Art Journal: A Game Of Chess

Sometime last year, Stella learned some basic chess moves. She was 6 and totally hooked on every kind of board game she might find interesting. (She has also created some of her own, how very cute is that!) Chess is one of those board games that she enjoys. She looks forward to castling and having one of her pawns reach the end so she could take back her bishop or Queen. She and I would play together while a stew is simmering at the stove. I don't always have the time for board games, but I'd hate to disappoint my kids when they ask for play time. It's like I'm shortchanging them if I refuse. So for like two weeks, the then 6 y.o. played chess with me. Sometimes I win, sometimes she does. Of course, I do it all for love. 

I made this sketch in my vintage-themed sketchbook. It's supposed to be my entry for Day 2, but that project's on hold for now. So I thought to not write Day 2 on the title of this post. I used a drawing pen, some watercolor markers and Inktense pencils, and Portfolio water-soluble oil pastels. I just love how creamy these oil pastels are!! 

Day 1: Inky Sunflowers

Last year's attempt at The 100 Day Project failed, as I couldn't seem to get the right mix of energy and inspiration for making art every single day for 100 consecutive days. I realized it wasn't the right time to take on a rigid challenge.

This year I decided to be a little kinder to myself: I will complete the 100 days of sketching but not in a harried way. I will take my time and work on "a day" when I'm really free and able to. Yes, it's kind of a cheat version of the challenge. But the goal here is to reach the number (i.e. 100) and to push myself in a gentle way. I'm impressed with how others do it regularly and on a daily basis. Good for them. I can't keep up at this point in my life though. So I'll just try to work on a spread or a page every way I can and enjoy the process.

So here goes Day 1: Inky Sunflowers

I knew I wanted to work with my dip pen and fountain pens but was clueless as to what subject to render. Then I spotted this scuffed and slightly aged gift tag lying in one of my plastic trays. Oh, it was the very first tag that I got from my husband when we were still dating. He got me a sunflower then and he wrote something cheesy on that tag. Our wedding also had the sunflower theme and my wedding bouquet was a simple but awesome arrangement of sunflowers. So I thought to draw my own version of a sunflower wedding bouquet for Day 1 of my 100 Day Project for 2017.

I used a Diamine sepia drawing ink with my J. Herbin dip pen. The flowers and leaves were outlined with Platinum Preppy fountains pens, and the rest of the drawing was inked and colored with Inktense pencils. Indeed, this one's an inky sunflower!

Watercolor Sketch of Flowers in a Basket

Who’s crazy about flowers? Me! I think I’ll never grow tired of looking at and painting flowers. I’m particularly drawn to flowers that can bravely cover an entire field or meadow. Wild flowers and perennials are a huge fave, as well as Autumn and Spring flowers. (Okay, maybe all sorts of flowers!)

Here’s a watercolor sketch of a variety of flowers in a basket. I seem to have a thing for flowers placed in baskets (also: old/vintage canisters). So when I spotted a picture of a basket of flowers on the cover of a green living book, I knew I had to sketch it.

This sketch was done in my Moleskine watercolor album using Winsor & Newton and ShinHan paints. I just used a B pencil for the initial drawing. I so enjoyed making the splatters!

Watercolor Sketch: Flower Market in Paris

I am forever in awe of beautiful flower shops and flower markets. I once dreamed of becoming a flower shop owner. Perhaps that dream is still in my list. For now, though, I am content drawing and painting flowers in my sketchbooks. I found a lovely photo of a flower market and decided to render it in my Moleskine watercolor album.

I'm pleased with how loose and light this one turned out. I just drew the picture with a pencil and then reinstated a few lines with a fine brush. The white letters on the black chalkboard were written using a white Sakura gelly roll pen. 

The Love for Things Analogue: My Very First Traveler's Notebook

I began to form interest in traveler's notebooks when I came across the hashtag #loveforanalogue on Instagram. Sure, I've known the TN for years. But never before have I thought to purchase one because, well, as the term implies, it's probably designed for people who travel. I don't travel a lot, so I didn't see the point in keeping a travel journal.

But as the days and months ensued and I kept watch of the many posts about this TN thing, my curiosity finally got tickled. I've always been a journal keeper, and a lover of things analogue (from handwritten letters to saddle-stitched notebooks to old cell phones). I waited a while before I made the purchase because I wanted to make sure that I'll be ready for it and swelling with eagerness to use it.

Most TN covers are made of hard leather, some are made of faux leather, some out of fabric scraps, and some combine fabric and leather. I would've wanted the fabric cover at first but I couldn't find anything like it here in the Philippines. The best alternative that I found was this artdori from aireescreates.com. The cover is made of organically treated abaca. How can I resist something that's plant-based? :o) I placed my order at the start of 2017 and now I'm so into it. I love how strong the TN cover is and how good it smells. The 2 inserts that come with it are bulky and the paper can take collage, acrylic, inks, and watercolors. 

I've got my eyes on other brands of TN and I'll probably purchase one or two more within the year. In the meantime, I'm making the most out of this beautiful artdori by posting reading notes and other ephemera and mementos. Yes, you can say I've fallen into the rabbit hole. Joyfully.