Butterscotch

A single butterscotch hard candy seemed suitable for trying out some new materials in this 20 minute sketch. Watercolor, water soluble crayon and Inktense pencil, 5 1/2" x 8". I really like the saturation of color I can get with the addition of the water soluble pencils and crayon, though I admit my highlights got a little muddy in the cellophane here. In a regular watercolor painting I wait for the watercolor paint to dry before adding deeper layers of color, but with these quick sketches my paint and paper stays wet. The deep color in the water soluble pencil glides right on, and the pencil lines can be faded in with the clean damp brush if I choose.

Folded Fabric

Trying out some different water soluble mediums in 20 min. tonight on this very textural packet of multicolor tweedy fabric. Let's see - pencil, watercolor, Inktense pencil, and water soluble crayon on watercolor sketch paper, 5 1/2" x 8". I love using complementary color schemes but rarely try the purple/yellow combo. This fabric had a lot of lavender, so it was an obvious choice here, but I intend to try this color combo unexpectedly on some other subject. It's a very spring-like combination, and I am eagerly anticipating spring at this point.

Red, red wine...

...leaves such beautiful purple tones on corks (probably Cuvee Rouge and Roaring Red, two faves from this excellent winery). Pencil, watercolor and a wee bit of water soluble pencil, 5 1/2" x 8". I tried this subject again to make sure, but yes, corks are surprisingly difficult. Bear with the artist notes here - even though they are a basic cylinder shape, the color is hard to achieve with watercolor. If I was using oil or acrylic I would go to town mixing titanium white with yellow ochre and burnt sienna and just a smidge ultramarine blue for what I imagine would be the right color, but in watercolor, without the opaque white (or any opaque for that matter) their elusive color just isn't very strong. I am determined to try again because the wine color, the shadows, and the reflections created are just wonderful to paint.

A Pair of Paintings

Ripe pears are a classic still life, the bright colors and interesting shapes never failing to delight both painter and viewer (at least in my opinion). Pencil, watercolor and water soluble pencil, 5 1/2" x 8". I was happy with this 20 minute painting, so then I decided to try another 20 minute painting of a more challenging still life - these corks and grapes in a small bowl (same size and medium):

I've been wanting to paint wine corks for some time, inspired by Michael Naples (an excellent contemporary artist who creates 6" x 6" oil paintings almost daily, but obviously without a time limit). His paintings are generally classic still lifes, lit beautifully, and are just incredible in their simplicity. I am trying to learn a lot from his approach, though I certainly prefer watercolor to oil paint. With more time, I think I could have come closer to achieving the rich deep colors in the grapes and more texture in the corks, so I'll try this subject again, perhaps without a time limit.

Reading material

With no shortage of books in my house, I could paint them often without repetition (though I much prefer reading them). Pen and watercolor, 5 1/2" x 8". These books are upside down because I set the long novel down to see how far I've come - about halfway - and didn't want the words on the cover of either book to distract from their color/shape once I decided to paint them.

Mental Health

Though I am not always a fan of abstract art, I admit I do need to test myself with raw color and design every once in a while. Sometimes great truths can come out of abstract art (though not necessarily here, and not necessarily in 20 minutes). But for that reason I like to do what I call "stream of consciousness" drawing. Nothing particular in mind, other than a state of relaxation and a conscious effort to move the pencil across the page. I believe my subconscious was tapped into here, I did not make any effort to pick specific colors other than what jumped out at me. It is what it is, no more, no less. I truly believe it's not supposed to "be" any particular thing, except a very relaxing way to spend 20 minutes drawing and removing stress from the brain. Everyone should try it once in a while, it does soothe your soul.

Finished Fraktur

With another 20 min. (40 min. total time) I was able to finish this fraktur-style image I began 2 days ago. I am much happier with it, obviously the color is more saturated and the details enhanced the way I imagined they should be. I will make a mental note that images of this type need at least 40 min. to look the way I think they should, and avoid them for future 20 min. challenge subjects, even though I do enjoy drawing them so much.