Been Painting Watercolors

Been painting 5x7's in watercolor.......so relaxing......In teaching art I often get the itch to do it too.....I recommend it to anyone!!! who does not like watercolor-ing?

Watercolor Explorations Inspired by The Redwoods

I have been doing tons of reading on the Redwoods lately and I could not help but think about all the life metaphors found in nature and trees....

You can't reach as high without a good foundation....

Just like people, we all have our own stories to tell based on our unique experiences. 

Like trees, we need good nutrients to be healthy in body and mind.....

A little travel watercolor set I bought.....oh, the possibilities......YUM YUM!

Created a Watercolor Journal Today

In preparation for our trip to the Redwoods in CA, I decided to make a watercolor journal for quick painting on the spot. 

I bought two watercolor booklets and folded each page. I measures holes one inch apart. The last time I made a book was back in college. I then used a needle to make holes at each marking.

Here are the booklets with the bindings all sewn up. 
I used the backing from the booklet to make the sides for my book. I had some white fabric and used that to glue it all together. Nora used a pencil to mark on the cardboard. 
I used manilla folder paper for the inside. 
Here are the pages inside the cover....
My daughter and I decorated the cover with collage pieces.....Nora picked out the large white ladder-like piece on the cover. 
An inside look....
The finished product....

The Power to Inspire

Never underestimate the power of inspiration. As an art teacher I always tell my kids that artists inspire each other all the time. Children are often very hesitant to use techniques used by other artist because they feel it might be considered "copying".  Yet, I reassure them that the uniqueness of what makes them who they are will always shine through and the result will always be beautifully and drastically different than the work from which you were inspired. 

I just watched this great YouTube.com video (above) of an artist named Susan Cornelis. It made me realize how much I love and always have loved watercolor and the mixing of inner "phychologizing" into art.  I then became instantly inspired to swim right into watercolor journaling next in my creative path.  

I will be making my own sketchbook for , another for my son and another for my daughter to use during our trip to The Redwoods. My son (4) is not into watercolors as much as my daughter (1.8) who LOVES, loves, loves watercolor. She loves painting and is awesome at holding the brush, wetting the paint tray and rinsing her brush with no mess......

Check out that grip.....Since she hardly talks yet, when she wants to paint she points to the watercolor tray and brings the water bucket to the sink area and points to the faucet. 

She's not really aware yet that you wash to change colors....but she's a good imitator anyway....she looks like she knows what she's doing. What I love most is her dead serious expression. 

She "wakes up" the colors with her brush.....again, the concentration level cracks me up!! She is able to do this for about 45 minutes. Can't wait to see what her works look like as she grows. I love being a mom. 

A Dab in Watercolor......what fun!

I got a hold of a watercolor tray and forgot how fun it was to paint. I am putting this for sale on etsy. Wow...that was fun!

 How else would you use a pizza box...I used adult scissors to cut the lid of a pizza box into 2.5"x3.5" ACEO cards. I was going to use pastels over them but I like the cards as they are. I love the layered look you can create with watercolors.  

  

You can find these ORIGINAL watercolors for sale for only $4.50 plus shipping in my Etsy Store at Miriam's Art.