Watercolor journaling - no pressure fun way to take a step into the Artist World

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I mention watercolor journaling when people ask how they can begin painting and drawing. It's a simple way to 'doodle' without the pressure of making a painting that looks 'good'. This journal was from one of my Mykonos, Greece students (I think she did this while I was demonstrating ) 

Journaling is especially fun when you take trips, it brings back moments more vividly than a cell phone ever could. With a cell phone you're disconnected from the moment, sketching in your journal, you're connected to the moment and when you open your journal and see it again, it can also bring back the feeling in that moment. 

Such a cool benefit from one simple 15 minute sketch on a page in a journal...

 

Watercolor painting with Caran D'ache crayons

 

more about Watercolor... 

if you're attending or have attended one of my recent workshops, you probably know in the last year or so, I've been working small Watercolor paintings using Caran d'Ache Watercolor crayons. I love how portable these crayons are and how well they blend without watermarks or accidental blooms, that are always so discouraging to beginning Watercolor artists. Transparent, traditional Watercolor has a mind of its own and trying to tame the beast in the beginning can seem like your painting is going backwards instead of advancing. Having worked in Watercolor for 25 years exclusively, you learn one of the most important things is to be aware of what your paper can and cannot do in the various steps (read wetness) of the painting. 

 

You'll love working with the crayons either alone or in conjunction with traditional Watercolors in the workshop, let me just say this...they're called crayons but, these are not your baby artist 5 years old crayons. I promise they are seriously fun ! #watercolor #carandache #pleinair #artworkshops

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