May 29, 2010 - Day 292

Ink & Watercolor on 250gsm Stonehenge 100% Cotton Vellum Paper

I was stuck again tonight so I went back to what I was comfortable painting. I really didn't want to do another ink and wash painting nor did I want to do anymore animal paintings. So I created a still-life painting.

I am going to be so happy when June 7 rolls around because that will mean that I have 65 days left in the project. I won't be limiting myself to a specific medium for the last 65 days so one day may be watercolor and the next might be colored pencil. I can't wait.

May 28, 2010 - Day 291

Ink & Watercolor on 250gsm Stonehenge 100% Cotton Vellum Paper

Nothing to say tonight.

May 27, 2010 - Day 290

Ink & Watercolor on 250gsm Stonehenge 100% Cotton Vellum Paper

I am very happy with the way that this turned out. At first I thought that the black lines would be too dark but as I added the watercolor washes it really came together.

May 26, 2010 - Day 289

Ink & Watercolor on 250gsm Stonehenge 100% Cotton Vellum Paper

I tried to create an orange tabby cat by doing an ink drawing first and then adding watercolor washes on top of the ink. I think you can tell it is an orange tabby but because of the black lines I don't think it looks as nice as the darker cats.

May 25, 2010 - Day 288

Ink & Watercolor on 250gsm Stonehenge 100% Cotton Vellum Paper

I love the way this one turned out. I think I am on a roll with this type of ink and wash painting. So far I have done cats with obvious dark markings but I don't know how this technique will turn out with cats/animals that are all one color or that have light markings.

I think tomorrow I will try an orange tabby cat and see if I can get the same results. I think it will be difficult to get the marking right because the orange stripes are so light compared to the markings I have been doing with the grey tabby and the Siamese.

May 24, 2010 - Day 287

Ink & Watercolor on 250gsm Stonehenge 100% Cotton Vellum Paper

I was totally stuck tonight on what to paint. I want to move on from the ink and wash but still have another 13 days to go with the medium. I was going to do a still-life but I really wanted to challenge myself with creating animals in pen and wash. I have not been happy with the way they are turning out but I really didn't know what to do about it.

When I am stuck for ideas I like to go the Wetcanvas.com. This is a wonderful website for all artists. It has forums for all the different mediums as well as thousands of copyright free reference photos. This website is my favorite place to go for all things art.

I decided to check out the Pen & Ink/Caligraphy channel. There were so many talented artists showing their work. I was able to see how amazing pen & ink drawings could be and this motivated and inspired me to try again.

I love the markings on tabby cats especially the "M" shaped lines on their forehead. I went to the reference photo library at Wetcanvas.com and found this beautiful photograph of a grey tabby cat. I wasn't sure how it would turn out but I started by putting in the main features and then the black lines. The rest of the cat I just tried to put the lightest lines possible in the direction that the fur would naturally go. After it was dry I added the watercolor washes. I am really pleased with the result.

I don't know if I will be able to duplicate the results tomorrow night. Once I started the painting tonight everything just flowed. I wasn't even in a mood to paint but sometimes the painting just turns out. I don't why - I wasn't any more inspired or motivated tonight to paint than I was last night.

May 23, 2010 - Day 286

Ink & Watercolor on 250gsm Stonehenge 100% Cotton Vellum Paper

I kind of like the way that this one turned out because of all the different colors in the fur and the background.