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 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.