Life’s Palette
Moving Forward
A Delightful Christmas Present!
As always, I am very grateful to receive gifts at any time, including Christmas, as we all should be.
This Christmas, I received a 36-set of Gansai Tambi Japanese Watercolours. I saw a fellow Macarthur Art Group member with these some months ago. Then, I did a bit of research on them.
I was asked a month before Christmas for some Christmas present hints. This set was one of four suggestions I gave out so the element of surprise was still there.
Here is my first attempt using them.
I love the colours’ richness. The paint’s texture is also impressive. According to the instructions, it can be used as a Gouache or as Watercolour.
I am looking forward to experimenting with these paints and getting to know them. Lots of fun on the horizon to be sure.
Till next time!
Written & sketched/painted by David Johnson
29 December 2024
Things That Attract My Eye – Part 19!
All the images in this post were taken on a small walk I did this morning. We are almost one month into the Summer season here in south-western Sydney. More often than not, the best time to walk is early morning.
The early morning light was again majestic this morning.
Till next time!
Written & Photographed by David Johnson
29 December 2024
Traces of Life
Enlightened
Things That Attract My Eye – Part 18
It has been a hectic period recently. This is true both on a business and personal level as we head towards Christmas.
It has been nearly two months since I posted in the Photography section. Here are a selection of subjects. Some are taken on local walks. Others were taken on a recent trip to the City (Sydney).
Till next time!
Written & Photographed by David Johnson.
15 December 2024
My Identity
The Well of Thought
Playing Around…
I’m only a fairly recent user of Arches Watercolour paper. I’ve wanted to use it for a fair while. The only reason I hadn’t used it before this year was the cost. One of the ways I used to solve this issue was watching out for discounts.
Earlier in the year, I visited Eckersley’s Art & Craft store. It is located in my local area. I was looking to buy some watercolour paper. I considered buying Fabriano, which I had used before. Then, I discovered there was a sale on Arches watercolour paper.
The only thing was that the A4 size had sold out. So, I purchased an A3 pack. Then, I cut each sheet in half to use. Problems solved!
The painting below is the first time I have used the Sumikondo Japanese Watercolour paints with Arches watercolour paper.
Material list as follows:
- Arches Cold Press Watercolour paper A4
- Sumikondo Japanese Watercolour paint
- Neef & Aquawash brushes
- Colours:
- Sky: Blue-Black
- Mountains: Blue-Black & Purple-Black
- Trees: Green-Black & Blue-Black
- Plain: Yellow Black (watered down)
- Grasses: Yellow Black
The composition was from my imagination and it certainly was fun playing around wet-in-wet.
Till next time!
Written & painted by David Johnson
11 November 2024
A Great Combination!
Recently, I posted a Watercolour I painted using Baohong – The Master’s Choice Rough, Block Watercolour Paper. This time however, I decided to paint with Daniel Smith and Sumikondo Japanese Watercolour paint.
The materials used are as follows:
- Baohong The Master’s Choice Artist Rough texture, Block Watercolour Paper
- Daniel Smith, and Sumikondo Japanese Watercolour paint
- Neef brushes
- Size: 15 x 23cm (5.9 x 9 inches)
In the above image, the colours used were:
- Sky: Daniel Smith: Cerulean Blue
- Ocean: Daniel Smith: Cerulean Blue, Burnt Sienna
- Boulders/rocks: Sumikondo Blue-Black
- Sand: Daniel Smith: Yellow Ochre, Titanium White
In the above image, the colours used were:
- Sky: Daniel Smith: Cerulean Blue and Ultramarine Blue
- Ocean: Daniel Smith: Cerulean Blue, Burnt Sienna
- Boulders/rocks: Sumikondo Blue-Black, Purple-Black
- Sand: Daniel Smith: Yellow Ochre, Titanium White
The paints are such a great combination. Using them on the Baohong – The Master’s Choice Rough Block Watercolour paper is a real treat!
Till next time!
Written and painted by David Johnson
10 November 2024
Beautiful Springtime
Seaview
I paint a fair bit from imagination. I also use my own reference photos. Sometimes, I paint from photos I come across on the Internet (and give them credit, of course).
The painting below comes from my imagination, and I called it, “Seaview.’
Materials used:
- Baohong The Master’s Choice Artist Rough texture, Block Watercolour Paper
- Daniel Smith, and Winsor & Newton Watercolour paint
- Neef brushes
- Size: 15 x 23cm (5.9 x 9 inches)
From the moment I starting using this paper, I loved it. I had never used rough textured paper or block paper before.
I purchased the smaller size just to try it out. Am looking to purchase a larger block. This paper is so much fun to use. 🙂
Till next time!
Written & painted by David Johnson
27 October 2024
Things That Attract My Eye – Part 17
Yesterday, I arrived in Camden, NSW about 20 minutes earlier than planned. I decided to go for a short walk.
I had been to this area many times, yet, that is sometimes what makes discoveries all the more satisfying. When ‘the light’ is different, as it is each time, you can discover new things.
Shadows, lines, patterns, textures and form are quite attractive to me. Here are some examples of what I found. 🙂
Till next time!
Written & photographed by David Johnson
27 October 2024
Rewriting Your Life
On a Beach called Earth
Benefits of Being a Member of Toastmasters, Continues…
It’s been a while since I wrote about public speaking or Toastmasters.
Being an active member of Toastmasters continues to provide benefits to my Life. Two recent examples come to mind.
- In my BNI (Business Network International) Energy chapter.
BNI is the world’s largest Referral organisation. It has hundreds of thousands of members around the world in approximately 11,000 chapters.
48 weeks a year, each member has an opportunity to stand up. They deliver their Elevator Pitch for 60 seconds. This helps to further educate their fellow members. It also indicates what type of referral they are looking for that week.
Last Wednesday-week, I was fortunate enough to win the Golden Microphone. It was for the Best Referral Request.
Naturally, because we meet so regularly at BNI too, we get a lot of consistent public speaking practice as well. We do the weekly Referral Request, and occasionally get to speak in Education Spot. Depending on the size of the chapter, we have the opportunity to do a 10-minute presentation every 6 months as well.
Consistent practice both with Toastmasters and BNI combines to assist me in growing my confidence and presentation skills.
- EmCee/MC at Weddings
Several years ago, one of my Nieces asked me an important question. She wanted to know if I would like the honour of being the MC at her wedding reception. The event was at The Royal Golf Club in Canberra.
Although nervous, I accepted. I wanted to help my Niece out. I remembered a valuable piece of advice from an experienced Toastmaster member. They once said, ‘if you ever get offered to do a public speaking engagement, accept it.’
The only way to grow in confidence and skills is to keep doing it. Of course they are important mental skills as well but, mental practice alone will not do it.
I’ve just completed my fourth wedding as an MC. The last three, including the one I did last weekend, were for three of my Godsons.
All four receptions were at quite different venues. Sometimes, as I have learned, one must be flexible and adaptable. Quite often, the Bride and Groom will change the running sheet ‘on-the-fly.’
Before joining Toastmasters, I would have dismissed the idea of presenting weekly at a business group. If someone suggested I would be an MC at weddings, I would have thought they were mad.
It just goes to show how being an active member of Toastmasters can have a positive impact on one’s Life. As of the 1 October 2024, I have been a member of Toastmasters for 16 years, 7 months. Looking forward to continuing the journey!
Till next time!
Written by David Johnson
Sunday, 6 October 2024
Time To Write
Breeze On By…
A Soothing Feeling
Walking The Walk
Sumikondo (Japanesque) Watercolours
Recently, at an en plein air field trip to a ‘Back to Belgenny’ farm open day with some fellow members of Macarthur Art Group, I was introduced to Sumikondo (Japanesque) Watercolours by Michele Arentz.
Michele has been using them for a little while now and quite liked the colours. Below is an example of the 6 colours I recently purchased from Amazon to try out.
I must say that even with my early attempts, I am quite impressed and am thoroughly enjoying using them. Michele has a set of 20 colours and I feel it won’t be too long until I add more of these Watercolours to my set.
Below are a few of my Watercolour sketches with these paints so far. A couple are using only the Sumikondo Watercolours, and I have also included a couple where I have used these watercolours plus Daniel Smith watercolours.
It’s only early days yet however, I believe Sumikondo Watercolours have a lot to offer, and I am having a lot of fun experimenting with them.
I’m currently working on a 15cm x 23cm Watercolour using both the Sumikondo & Daniel Smith Watercolours. The Watercolour paper I am using for this one is Baohong The Master’s Choice, rough, block paper, 300gsm. I am already loving the combination of the Watercolours and the paper and I will post the finished artwork on this blog.
Till next time!
Written by David Johnson
7 September 2024
Sliver…
Cliches Abound!
Calming The Mind
See Anew
Watercolour Sketch a Day – 2,000 Days Straight!
Four days ago, on 13 August 2024 I completed by 2,000th Watercolour Sketch a Day in a row.
Back in 2018, I had started back doing Watercolour after doing it briefly in 2010 after doing a basic, six-week Drawing course. Photography was still my main creative interest at the time so doing Watercolour, or any other sketching/painting-related activity was just something I dabbled in for a bit of fun, on and off for the next eight years.
Towards the end of 2018, I wanted to start to learn Watercolour however, I was only getting to do it once or twice every two-three weeks which was frustrating. Around that time, I was talking to a business friend, who in outside hours, sketched in Charcoal and also used Soft Pastels. Also, I have been listening to a podcast called, ‘Sketching Stuff’ over time, which was broadcast by Charlie O’Shields who created the ‘Doodlewash’ website. Charlie had done a Watercolour sketch a day & a blog post every day for 5 years. He only stopped as he was going to be working on a project, doing illustrations for children’s book from memory.
I thought that something like what Charlie did seemed impossible, but he had done it. I didn’t start straight away, though.
On 26 January 2019, it was Australia Day and I was sitting at home relaxing and thought I would do a Watercolour sketch, the one you see below.
It was done on cheap Monte Marte paper with Sennelier Student Watercolour half-pans. This sketch ended up being Watercolour Sketch a Day, Day 1.
I set my goal as doing ‘one Watercolour Sketch a day’, and that is still my goal. I was very pleased to reach seven days in a row. Quite chuffed actually. I almost stopped after 400 days in a row, then I thought ‘this is so much fun’, and it became a kind of meditative experience where I could ‘zone out’ from the day.
Sometimes, I do the sketches early in the morning before the business day gets going. Other times, I do them at the end of the day. I really look forward to the time I spend doing them. Sometimes, I spend 10-15 minutes, other times it is 30 minutes or more. It just depends on the day.
Sometimes, you notice improvements, and other times it can feel like the sketches are not as good as some of the previous ones. It’s kind of like Life, or building a business.
The Watercolour Sketch below is the one I did for Day 1,000. It was tutorial by Peter Sheeler on YouTube. Early on I did quite a few tutorials, particularly by Peter Sheeler, and Nil Rocha Art. I highly recommend them.
Between 1,000 and 2,000, I’ve done less tutorials and more
- sketching from imagination
- sketching from my own reference photos
- en plein air
Within that time, I’ve also attended quite a few sketch-meets with Urban Sketchers Sydney and Urban Sketchers Wollongong, and over the past few years, I’ve obtained a lot of inspiration from being a member of Macarthur Art Group and Red Point Artists.
I also use much better, Artist quality paper this days and a few years ago switched to Artist quality paper and brushes which certainly makes a difference.
For my 2,000th Watercolour Sketch a Day, I chose to do a landscape/seascape below. This is a variation of a previous one I did. Sometimes, I like to go back to a previous sketch and see if I can improve upon it, from last time. Very happy to have this image as #2000!
So, where to from here?
Well today is 5 years, 203 days of a Watercolour Sketch a Day and I’ll be doing it at an Open Day called “Back to Belgenny”, which is being held at a colonial homestead about 1/2 hour from where I live. I’m one of quite a few members of Macarthur Art group who are doing en plein air demonstrations for the public, which seems a long way from the Day 1 sketch I did in my lounge room back on Australia Day 2019.
I am loving the different experiences of this Artistic journey, which I will be continuing for a long time to come yet. 🙂
Written by David Johnson
17 August 2024
All the Watercolour Sketch a Day images are on my Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/communicatingcreatively/
My other Instagram page is:
The Poet’s Pen
Fortress
Chance
Back at Red Point Artists
Today was our first time back at the Red Point Artists Art & Craft on the Grass event since April this year. The May event was cancelled due to bad weather and we couldn’t get to the June event as we both had Covid (for the first-time after dodging for 4 1/2 years).
Today was also the 4th time I have had a stall there.
Once again it was a fun time, a little cool and windy for the first few hours, then the Sun came out and warmed things up a little.
Today also represented ‘5 years, 168 Days’ since I started my ‘Daily Art Practice.’ The image below is today’s effort.
I have already booked my spot for the August event, and there are a number of things I need to do in the next month to ‘upgrade’ my presentation at the stall.
It was also great to see a few other Artists brave the Winter day and come to display their creative efforts. It’s always a joy to see their latest creations.
Looking forward to next month’s event!
Written by David Johnson
13 July 2024
Looking For A Sign
They Say ‘That Once You Use It, You’ll Never Go Back!’ Arches Watercolour Paper
Yesterday, I just finished a watercolour painting on Arches Watercolour paper. For many years, I have heard just how great it is, and I have to say that I enjoyed using it immensely.
The main reason I hadn’t used it before is that it is one of the expensive Watercolour papers out there. At this point, the largest Watercolour paper I have used on a regular basis is A4.
I purchased a pack of A3, as the store had no packs of A4 left. It was 20% off and I cut each sheet in half as I go to use it.
The image below came from my imagination.
Materials used:
- Arches Watercolour Paper 300gsm 100% Cotton A4 Cold Pressed
- Paints: Daniel Smith; Winsor & Newton: Schminke
- Neef Watercolour brushes
I thoroughly enjoyed using this paper. As I get to use it more, I will highlight more about it. Looking forward to the next one!
Written by David Johnson
30 June 2024
Water Soluble Graphite
Recently, as I was recovering from Covid (for the first time), I flicked on YouTube and came across a video on Faber Castell Water Soluble Graphite Pencils. I had heard of Watercolour and Inktense pencils before (and have some of each), but had never heard of the former.
I watched the video, then some other videos on the subject and became quite interested in them so I jumped onto Amazon and saw that a Faber Castell set of 5 pencils, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B and a Brush in a lockable tin was 32.00 AUD. Without the tin it cost $15.43 AUD. Once bought, I knew they would probably never go back in the tin so I purchased the set without it.
Below are my first two attempts with them.
I’m happy with the first two attempts though obviously have plenty to learn in terms of e.g., what are suitable subjects for these medium; how should I best use the pencils, and increasing my skill level. Looking forward to practicing with them to see what I can come up with. 🙂
Till next time!
Written by David Johnson
16 June 2024
Sentinel Watching
New Beginning
Reveal
Warmth Of The Sun
Clearing The Mist
Lifting Our Spirit
A Delight To The Eye
A New Story
Things That Attract My Eye – Part 16
The three images in this post have one thing in common.
They were all taken through the windows of our car. The first one was taken en route to my BNI Business Breakfast meeting; and the second and third, taken yesterday on our way home from Bathurst.
Yes, there is some dirt on the windows evident, but with all three images, I am still glad I took them.
What attracted me to all three? Light, colour and contrast.
Till next time!
Written & Photographed by David Johnson
6 May 2024
Car Wash Photography
If you have never taken any images from inside your car when your car is going through a n automated car wash, then I highly recommend it when you next take your car for a wash.
Below are are series of images I have taken in car washes over time. I find it fascinating and enjoy seeing what kinds of images I can come out with each time.
So, next time you take your car for a wash, remember to take your camera out!
Till next time!
Written & Photographed by David Johnson
28 April 2024
I Love This Watercolour Paper!
Recently, I purchased some Baohong The Master’s Choice, Artist Quality Watercolour paper and I must say it continues to impress me. It is 300gsm, 100% Cotton, Rough Block paper.
I love the texture and how well it takes water and paint. The Lighters above are what Norfolk Island used to use to put cargo on from visiting ships. There are a few dotted around Kingston, Norfolk Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Till next time!
Written by David Johnson
28 April 2024
Things That Attract My Eye – Part 15
This is just a random selection of images that I found a delight to view.
Beautiful images surround us everyday, if we only will increase our awareness.
Till next time!
Written & Photographed by David Johnson
28 April 2024
Colours Transcend
Brand New Day
Appreciation
Spirit Of Freedom
“Serpent By The Sea”
Below is my latest effort using the Gansai Tambi Japanese Watercolours that I was blessed to receive at Christmas. I am really enjoying using them.
For this painting though, I have also used Sumikondo Japanese Watercolours, and Daniel Smith paints. The latter on a minor scale.
Other materials used were:
- Baohong The Master’s Choice 300gsm 100% Cotton Rough texture Block paper.
- Neef brushes
- Aquawash brushes
The ‘Serpent’ was painted with the Sumikondo watercolours. The sand, ocean, and most of the island in the distance were painted with the Gansai Tambi watercolours. Daniel Smith paints were used a little for shadows, mainly under the rock.
The idea for the painting came from one of my Watercolour Sketch a Day sketches. This week’s painting was quite a different image in terms of colour and texture than the sketch I did below. Different paint and paper were used for this one.
Till next time!
Written & Painted by David Johnson
3 January 2025
Communicating Creatively 