line up! Painting number 3676 in 3676 days and day 28 of the #stradaeasel challenge. 

Chiefs Color at Union Station

 

Wet streets and Chief's color rock the Union Station after dark!  Today, I'm using Diamine inks and TWSBI fountain pens for this nocturne ink painting, Three Kings, Solar Storm, Cardinal, Spruce, and Yule Log.  All are from the Inkvent Calendar 2022.  I sketched the scene out with an India ink pen first then added the inkinto wet masses, allowing it to mingle.  That Solar Storm sure makes a wonderful night sky!  Hope to get one more done before the big game this weekend!  Painting number 3674 in 3674 days and day 26 of the #stradaeasel challenge.

Snow at Yellow Barn

What fun to awake to a fresh blanket of snow!  But once again, our warm temperatures are melting it quickly!  When I heard the drip! drip! drip! From the eves - I knew time was of the essence!  All those branches were still coated with snow when I started this painting - and by it's finish, it has already melted!  Today, I am using Silent Night and Three Kings inks by Diamine.  Both are from the 22 Inkvent Calendar.  The icy cool blue makes for a wonderful winter landscape ink  - and I had to water down the yellow to make it match the barn color.  At full strength, it is very gold.  Love getting to see how these inks play together - and hope to have another snow soon!  Painting number 3673 in 3673 days and day 25 of the #stradaeasel painting challenge. 

Frosted Barn

The snow was a gorgeous white blanket this morning when I rose from bed.  Though it was heavily overcast and spitting still, the eves of the house were dripping - my very first sign that time is short for this winter beauty!  After a few morning tasks were done, I headed into the melting landscape with a limited palette of ink.  I chose Diamine's Cardinal red, Ghost (a gray violet), and One More Sleep (a metal blue), all from the recent Inkvent Calendar.  I'm playing with these inks, picking three each day to complete a miniature ink painting, discovering how they mingle and move in the wet masses. I meant to take out a little bleach water pen, but I didn't, and I don't think I need it either.  Lovely chroma, and these three were perfect for this day! Painting number 3670 in 3670 days, and day 22 of the #stradaeasel challenge. If only the snow weren't melting faster than I could paint it!  

Moon Cactus

 

This was a day full of family volunteering at our local robotic tournament, with lots of grandbaby time!  After watching another Chief's win, it was great to unwind with my ink collection.  Already dark, I chose to paint this little moon cactus, choosing Diamine's Flame ink for the "moon".  Best Wishes was my green with a little Olive Swirl for warmth.  I floated in Memory Lane pretty wet, and that mass moved in it's water as I continued to work.  All of these inks are from the Inkvent Calendar 2022, and I love getting to know them better!  Painting number 3669 in 3669 days and day 21 of the #stradaeasel challenge.

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. 

Young Bucks

It is super fun to sketch young deer at play, with three fountain pens loaded with different inks, adding water for flow within the masses!  I have an assortment of fountain pens that I loaded with some of the amazing Diamine inks from the 2021 Inkvent Calendar, and I took three with me - a blue, brown and yellow.  With these three inks, I sketched and added water to move the ink while I worked.  The deer had bolted before hardly any of their color was on,  but I always paint the animals first in a scene - as they often drift right out of sight! The sketch and color is loose - just like the quick moment I caught them at play! Painting number 3664 in 3664 days and day 16 of the current #stradaeasel challenge.

Inked Butterflies

After a full day of Easter celebration with family, I work in a little play time with my fountain pen inks.  I am playing with the inks, trying new things to explore just how the different colors mingle. I feel more expressive somehow, untied to the strict lines and angles of my ink and watercolor work.  It's liberating how this media simply takes off - like another personality jumping forward to play with reckless abandon.  It's all about the creative process, and I LOVE it!  Painting number 3392 in 3392 days.