Neocolor II

02-04-13b, a photo by Anita Davies on Flickr.

Haven't used these in a long time so grabbed them to accent the spread after sketching at Tessa's Salon in Doddington earlier in the day

GilaMosaics for JKPP

GilaMosaics-JKPP
Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

This was great fun!
Created with watercolour, Neocolor II and gouache in Moleskine Folio watercolour sketchbook.
Ref:
www.flickr.com/photos/gilamosaics/3554162185/

YevgeniaWatts for JKPP

YevgeniaWatts-JKPP
Originally uploaded by Anita Davies

A real quickie with Neocolor II crayons on tinted craft paper and a wet brush in places were used to create this portrait of Yevgenia. I purchased the Neocolor some time ago and haven't really experimented with them much but they were fun to use and very 'freeing'.
Ref:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/arxigene/4654500990/in/set-72157624169386064/

More Showers

...and a little sunshine. Playing with my Neocolor sticks again.


Jake had his practical on Tuesday and passed with flying colours!

Passing Time In Cambridge

My eldest has been attending an intensive course at college and I had some time to kill while I waited for him after dropping him off.

I spent some time in the museum of zoology, after grabbing a coffee on the square opposite Great St. Mary's church.

I took my neocolor sticks along to play with.

Sunny Side Up

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Playing around with my neocolor sticks.

I was recently asked by Sketchalina if she could include a journal spread of mine in the 'cool resource' section of her new journalling book...flattered, of course, I agreed.

Benwick Barn Sketches

I sketched these little thumbnails while waiting outside the school for Harry last week.
The barns were to my left, a view between two houses, and the landscape directly infront of me. I mixed the two scenes together with some Neocolor and then played around with the barn composition in ink.
I then took the sketches home and created a painting from them back in the studio
...How cool is that!
My own composition, my own references, bold colour and big brushes! I had so much fun, it felt so good to be 'creating' as opposed to copying, dusting off the cobwebs of my imagination.

I will post the painting later today.

Swan Invasion

Benwick River - Sketchbook study - Plein Air - Ink & Neocolor11

I was sitting along Benwick River with Harry again the other afternoon, sketching the river and a small boat when a swan came passing by. I quickly changed my focus to concentrate on the swan, adding a little neocolor to emphasise the pattern it was causing in the water.

Speedy Sunset

The view from my studio is pretty fantastic throughout the entire day but the sunsets are simply spectacular.
Every evening a different show appears outside my window as the sun drops it's head beneath the Fen...I never tire of it.

I decided to catch one in my sketchbook, you don't get long and it changes constantly by the second but I wanted to capture the 'banding' on this particular showcase the other evening. I managed to make two sketches; one in mixed media (running inside like a mad woman to grab things from my studio table) and the second using Neocolor11 and a waterbrush.

New Project

Ellie aged 1 week - Watercolour

Last night I finally started the project I've had in mind for the little indian handmade journal I purchased from Kala back in November...A life book for baby Ellie.

My plan is to paint or sketch little pictures of her as she grows on one side and capture a few of her favourite toys, shoes and general bits and pieces on the reverse. I do also plan to add notes and text along the way.

I will then present the book to her on her 18th/21st Birthday as a special and very personal gift.


When I purchased the journal I knew I would have to find some very special purpose for such a pretty and unique book.

The journal is made up of Bockingford watercolour paper in accordion style, allowing me to add further pages with ease should I require them through the years. It also opens beautifully revealing all of the pages on one side at the same time allowing years of growth to be viewed all at once, just perfect for such a project as this.

I started with a portrait of Ellie aged just one week old and added sketches of 'Nellie' and her 'Roo' blanket; the first toy and blanket we purchased for her, on the reverse side of the portrait.


Handmade by Kala

I know I am going to really enjoy this project, my only regret is that I didn't find my path to art earlier so I could have produced such books for my own children.

Overworked and Neglected

My Pentel water brush is so overworked that I had to renew it.

My studio brushes are neglected and looking sorry for themselves.

Me?...I rested for the weekend, enjoying friends and family and am now all recharged for the week ahead.

New Arrivals

Watercolour & ink

Today my new sofa arrived. All plump and springy, it slotted into it's new home like it had never lived anywhere else.

Yesterday the set of 15 Neocolor ll wax pastels I ordered arrived along with a mini sized Canson journal, I love the look of the Canson journals with their bright red covers and black corners and have really enjoyed using my current, larger sized one.

I plan to keep the mini journal in my handbag for cafe sketches, the size should prove alot easier to whip out on unsuspecting 'models'.

The Neocolor pastels are gorgeous! Such vivid, strong pigments and their crayon like appearance made me feel like a child using them, I can't wait to work on something a little larger than today's sketch so I can get really playful. The smallest drop of water and they come alive, I imagine they will prove to be a VERY useful piece of location kit.

Neocolor ll & ink

CANSON WATERCOLOUR JOURNAL