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A few years ago I had the privilege of interviewing some of my favorite watercolor artists. I shared these interviews in the Northwest Watercolor Society newsletters over the years. Now I've decided to dust them off and share them again, with all of you. These featured artists are the rock stars of the contemporary watercolor scene. I hope you find inspiration in these interviews.
For the complete article, just click on the image of the first page of the interview below. Enjoy!
Shopping for art supplies and books is one of the best things about being an artist but it can also be overwhelming if you haven't figured out your favorites yet. Below is a list of sketching supplies that I love and recommend. You can click on any item listed to go to a link on Amazon.com.
Drawing paper. I love the 9 x 12 Stillman & Birn, Alpha Series book with wire binding. The paper is lovely and the wire binding sturdy. Don't get smaller than the 9 x 12 size as this is a great size to really draw freely.
Optional: you might enjoy drawing on toned paper too, such as gray or tan paper.
It's good to have a variety of drawing pencils (6B, 4B, HB2, 2H for example... I recommend 4 to 6 pencils of varying B and H levels). This is a great set and includes drawing stumps, conte pencils, and a sand paper sharpener amongst other great supplies.
If you don't buy the set suggested above, you will need to buy a set of paper drawing stumps (sometimes referred to as blenders), a red conte pencil and a white conte pencil.
A pencil sharpener (I recommend the Kum, Two Hole Automatic Long Point Pencil Sharpener)
A ruler (preferably clear)
A little bag to keep all your pens, pencil, erasers and ruler in. I love these little beauties because you can open them and stand up the bag like a cup to hold everything upright while you draw.
Optional: A drawing board or easel so you can draw at an angle. I love the SoHo Urban Artist Adjustable Drawing Board Adjustable Drawing Board. It will help you learn correct posture while drawing to use a drawing board and it provides perspective without distortion.
And that's a list of my favorites. Enjoy!
Since I've been sharing links to Amazon.com for art supplies for years, I've decided to become a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, which means when you use the links on my website, Amazon pays me a fee for sharing the Amazon love. Win-win!
Every year North Light Books publishes a compilation of the year's best watercolors. The book is titled Splash. I am excited and humbled to have had work chosen for this edition of Splash which is focused on "those glorious sparks of inspiration, and the stories of how 129 artists fanned them into some of today's greatest watercolor paintings."
London Sweets
Watercolor, 19 x 15
Here is a view of the page in the book with my work!
Rachel Rubin Wolf is the freelance editor who has edited the "Splash, The Best of Watercolor" series and the "Strokes of Genius, The Best of Drawing" series (a tribute to the best drawings of the year).
Thank you Rachel and North Light Books for selecting my London Sweets. It's an honor to be part of this book!
ere is the book cover for Splash 17. To order your copy, just click on the image. Inspiration everywhere!
Red Door (Murno) by Janet Flom
A few years ago I had the privilege of interviewing some of my favorite watercolor artists. I shared these interviews in the Northwest Watercolor Society newsletters over the years. Now I've decided to dust them off and share them again, with all of you. These featured artists are the rock stars of the contemporary watercolor scene. I hope you find inspiration in these interviews.
For the complete article, just click on the image of the first page of the interview below. Enjoy!
Shopping for art supplies and books is one of the best things about being an artist but it can also be overwhelming if you haven't figured out your favorites yet. Below is a list of sketching supplies that I love and recommend. You can click on any item listed to go to a link on Amazon.com.
Sketchbooks
I have really fallen in love with the Stillman & Birn sketchbooks. They come in various categories and sizes. I prefer the:
Alpha (which contains mixed media paper)
Beta (contains cold press watercolor paper)
and the Zeta (contains hot press watercolor paper)
I like them about 8.25 x 11.75 or bigger but if you prefer smaller, get those instead!
Pens
Waterproof ink pens in black ink, in various sizes. Many brands claim to be waterproof but end up smearing and ghosting ink when we paint over them so I prefer the Black, Pigma Micron Pens which are truly waterproof. It's good to have a variety of pen sizes for various weights of line. I like the:
Black, Pigma Micron Pen 01/.25mm
Black, Pigma Micron Pen 05/.45mm
Black, Pigma Micron Pen 08/.50mm
My all time favorite pen though is the Platinum Desk Pen. Get some extra ink cartridges for it.
Watercolor travel palette
There are a lot of options out there. Below are some of my favorites with a great range in prices.
I recommend Winsor & Newton Cotman Sketchers' Pocket Box 12-color Half Pan as a starter set. If you are not sure how much you will enjoy sketch booking and don't want to spend much, this set is one of the best for a student level watercolor set.
If you are feeling a bit more luxurious, there are several professional grade kits that are just wonderful. Here are some of my favorites.
Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colour Deluxe Sketchers' Pocket Box
L'Aquarelle Sennelier French Artists Watercolor Metal 12 Half-Pan Set
Schmincke Half Pan Watercolor Pocket Set
All these travel palettes are smaller and perfect for sketch booking. If you prefer larger palettes, with more than 12 colors, those are great too. Some people like to keep their sketchbook supplies, small and light so it really is just a personal choice.
Watercolor Brushes
I recommend having at least three travel brushes of various sizes. It’s important that they are travel brushes (they will have caps on them so that they don’t get ruined when you put them in your bag).
A affordable and convenient option is the Pentel Arts Aquash Water Brush Assorted Tips, Pack of 3. These brushes can be filled with water and are quite convenient.
On the high end side of options I recommend the wonderful da Vinci travel brushes set. They are a joy to paint with.
Other incidentals for a good sketchbook set are:
A water container (like an empty yogurt container or something more artsy like this Art Advantage Double Water Cup With Lid or this fun little clip on container.
Paper towels
Mechanical pencil (so you don't have to worry about a sharpener)
A ruler (preferably clear)
A little bag to keep all your pens, pencil, erasers and ruler in. I love these little beauties because you can open them and stand up the bag like a cup to hold everything upright while you sketch.
And that's a list of my favorites. Enjoy!
Register at http://charlenecollinsfreeman.com/workshops/
Register at http://charlenecollinsfreeman.com/workshops/
My studio, crammed with things I love: books, supplies, cast models, shells, and sunlight.
I recently came across this wonderful collection of photographs of the workspaces of creatively famous people, 40 Inspiring Workspaces of the Famously Creative, and thought it would be fun to post a collection of workspaces of lesser known creative people. I posted a few requests for photographs of studios on Facebook and put together this collection: a view into the creative spaces of people from all around the world.
Thank you to all who shared their spaces and thoughts. I hope you all enjoy!
Juan Mena
Here's my little space. Though I struggle with the space for my legs (im 6'2''), it's nice to have a small space only for my creativity.
Gina Gibson
My workspace is the forward head on our 45' sailboat (we live full time aboard cruisers currently in Tapachula, Mexico - left the US 5.5 years ago). Not much space, but all mine!!
Diana Wagner
Here's a little peek into my sketchers corner
Caedmon Michael
My Writing Space
Jann Glisson
Creative space of the not so famous.
Kathleen Swanson Roush
Part of my drafting table. What I've found is that since it's long and narrow, with a big jog in it plus shelves, it is not easy to understand what you're seeing. Kitchen cupboards installed on one wall, two bookcases, one IKEA shelf, one Costco baker's shelf, plastic shelves from Home Depot making a bit of a fake hallway, plus a dresser with drawers set upon it and a cabinet my dad made, and the drafting table and two pair of small file cabinets set upon each each other, a couple of carpenter's tool boxes and a kitchen cart with a stack of letter trays on top... when you see all of this with filled with tools and supplies for almost every painting/paper/craft you can think of...
Angie Greenhalgh
There used to be a kitchen in here somewhere!
Michelle Greene Hotchkiss
My little studio my husband built for me. It's not finished yet but I love it. It's too hot with all the windows in the summer - which is fine because I would rather be sitting below outside. It's perfect in the Alaska winters, it has a propane furnace and is well insulated. Studio upstairs, outdoor lounge area downstairs. It now has all windows and door.
Archana Shankari
Most days thats about all I need.
Marjorie Schalles
Here is mine. It is always undergoing remodels to squeeze just a little more storage space into it.
Vicky Williamson
My loft studio in our log cabin -- no water supply up there so I keep a couple of jugs of water handy, and a compost bucket to dump dirty water into. Easy to carry down the steep ladder-stair to empty.
Barbara Luel
Here's my drawing table
Lynnea Mattson
My art room
Shauna Lee Lange
Qaisy Jaslenda
Here's my work corner. I do architectural drafting, drawings, graphics, paintings mostly here.
Sakshi Deshpande
My kitchen countertop is my workspace and a cozy little barstool my raised chair.
Thank you to everyone who played along and sent in a photo of their studio! Happy creating!
Monet's Gardens in Giverny, France
I am winding down my month in Europe with three days in Giverny and three days in Paris. While in Giverny, we stayed at a hidden gem of a B&B, L'Oree de Giverny. There are several little cottages on this private property, tucked away behind tall shrubs. Our room was large and modern inside, well lit, airy. We looked out on the lawn and garden, were greeted with wine (yes please!) and a warm welcome.
The owners, Regis and Veronique Werth, spoke English and provided loads of suggestions of where to go and what to see... in addition to a wonderful breakfast (including the best croissants I've eaten in Europe). Best of all were the couples we met at breakfast, German, British, French and artists all!
I was honored today when Regis created a new page on his website called "Artists Corner" and featured my work.
And yesterday, while visiting Monet's House & Gardens, I sat down to sketch in a quiet corner of the gardens....
...when in just a few minutes I was swamped by a lot of children, all excited about drawing and watercolors. What a joyful mayhem!
Oh la la, Giverny, you have been an amazing experience! Merci!
From beautiful Verona, my summer newsletter! Hope you find it entertaining, informational and inspiring!
Arrivederci!
In a few days I'm flying to Verona to see my parents, my brother, cousins (you get the picture) and to lead this year's sketchbook workshop through Verona, Venice, Mantova, and Lake Garda with a group of 12 kindred spirits. I feel so blessed to have such an awesome job (although I can hardly call it work).
In the spirit of traveling and sketching, here's another little video of another one of my sketchbooks. This is from a trip to Verona, Venice, and Amsterdam that I took in 2015. There are recipes included from our cooking classes too. Bella la vita!
Buon appetito!
I have just finished reading Atmospheric Watercolours: Painting with Freedom, Expression and Style by Jean Haines. As I read through it, I did many of the freeing and fun exercises outlined in her book. Jean's work is loose, almost abstract even, and if that's not your style, like it isn't mine, let me encourage you to work your way through the book nonetheless!
Jean's work is sure to inspire you to paint more freely, joyfully, and playfully. I love her advice that we should "paint for the bin" and free ourselves from the pressure of painting art with a capital A every time we pick up our brushes.
Another piece of advice that I really value is her insistence on not rushing to finish a painting. That often our watercolor paintings are done long before we stop painting on them and that we should take the time to enjoy their progress at all stages of development. We may often find that we are indeed finished much earlier in the process than we would have otherwise acknowledged if we will just slow down and enjoy the journey.
Below are some of the studies I created following Jean's book. Most of her example projects in the book are not step by step, from start to finish. However I do recommend the book for fun, for loosening up, and for a joyful approach to watercolor painting.
And as Jean Haines reminds us: we should enjoy every step of the creative process, both with each individual painting we undertake and with our overall art journey.
Happy painting!
Beauty is abundant. I chose to give myself a challenge to notice it more mindfully and take one photograph a day to capture moments of every day beauty.
I've always collected images and the idea of slowing down to take note of more loveliness seemed like more of a gift to myself than a challenge.
Here is my collection of images for May's photo a day.
May 1 A friend surprised me with a bouquet of flowers from her garden for May Day.
May 2 A hot day inspired me to go for a walk to get ice cream with a friend.
May 3 Saw this on a shelf outside of a little shop.
May 4 Seen on my walk this morning.
May 5 I chanced upon this beautiful collection inside a playhouse on the playground of a school where I teach art. Gorgeous playtime.
May 6 On my morning walk...
May 7 At the Narbeck Wetland Sanctuary
May 8 Happy Mother's Day: celebrating beauty, joy, nurturing and bonds of all kinds.
May 9 Not far from home.
May 10 I photographed this beauty at the wonderful Practical Sparrow Cafe as I was waiting for my Sparrow Salad.
May 11 Summer sky through the leaves of one of our trees in the front yard.
May 12 At the end of a dead end street.
May 13 This little nest full of baby birds is in a hanging basket right outside our front door. Swoon!
May 14 First day of my two day workshop with the amazing Eileen Sorg.
May 15 Eileen's awesome dog, Scout.
May 16 On my morning walk.
May 17 Ducks and reflections. Beauty everywhere!
May 18 Took our little monkey in for surgery. Glamour shot.
May 19 Spent the day sick, in bed, with Jak & Riley. Good doggies.
May 20 The kids are growing up!
May 21 So much rain.
May 22 Rain and sunshine.
May 23 Afternoon buffet.
May 24 Today's choice: banana bread.
May 25 Lunch and sketching at the amazing Cafe Turko. Go get you some!
May 26 Sultry days...
May 27 I love old signs.
May 28 A relaxed Saturday. My favorite kind.
May 29 A rainy Sunday full of art projects. Bliss.
May 30 Happy Memorial Day and thank you to all who serve.
May 31 Lovely day to end the month. June, you are just around the corner. I look forward to the beauty I'll see. May you've been magical. Glad I took time to slow down and see that.
From my shelves of sketchbooks, here is the one labeled 2015 Sketchbook Volume 5, focused on subjects found in nature, one of my favorite themes.
Enjoy!
Love you mom and dad.
One of my favorite places to eat is the awesome Cafe Turko in Fremont. It's also a wonderful place to sketch so for me and my sketching friends, Marilyn and Peggy, it's a slice of paradise.
On Wednesday we went there for lunch and stayed a few hours to sketch and photograph. The lovely owner, Surreya, joined us for a few laughs and talk about art supplies.
In addition to these two sketches I made there, here are a few photos that capture the vibe. Do yourself a favor and go!
I am so grateful that I found Annie, a student and friend of mine, who is willing to scan all my sketchbooks, which in turn has allowed me to make Flipagroms of them and share them with you. Thank you Annie for taking my sketchbooks home, by the piles!
Here is the next sketchbook on my shelves: 2015, Volume 4. (If you've missed them, I posted my earlier sketchbooks in previous blog posts.)
I hope you enjoy flipping through my sketchbooks. And if you have any comments or questions, don't be shy. For as much as I love painting big watercolor paintings, sketchbooks are my real source of daily creativity, my inspiration, my joy.
As many of you know, I have an art crush on the amazing Eileen Sorg and her mixed media magical artwork. From the first time I saw her work, years ago at the Edmonds Arts Festival, I was in love with it.
Eileen works in ink, watercolor and color pencil and I take about two workshops with her every year. I love her process but only seem to do it when I am in her workshops. That might change though as this weekend, after another one of Eileen's workshops, I find myself falling in love with the process all over again.
Here is my step by step of the work. I'm not finished but I will post this piece when I get the color pencil completed. What a fun project. Thank you Eileen!
Line drawing done in pencil
Ink work
Watercolor the background.
Watercolor foreground, fox and hummingbird.
After beginning the color pencil work.
A few years ago Alex, a teenager at the time, signed up for a month of art classes with me. She has signed up for classes every month since then and now, at 22, she is one of my most gifted friends and students. She recently lost her grandfather, Mort. Shortly after Mort passed away, Alex's grandmother gave Alex one of his sketchbooks. Inside the sketchbook Alex discovered all manner of drawings, studies and notes from her grandfather.
She found a series of pencil sketches her grandfather made of owls. And she decided to copy them in ink, and add watercolor to them. This collection of owl paintings is turning into a gorgeous loving collaboration between Alex and her grandfather, Mort.
Love your work Alex and love your concept for this awesome tribute.
Here is a quick Flipagram from one of my sketchbooks capturing every day moments. Click here or on the image above.
Enjoy!