Thursday, January 10, 2013

Practicing Watercolor and Existence Take Two

I wanted to practice my watercolor skillz a little, and had the idea of doing a practice series of some of Bear's favorite toys and things. I'm sentimental about my kid like that.

Hmm, it's funny, but now that I'm actually about to post them I realize I feel more self conscious about posting pics of actual attempts to paint something than I do about sharing my journal pages. I think that's because with art journaling, there are no real goals or rules. It's self expression, an intuitive process, sometimes even spiritual. It's fun to do and cathartic and there is no real way to fail at it. Success means feeling satisfied with your page, and that's that. At least, this is how see it. Whereas with other kinds of painting and drawing, there are more defined principles, measures of skill and talent, etc. I am very much a beginner. But I'm posting anyway, because this blog is about chronicling my arty adventures, so here goes.

Bear's basketball slippers. She really loves these things and wears them all the time around the house; it's too funny. They came in a box of hand-me-downs for her brother, but as they are her size right now she latched onto them something strong. 


One of Bear's favorite stuffed kitty cats. I actually kind of like how this one came out.

In a very different style, here is a journal page I reworked the other day. This is one I had done for the Fall Fearless and Fly challenge, but I was not liking the results very much so changed it up a bit:


You can see the previous version here. I kept the quote from the challenge "Existence really is an imperfect tense that never becomes a present", layered some more paint and stuff, did some scraping through the now many layers. I like the page much better now.

18 comments:

  1. I love your watercolour kitty, it's very cute, and I doubly appreciate it because I'm AWFUL at watercolours! Thank you for joining in with my whimsical reading challenge, I'm adding you to my list this very second! Daire x

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  2. I just loved the stuffed kitten painting, so cute! Happy PPF!

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  3. Good for you... chronicling it all! Your watercolors are lovely! Don't be so hard on yourself! Just the fact that youu are out here DOING this is fabulous! Do what you Love, Love what you do!

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  4. I love that you are painting your child's precious toys and favorite slippers! You will look back one day and the memories will come flooding back. Keep up the good work! Happy PPF!

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  5. Love your stuffed kitty! I know what you mean about being self conscious!

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  6. I'd say you are doing extremely well. I actually tell myself anything goes with my drawings and painting,,, there are no mistakes, I am not after perfection and that is my style. It is very freeing. Thanks for your sweet words about my book too! HPPF !

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  7. It definitely takes a lot of courage to put your art out into the world! Thanks for sharing your process and your pictures. I especially loved seeing your re-visiting of your existence journal page.

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  8. your watercolor sketches are lovely!! And you will treasure these special mementoes of your childrens things even more now. I did like your FF & F before but love how you changed it up-well done! Happy PPF, AJED, and FF & F!

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  9. Very sweet watercolor paintings...especially love the slippers with the complementary color scheme! :)
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  10. Loving your cute watercolour paintings and your terrific journal page. Happy PPF, Annette x

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  11. Your watercolour paints are beautiful & delicate, such a contrast with your gorgeous striking journal page. Isn't it amazing we have all these things inside us waiting to get out on a page. :-)

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  12. Great water color painting but I love the journal page...it look a bit like batik...the color combo is awesome too!! Each to their own I guess!

    Hugs Giggles

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  13. I really like version number 1 of your art journal page but WOWZERS!!! Version number 2 is amazing! The colours and composition are brilliant :)

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  14. You did a really good job on the slippers and kitty! And I really like what you did with the colors on your journal page. Anyway, I emailed you, and when I can get my phone charged up I'll call you! We just got back from our trip yesterday afternoon. Talk to you soon!
    Brittany

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  15. The stuffed kitty is lovely, soft and nicely effortless looking and your journal page is wonderful!

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  16. How sweet the slippers and stuffed kitty are. You should frame them and hang them in her room! You certainly did "change up" that journal page. I love the blues and purples and all that visual texture

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