My Watercolor Journal Tour

Did you know that July is World Watercolor Month?  This was started by Charlie O'Sheilds of Doodlewash.  So, this post is dedicated to my recent little foray into watercolor.  

At the end of May my family and I took a vacation to coastal Maine and then spent a few days in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.   I knew we would be spending the entire  vacation outdoors, biking or hiking and just enjoying God's creation all around us. This is such a beautiful part of our country and I was also looking forward to working some plein air painting in my little watercolor journal.

I think that artists can benefit from working in other mediums from time to time.  For my little detour from gourds, I had a goal to working on a few small scale paintings from life.  Although I failed in my "one painting a day" goal, I still got a some pages in my new watercolor journal filled, and I am now working on some from the photos I took so I can complete my journal.  

I thought it would be fun to share what I have done in my watercolor journal so far.  These are not masterpieces!  But that is the point, there is a lot of room for improvement and for me that inspires me to try at it more.    

First watercolor on site at Bailey Island. Painted in the rain.

Coast of Bailey Island, Giant Steps. My favorite watercolor. The waves were crashing on the rocks, I can still smell the ocean and this painting brings back the memory of it.

This one I used a water soluble graphite pencil for a monochromatic study.

This one was done from a photo. I used a fountain pen filled with walnut ink.

Here I used a combination of ink and watercolor pencils.

Another with walnut ink. These trees growing around rocks were common on this hike at Franconia Notch State Park.

Ink and watercolor. Bar Island is only accessible by a land bridge at low tide. If you lose track of time and the tide comes in, you will be stranded for 9 hours!

Another watercolor, Eagle Lake along the carriage road. Used my photo to complete.

Mountain stream at the Flume Gorge hike, Franconia Notch. Also done by photo.

I hope you enjoyed your little tour!  Working plein air was challenging, but I think those are my favorite paintings.  Taking the time to really sit and observe a place, not only seeing but taking it all in using all the senses, sounds, smells, touch, the paintings then bring back memories much stronger than the photos.  I do intend to complete the pages using my photos, but I also will try and make a greater effort to paint more plein air in the future.

Do you have a "alternate" art medium or craft that you like to dabble in now and then?  Please leave a comment and share!