Last week, we had some amazing weather and what a perfect time to get down to some gardening! Our front and back garden badly needed tidying up and picking out all the weeds. And since my partner had to go away for a few days for a trip with his family, I decided to go solo and do some myself. This meant rising early and starting around 7:00 for a few hours. Otherwise, it would just get too hot outside. I never realized how strenuous it would be! It’s not just pulling out the weeds but also having to dig deeply and make sure all the roots are included. Quite onerous but I found it rather therapeutic. Getting rid of weeds is detoxifying! Continued for about five days, and though some stray weeds keep returning, the bulk and worst ones are gone. And now an excuse for some kawaii painting! It’s been a while since Little One has appeared in my artwork, hasn’t it?
This time, some playing around with mediums I’ve not used in a long time! Dr. Ph Martin’s Radiant Concentrated Watercolor and Ecoline ink and its paint pens were experimented with today. On a two-page spread of my Strathmore sketchbook, I painted a different background on each side; leftover dried-up Harmonia granulating watercolor on the left and the Radiant Concentrated Water Color on the other. Then for the leaves, I switched the greens around. The Orange concentrated water color appeared more yellow and thus I painted a sun with it on the corner. As for the flowers, I went for the leftover red granulating watercolor until used up. Once dry, two different green shades of Ecoline ink were applied to give some dimension. What bright and brilliant colors! Sun rays were drawn with the Ecoline Brush pen. And how could I not include Little One as the cute gardener? She was sketched in with the brush pen as well, but in grey. And here is what I used:
Now why have I not painted with my Dr Ph Martin’s liquid watercolors more often? And the Ecoline ink as well! As you gathered, both certainly yield quite strongly vibrant shades, perfect for the coming warmer months. The Concentrated Water Color is amazing when you prefer not to have the typically washed-out effect of watercolor. As for Ecoline inks, they combine wonderfully with watercolors as enhancement and best used as top layer. The brush pens are further handy for sketching and fine details. I also enjoy working with granulating watercolors with their interesting effects. In all, great combination together! Meanwhile, I am well-pleased with the result of this experimental painting, especially when featuring Little One for added kawaii…
My Kawaii Quarter 