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
“Storm Approaching”

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