pamgarrison

more art made at art retreat ps #3

I mentioned before that I took very limited art supplies to our little Art Retreat #3 in Palm Springs. Just some art journals and sketchbooks. It felt good to limit my supplies and spend less time sorting through them to find want I wanted, and less time going from one idea to the other vs. just relaxing and really enjoying one. Okay, I consider art journaling and sketching to be different, so make that two. 

After we were finished driving around taking pictures like these:

Thanks Carol for this photo of me behind the Palm Springs sign. When I was a little girl I loved Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem that starts, "There was a little girl, who had a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead." Not so much the little, but the poem springs to mind when I see this. ;)

We headed back to the house for fun, and making art was the main priority. All day long outside and all night inside. 

I plucked ripe lemons from the tree and tried to paint/sketch them in a manner more similar to what I learned in the oil painting class by Leslie Duke I attended. I love to explore different methods. 

Carol bought this sweet teacup and saucer at the antique store we popped into. You can see it in use at her home here. It was too beautiful to resist sketching. 

Carol was also the inspiration for this sketching of a chair that was at the house, as she was the first to sketch it. All three of us had a go at it. Not only is it fun to sketch the same subject yourself a few times, it's even more fun to have three different people sketch the same thing and enjoy the results of how unique each one is, how different the styles are. (The Moss sisters have their renditions on their blogs too.) 

Watercolored birds.

Yep, still birds. 

And then I some art journaling (the difference for me being:not based on looking at anything for inspiration, just imagination):

How gorgeous is this new Antietam ink I bought? Dipped my brush right in it to paint with it, even though I bought it for my fountain pen. 

A little doodly drawing using this Pilot Parallel pen and then watercoloring fill in. 

 

 These two. Excellent Art Retreat cohorts. Even cuter sisters. 

It was a good trip, I highly recommend grabbing a small group and making time to create, I'm never sorry when I do!

And with that, my Palm Springs Art Retreat #3 recap concludes. 

Well, one more:

 xo

 

have wait, will sketch

There was a wait to be seated at breakfast since it was Modernism Week out in Palm Springs last weekend. No problemo...have wait, will sketch. We were on an Art Retreat after all.  

Waiting for the meal once seated is a good time to sketch too. Our waitress saw what we were up to and was kind enough to give us a warning before our food came out. 

Carol and Mary Ann shared their sketches from breakfast on their blogs too.

I don't know why I felt the need to label the blind contours above, it's so obvious who they are, bahahaha. 

Speaking of labeling, it may or may not be a good idea to hand your sketchbook over to Mary Ann so she can add captions like she did above and on an older page in my sketchbook here:

 

It is however, a good idea to copy her good ideas for sketching fodder. Carol and I saw her oh-so-good sketch of the Tabasco sauce bottle and had to follow suit in our books. I was not pleased with my rendering done while at the restaurant (seen above alongside more blind contours), so I tried it again when back home. 

meh. Although I still didn't capture the personality and charm of the bottle, I did discover that I think it's a good idea to repeat sketch subjects. Sketching is so fun, so much to discover, constantly. 

I also like to doodle when I've got some wait time on my hands. I like this as it is, but it will also be fun to color it in, be it pencils, markers, paint or a combination of all. 

I did a few more quick sketches over the weekend:

  

 Of course there was slow sketching done as well, I'll share photos of that next post... 

It's Friday! Hoo-ray!

Might keep the sketching going this weekend here...we'll see how much I can squeeze in. Hope you have some free time this weekend to follow the creative muse of your choice. (Is sleep a creative pursuit? That's what I'm looking forward to most I think. Art retreats are awesome for lots of things...sleep isn't one of them.)

  

a little birthday party

On Thursday I made a little treck up to Mary Ann's neck of the woods to celebrate her birthday. I forgot how nice it is to celebrate someone's birthday on the actual day, it so rarely happens much of the time. (that's her darling car sketch above) 

I'm very glad she liked her presents. We share a love of Nathalie Lete's art in all forms. Here it is on a children's watercolor paint set. 

As always, we started with a garden tour. 

Then next, a house tour of changes and new things since my last visit. Love this sweet toaster cover Mary Ann made from fabric gift she received. 

We always settle for a show and tell of recent work in our journals and sketchbooks. Man, so so much inspiration, she's been a sketching machine!  

And then, a favorite part, we got out our art supplies and got busy making and chatting and sharing supplies and ideas. This was the first page I did in my sketchbook. I had to document some of her supplies that I want to get. I'll have to take some more photos of recent pages of mine, it's been a bit since I've done a journal page post! 

The worst part, as always, came the time to wrap it up, time goes so quickly when having fun with friends. Especially a birthday art party! 

 

sketchbookery class begins anew

Since a new round of Sketchbookery fun is about to start up tomorrow, I thought I'd share some sketches I've done since last time. Above is one of my favorites. I painted it with brush and lamp black DS watercolor from a photo I took in Italy. It was fun to try to loosely interpret the important parts and catch the gist of the scene. My favorite part is the people, kind of crazy but still recognizable. As I said in my last post, Mary Ann's Sketchbookery class really got me started sketching and using watercolors more regularly than ever before. I fell in love with the idea of lots of sketchbooks full of page after page of places I've been, things I've seen, still life renderings etc. I'm still on sketchbook number 3 here. I am taking my time and enjoying the process. 

I love Mary Ann's new class promo, have you seen it? 

SKETCHBOOKERY promo new from MAM on Vimeo.

 Sign ups start tomorrow for this next session. I'm looking forward to more inspiration, more practice, more fun!

Here are some more recent pages of mine from my sketchbook:

 And here are some sketches from my Italy travel journal that I completed either there or once home:

Lots of different styles, lots of different subjects, hours of entertainment. It's official, I'm hooked!

 

sunday at moss cottage

putting my half pans of paint back into the metal paint palette after moving some to a plastic holder for Italy trip

I took a little jaunt up to LA this past weekend. Well, it was supposed to be a quick little jaunt...Apparently, I fell into a trance listening to Serial (man, are you listening? I wish I had started later in, the waiting week by week is hard!), and suddenly realized I had driven way way way past my freeway interchange. Almost doubled drive time there. Crazy. But finally, I arrived at Moss Cottage. Always a lovely place to be, but especially on a sunny Sunday. 

We usually start with a garden tour and house tour of any new changes. I'm a big fan of progress and progress updates. This time, because I'd already wasted an hour and a half of our fun time, we pretty much got down to the business of checking out the other's recent journaling and sketching and any other art making show and tell items. I'm loving her littlest sketchbook (seen above).

Mmmmm...what's not to love, right?!? 

Ha! We weren't really doing a class room style show and tell like it looks here. I am sure I said, "hold this for me right here in the light so I can take a picture!!!" in my nicest bossy pants voice. I had to try to capture them for my viewing pleasure later. After all, one can only take in and retain so much splendor at a time.

And then we could resist making no more... the best part of any play date with creative friends. 

Are you kidding me?!?! I am plum crazy about this page she made in her art journal. 

We often intentional take on the same "assignment"...here's my version of same toile paper:

I like it fine, but I lurveeee hers...and then after our hatching/crosshatching study, she did those flowers (left top side of her art journal above) and I had to flat out copy those in my art journal:

Think I'll be throwing some more color on these as soon as I finish this post! 

I also did this page in my art journal, loosely based on another piece of wallpaper that Ingrid shared in Italy. 

Not nearly enough time creating before I had to head home.

I feel a lot more sketching and journaling coming on.....love it so. 

 

recent sketchbook-ing

I've been trying to sketch regularly. At least the sketching part, the coloring part can wait usually, although if there is a particular color I'm trying to match, I keep that in mind when choosing what my subject will be. The watercoloring the sketch is the most fun for me, because that's when it all comes together. But the sketching is the part that I want to push for growth. 

I knew I wasn't going to be painting in this one, so made notes on it to water color in later.  I did the same get to it later with the background of the yellow flowers from Palm Springs:

This was while watching TV one night, trying to quickly do faces. Believe me, noe of these faces look anything like they did on TV, but it was a very good excercise in fast moving and trying to see specific elements quickly. 

I like these sketches I did of little creamers and tea cups, but really, really don't like the background. Oh well, some get better, some get worse with the coloring. Mistakes in taste are bound to be made when experimenting. 

I even took my sketchbook with me when away at my brother's. I didn't bring any watercolors, so later I tried to (sort of) match colors to my photo, taking license, of course. 

When Mary Ann and I were in Palm Springs we were talking about the fun of flipping through our sketchbooks. I didn't get it at first...because I didn't have many sketches in any one book. I get it now; it's really fun to see progress and experiments, and the playtime stack up page after page. I'm still hooked on sketching as a totally separate art form. I'll keep you posted when I finally finish my first sketchbook! 

 

sketching in the desert

This is my favorite sketch done while in Palm Springs. I feel like with this sketch and water coloring, something started to connect in a new way between my eyes and hands. Regular sketching exploration is new to me. Until Sketchbookery class, I've only occasionally sketched live, now I'm hooked. Thank goodness for artist friends with passionate interests, the constant learning is a big happy gift in my life.

On this evening, we drove around in the car to find something that sparked some interest in both of us. There was no question once we rounded the corner. 

One thing I really enjoy about Mary Ann's sketches is that you can see the Mary Ann-ness of them, her artist's voice comes through. I also am smitten by her use of color and mixing of them in her sketches. I tried hard to copy her blending and combining of colors on this Mexican Bird of Paradise plant, but I just haven't found my there yet. The good news is all it takes is more practice...it never discourages me to practice more!

I tried a second time, but the results weren't much looser:

For someone that truly believes in pursuing freedom of play and imperfection in art, I feel too tight, too structured, when sketching. Which I find fascinating about creativity; how changing the medium can bring out a different side, a different style.

Now, put a brush and ink in my hand vs. a pen and watercolors and the freedom of expression and imperfection are readily apparent.

Have you found that to be true for you in creative pursuits? Am I crazy? don't answer that!

(as I've written on the page above, these are directly copied from a Nathalie Lete coloring book I bought in Paris almost 10 years ago...boy, am I happy I made that purchase, adore her art and find it endlessly inspiring.)

Totally inspired by Mary Ann, this page of sketches of things on the table made with brush and watercolor paint. 

These sketches were from photos taken while out driving around. So many great colors and statement houses to be found.

Live sketching on the left, from a photo on the right...

I couldn't resist adding a little blue paint pen to bring out the sage color of the Olive tree.

And a quick little last bit of fun...

It's obvious right, the fun I'm having with it? I'll stop shoving sketch photos down your throat soon, promise. Although, I don't plan on stopping sketching soon, so I'll just be sure to include other parts of life too ;).

(and...I am seriously excited to do some sketching in Italy!!!)

Ed: a little tale from our travels:

sometimes when mary ann and i are together ideas spark and creativity flows so fast i feel like i'm inside a pinball machine, flying from place to place, banking off walls, bells and lights flashing… 

other times it's like a scene straight out of Dumb and Dumber:

the setting: out by the pool, in lounge chairs, late night 

prop: binoculars, possible a margarita or two on the tables

MA: here,look at the stars! (handing over binoculars), you squeeze them together to size them for your face, then turn the knob to focus

me: (while doing the squeezing and turning and looking for stars), hmmm…i'm not seeing anything, is there a way to turn them on?

MA: no, what are you doing over there?!?

me: well, I don't know, but it sort of looks like the moon's surface, no stars…

MA: give them here! 

MA (takes binoculars, fiddles with them, un-squeezing and un-turning and looking for stars) and says, "did you break them already?!?"

me: eventually getting up to go over and examine how she's using them and say, "it looks like there are caps on the lenses" 

in unison: BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA! 

True story, 'nuf said

 

art making

Having fun making all sorts of messes, mostly of the colorful variety.

Another of my brush cleaning paper palettes:

and more pretty water:

Look at this page Mary Ann did just before arriving here, so so pretty:

And here she's working on the page to the left (seen a bit above):

(You can go to her blog post yeterday to see it finished.)

Of course we've been doing lots of sketching while here. All different challenges, some made up on the spot, some traditional exercises, and some from Sketchbookery. 

Even taking the time to color in some that I'd drawn earlier this month.

I wanted to get to these today, hopefully tomorrow before it's time to head back to reality. At least sketch them, even if I have to color in at home. Here's hoping...as always, art time goes much too fast. 

 

watercolor palette building

Thanks to Mary Ann's Sketchbookery class, I've gotten knee deep into making my own palette out of watercolors. (No need to fret for those that missed the sign up deadline for class, she'll be running another class this December!) 

I purchased this empty palette upon her recommendation. She's right, it's a good one, I like it a lot! And as pricey as it seems, compared to other metal paint palettes out there it seems reasonable. I want to get this one for a smaller set of paint tubes I have, but can't pull the trigger due to price. This one for 24 is a better price, but the shipping kills that deal. Anyway, if you order one, be sure not to forget to buy the pans or half pans to squeeze your paint into! 

Too bad I forgot that this set allows you to remove all the pans at once on it's removable tray as I've done above...it would have been easier for me to load them and lock them in if I had removed it before doing those things. oops. My set also looks a bit of a hot mess due to the fact that I was working with some of my tubes that I've had for a very long time. Some were a bit dry, some no longer mixed well. Here's the best set I could make from what I had and a few bought tubes:

Certainly good enough to have hours and hours of fun and lots of learning from doing! 

 I used mostly Daniel Smith tubes, a few Winsor & Newton artist series, and some Grumbacher. I'm not familiar with them enough to compare them yet, I like them all! All those tubes in that clear container (I love you Daiso) are in my current palette...in case I run out of one and want to refill it, I'll know right where to find the same color. 

I spent a long time making cards out of each different brand of tube watercolors I have. Then, I chose from there. The Grumbacher's are pretty vibrant:

I would like to find some more of these to try (on sale somewhere)...I see a basic "Academy" set on overstock...and this on Amazon leads me to believe that they have been sold to Chartpak somewhere along the way...but enough about Grumbacher, as I don't really even know if they'll be my favorite next week! 

I can't stand to waste paint. Just.can't.stand.it! So, I grabbed some of these sheets to wipe my brush (usually in some shape or pattern) before dipping it in water. (And it protects the table too). Look at all that paint that could have gone to waste! Maybe I'll use them as journal covers in the future...or...

Me being me, I couldn't resist a little doodling on some too....

 That's the art fun I've been up to lately, what about you? Any art adventures to share?

 

 

getting ready for sketchbookery class

I couldn't resist getting a few supplies for Mary Ann's new e-course, Sketchbookery...

Class starts next week and I am really looking forward to it. I sketch once in awhile, but not regularly. I see a sketchbook as a completely different beast than my art journals. Of course, sometimes I sketch in my art journals, but for the most part, I use the same materials and mark making pens to doodle in my art journals, like this below vs. sketch.

I'm really looking forward to developing my sketching skills, learning some new techniques, and committing to practicing regularly as class goes along. I am especially looking forward to trying Mary Ann's shadowing and watercoloring style. 

Part of class instruction includes making a sketchbook (with a super cute binding stitch), but you know I'm not one for sticking with only one thing at a time! I prefer a plethora of choices ;). So this is the sketchbook I bought and I love it. I love the size, the linen cover and the paper too. It's cold press but it feels in between cold press and hot press (smooth, my favorite) watercolor paper. I'll be using this book along with the book we make in class. On that first title page of my book I used these three pens; a Copic Multiliner, a second Copic Multiliner, and a third Copic Multiliner. I had not seen the gray before, I like it a lot. 

Then a little watercoloring fun was had...

I'll probably add more sketching to the front there over time. 

After class is over, I plan to keep regular sketchbooks as well as art journals. It's a completely different way of expressing myself and playing with art supplies. I am always up for adding arts & crafts to my regularly scheduled programming! 

As Mary Ann's sketch says above, class starts July 1...If you are wanting to play along, you have until July 4 to register for this session of the course. If you are in class, I'm PG in the forum, looking forward to seeing you there and getting our sketchbookery on!

 

happy earth day & hooray! typepad is up

Hello and Happy Earth Day! After seeing all that Mary Ann has been up to with her recent in depth exploration into sketching etc., of course I'm inspired to play at it myself a little. I thought Earth day was the perfect excuse to take my lunch outside and have a date with my little black book. 

(This is the watercolor set shown above.)

 This set, similar to this watercolor set, is about half the price, still fun.  

I fear that my excitement about Typepad being back up was a little premature. I'm hearing you still can't see my blog. Boo. I was just so excited that I was able to log in and attempt a post which hasn't been possible for days, that I assumed you'd be able to see it. If you go via pamgarrison.typepad.com you can see the post but not in it's usual format with the header, sidebars, etc. Hopefully it will be back in full today, I am just happy to be able to pop in and say hello and tell you that it's not you, your blog feed, or anything other than Typepad causing the problem in how the blog looks. In case you've been blissfully unaware, Typepad is under some sort of hacking attack. Here is where I get my information about Typepad working or not. I'm sure it will be restored in full soon, in the meantime, hope you're all getting some time outside enjoying Earth Day!