The Mokie Chronicles No. 18 – Discovery

The Mokie Chronicles No. 18 – Discovery is in response to Susanna Leonard Hill’s 2nd annual pretty much world famous illustrators contest [Deadline Today!]:

http://susannahill.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-2nd-annual-pretty-much-world-famous.html

Of course, Mokie came to mind (when doesn’t she). 🙂

So, without further adieu, Here is Mokienaught!!!!

Mokienaught - Discovery! - 8x10 ink and watercolor
Mokienaught – Discovery! – 8×10 ink and watercolor

Is she chasing the rabbit on the moon? or maybe looking for Pluto?

🙂

Remodeling

Lately my main activity has been remodeling my blog/website because I’ve been participating in the Blogging 101 class here at WordPress. I’ve done several things that I thought I wouldn’t do – like change my “theme” and make a new header, not to mention the new “about” page. Still working on widgets. Please take a look and let me know what you think.

In the mean time here’s a sketch I did of Mokie on my tablet while sitting in a doctor’s waiting room, waiting for my husband. I think it was the SketchPro app. It probably could be made clearer somehow, but she’s kind of fuzzy looking anyway. 🙂

Mokie - tablet drawn
Mokie – tablet drawn

 

Marsh by the Gate

Today on my bike ride I stopped by the gazebo at the front gate and painted a small (5×7) watercolor of the marsh there.

Gate Marsh - 5x7 - watercolor plein air
Gate Marsh – 5×7 – watercolor plein air

I used Fabriano hot pressed 140 lb. paper and not very many colors. Manganese blue, Quinacridone gold, Quinicradone sienna and green gold – all Daniel Smith.

Sort of an abstract, scribbled sketch. 🙂

 

Laid Paper

Following up on my post about the reed pen, laid paper is what Van Gogh used for many of his drawings. The only laid paper that I’ve tried are a “business” paper that is actually found in an office supply store and a sketch paper made by Arches.

Here is a good article on paper:

https://www.ilab.org/eng/documentation/87-the_paper_of_old_prints.html

Laid paper has a screen texture from the process used to make it. Here is a close up:

laid paper texture
laid paper texture

(If you google images of laid paper you might get a clearer picture.)

Finch on Southworth paper - micron pen
Finch on Southworth paper – micron pen
Finch on Arches paper - reed pen
Finch on Arches paper – reed pen

Both papers were nice to work on, but the pen did glide smoothly on the Southworth paper, a watermarked stationery and there was some drag on the Arches paper.

Southworth, Antique Laid, business paper, 24 lb. – ivory – 25% cotton, watermarked.

Arches Laid Paper – sketch – (Ingres) – 70 lb. – 75% cotton