Illustration's, who me?

sketches for a children's book -Nancy Van Blaricom

Although I have not been doing any of the art work I had originally thought my summer would be filled with, mainly water scenes, I have been busy with some new commission's. I have been asked to illustrate a children's book and since I know nothing about illustrating, let alone illustrating for a children's book, this has brought on a lot of research. I've been reading everything I can find that might help me and I think I'm off to a pretty good start. Here is a photograph of a few of the sketches I've put down on some office card stock, just trying to get some idea of what the characters may look like.

Also I have a commission to paint a portrait of an Australian Sheepdog.

I have a full plate don't you think?

Sketchbook Sailboat

Sailboat in Marina - sketchbook

I think this summer will be a time for enjoying sketching and exploring water and reflections. I have two books on the subject of painting water and I will be trying a few of the demo's in both Lakes and Rivers , and Painting Water where I will try to capture some of the scenes around me.

Artist's Award Ceremony & Reception

Saturday I attended the Peninsula Art Association's Artist's Reception and Award Ceremony where I was thrilled to receive 2nd place in watercolor for my small Great Blue Heron painting.

Great Blue Heron #1, 5" x 5" watercolor

There are so many wonderful artist's here locally that I was truely surprised when I found out I had received this award. I couldn't be happier.

Not quite finished ...

Beach Rope Swing - 10.5" x 15" gessoed 300lb coldpress watercolor paper

This is a painting I briefly talked about having started back in March on the 17th. Today after working on it awhile I see I'm starting to obsess about every little detail, so for now I'll stop.

This paper came from a block that had not been properly sized and watercolor is absorbed immediately... instead of throwing it away I decided I'd gesso the front and see if I couldn't be used that way. I think I'm finally getting the hang of it ... but need to remember that the paint doesn't sink in at all now ... making it easy to lift off.

A watercolor from my sketchbook

Another sketch from my sketchbook. I used ballpoint pen to sketch it out and watercolor from my small traveling palette. I love the bright colors of this IKEA umbrella. It even makes a rainy day more cheerful. I thought an umbrella sketch seemed very appropriate considering all the rain we've received lately. I added the color splashes after I finished the sketch and I think this time they took on a look of rain drops.

The last of my bird series ...

Common Merganser: watercolor 5" x 5"

I think, for now, I'm done with my bird series. I find it hard to concentrate on painting the birds with my usual uptight detail painting style if I'm also wanting to paint more loosely.

I also have another painting started with the drawing down on the watercolor paper and some whites saved with masking fluid, but now I'm anxious to try to paint it looser than normal tendency's. Wish me luck.

Thumbnails and value decisions

Today while sitting in the house looking out at the rain coming down I thought how nice it would be to be out painting en Plein Air on a sunny day. As I was looking out the kitchen window I noticed the contrast between outside and inside the house. I grabbed my 50% grey Prismacolor Pen and a black Sharpie to sketch the contrast in value's.

In this sketchbook photo I used the white of the paper for my whites and lightest values, then the 50% grey pen for the next value, and lastly the black Sharpie to indicate the shadow/darkest value.

I painted this using only my value sketch as my guide. This was an enjoyable exercise for me. I really had to think when choosing my colors that were back lit and in shadow. I'm not sure I did a good job of showing this, but when I converted this watercolor to black and white, below,

it seems pretty true to my original value thumbnail.