Adventures in moleskine sketch journaling

     Recently I have decided to take up journaling, but as an artist of course this task could not simply include writing. For the last three days I have been writing personal entries as well as logging pen sketches/illustrations to suite the writing, to match my mood, style, or simply amusing page filler. I have seen that there are many illustrators out there keeping up with their thoughts and creative juices on the go this way. 

     For my journal I chose a small format hard-bound sketchbook with a canvas cover rather than a traditional moleskine brand to avoid the cost as this is a new venture for me. More than anything I hope to blend the water color sketching as week as other mediums into a single place so I can inspire myself to strive for better skill and increased work output. Hopefully beyond theses exercises, new projects will come to light all while letting me get my thoughts out as well. I am also uploading some teasers of the artwork so far.

Irish farm pasture watercolor

     Here is my attempt at a smaller format painting it's essentially a 5X7" on watercolor painting. I have sketched in the farmhouse and the gates however due to transparency of the watercolor I think I am going to go over with gauche or an acrylic wash color thinned down. I will also add some trees, scrubs, and some livestock as well.

Field sketching and painting at Lewis Ginter

     Today me, my wife our daughter Lily, her bother Jeremy, sister-in-law Lacey, their daughter Madeline, new baby Juliette, cousin DeeDee, and DeeDee's son Noah all took a morning trip to Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. This is such a lovely place for people of all ages to enjoy. There are lovely sites to see at every turn, and the garden is carried though the seasons of the year making for new surprises with each visit. I brought my portable water colors (a set called the cottman serried by winsor newton) a water-brush and a pencil to take quick studies and field sketches of the various flora an scenery. 

     The orchid room at the green house proved an excellent place filled with vibrant hues of all variety and exotic plants in so many shapes, size an complexities. As I walked around sketching and blocking in colors from my pain pots on to the pages I felt a joy I haven't experience with my art in some great while. It was wonderful being able to not tie myself down or time myself when recording observations of the subject matters I saw. Jeremy took many complex and wonderful shots of the great varieties of flowers in that room as well as on the kids playing in the children's garden and playhouses. 

     Noah and Madeline loved playing with him making up games and little club meetings racing around the paths. Even though I was only there for a brief time before work it was well worth the trip, and I feel it gave me a pleasant focus for the day. I will be posting the progressions of my watercolor studies from scratch to finish ASAP. Stay tuned thanks!!!

Work in progress Japanese garden watercolor

     I got this image in my head and just started sketching out the rough with a watercolor pencil. I have been working on this painting locking in sections of color and shape little by little on my lunch breaks and fifteens at work. It feels so calming to paint and i really needed that release today. I have been feeling so much joy since my daughter was born but at the same time tons of anxiety over things I cannot immediately impact like my current state of employment and my personal goals. 

     I know this much I am a starving artist and not in the literal sense. I starve for creativity and the connection I feel with my self when I paint or draw. One day I will be able to let that passion out but at present these little paintings help me feel reassured not to let my dreams or creativity die

New paintings

     I recently took up watercolor painting again. I cannot believe how much I missed this paint medium as well as just winding down to paint in general. It is so therapeutic to hold a brush in my hand and be in a quiet peacefully solace. I love the way it allow me to remove stress and just breath. It has really brought me back to a passion for art and pulled me from the poison of being stuck on perfection. 

     I am painting with a pentel water brush and a cottman travel set of winsor newton field paints. I also have begun mixing in gauche and watercolor pencil. This freedom of field sketching and painting is amazing. I hope to soon practice some painting en plen air as the French say maybe at Lewis Ginter. Hope you like