Silent Decree
Latest Watercolour Sketches a Day!
Well, moving house is finally over. Now it’s just continuing to open boxes, sort, and set up the different rooms.
I’m a fair bit behind in posts for this month so I had ‘better get my skates on!’
I’ve included a few of my latest Watercolour Sketches a Day. That is all the art-related endeavour I have been able to do lately. Hope you enjoy them.
I’ve been trying to experiment with layers and letting the water do more of the work and I like the effects I am getting so I think I will head more in this direction.
Written by David Johnson
25 November 2022
More Beauties!
It has been a bit of a challenge posting in this past week as we are in the process of moving. Always a fun task, not!
Following on from my last post, I can excitedly report that two more of my Cacti and Succulents have flowered in the past week.
The first is an Aylosteria pulvinosa. It is only a small Cacti plant measuring 5cm across and has had pups and the flowers in the image are (apart from that flowered last week) the first full crop of flowers that this plant has produced.
The second plant to flower this week (in fact it bloomed today), is an Epiphyllum Hybrid which is sometimes mistakenly called a ‘Dragonfruit’ plant, according to the Cacti and Succulent Association of Australia. I joined the Society nearly 12 months ago and am learning a lot.
I love the rich, Red colour of this flower which really contrasts well against the Green foliage of the plant.
Two more beauties from my collection that have flowered so far in Spring.
I am so looking forward to the rest of Spring and Summer!
Written by David Johnson
12 November 2022
A Fleeting Beauty!
One of my other hobbies is Cacti and Succulents. As mentioned previously, I have had them as an interest for the last 45 years (since I was 14).
I’m not an expert by any means and although I collect them I do not regard myself as ‘true collector’, like a lot of the people that are in the Cactus & Succulent Society of Australia, which I joined during the last Covid lockdown in 2021.
I enjoy their uniqueness and beauty.
Yesterday, one of my Ball Cacti, of the Echinopsis variety, flowered for the first time ever and I thought that was worth of a post.
The stem of the flower has been growing for a number of weeks and leading up to the point of flowering, there is always great anticipation, particularly when you don’t know what colour the flower will be. I walked out the side door yesterday and upon walking past our cattery that holds our single Cat, Miri, the flower came into full view.
I never tire of this type of flower’s exquisite beauty! It begins to open nocturnally and we are blessed with its beauty in the morning. The flower only blooms for 24-48 hours, then its gone. A fleeting beauty.
Written and photographed by David Johnson
4 November 2022
Experimenting With Card Stock
Mostly when I do my Watercolour Sketch a day, I will use Watercolour paper (in a sketchbook), mixed media paper anywhere from 200 gsm to 300 gsm.
Occasionally, I’ll try a different type, and recently, I purchased some plain and some textured Card Stock. I intend to use it mainly for some junk journals I want to make however, today, I decided to use the Card stock in my Watercolour Sketch a day.
I quite like the way the paint moves around the paper. Below is Day 1,368.
Written by David Johnson
30 October 2022
Life’s Canvas
Reveal
Things That Attract My Eye – 3
Welcome to my third post of ‘Things that attract my eye’.
All of the images below were taken in the last couple of months on walks, excursions and as I go out my daily life. All were taken on my iPhone 8 Plus.
A famous Photographer was once asked, ‘What is the best camera to have?’ His answer was, ‘the one you have on you at the time…’. That was Chase Jarvis.
My interpretation of this comment is that we all probably wish that we could have our DSLR, Mirrorless or high-end compact camera with us every moment of the day to capture every beautiful image. This is often not possible, nor practical e.g., if I took my DSLR out on my early morning walk before I started running my business that day, my walk would take longer…and thus impact the running of my business.
With the phone camera, I just take a quick snap and I’m on my way as I have a certain amount of time allocated in the morning for exercise. That is the best camera to take the images on, given that circumstance.
Similarly, when I go out sketching, often, I will not take my DSLR with me as it can be a distraction.
Here are the latest things ‘that have attracted my eye’.
Written by David Johnson
23 October 2022
Written On A Whim
Ornaments On A Tree
