Tag: interest

Red Point Artists – March 2025 – Painting #6 Sold!

Featured by communicatingcreatively, posted in Painting

Yesterday, Susan & I went to Red Point Artist’s Maker’s Market for the first time this year, having missed the first event of the year last month. It used to be called ‘Art & Craft on the Grass’ which, I still think, is a better name.

There were not as many stalls this time, and was wondering if the inclement weather was to blame?

Regardless of how many stalls are there we always have a relaxing time. Between chatting to the visiting public and sketching/painting, it is always fun. You just never know who you might meet or help to encourage on their artistic journey.

There is always an exhibition as well and live music. All adds up to a great time.

As a bonus, I sold an A5 Watercolour painting yesterday, the image below called “Beside the Lake.” So grateful!

All in all, another enjoyable day!

Till next time!

Written by David Johnson

9 March 2025

Watercolour Sketch a Day – 6 Years Straight!

Featured by communicatingcreatively, posted in Painting

Yesterday, I achieved another milestone with my daily art practice a, ‘Watercolour Sketch a Day.

As of yesterday, I have completed a Watercolour sketch daily for the past 6 years.

“Direction” – 6 Years of a Watercolour Sketch a Day!

It’s a journey I started to:

  • Obtain consistent practice
  • Learn new skills – sketching, drawing, painting
  • Create an escape of sorts from the day

I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey and have already completed the ‘6 years Day 1 of a Watercolour Sketch a Day’, today, so the journey will continue.

“Iceberg” – 6 Years, 1 Day of a Watercolour Sketch a Day!

This ‘year’ I intend to attempt some different subjects over time and aim to include people in some of the images.

I am looking forward to where this journey takes me next!

Written, Sketched and Painted by

David Johnson

27 January 2025

A Delightful Christmas Present!

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Painting

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

Water Soluble Graphite

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Painting

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

At Last!!!

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Painting

Last Sunday, I completed my first A4 Watercolour painting for what seems like an eternity.

My Watercolour Sketch a Day continues to roll on…as of today it is 4 years and 216 days however, getting to do an A4 Watercolour has been a challenge over the last 13 months. With moving house, growing the business, family and personal health challenges and other projects it felt for a while there that it was almost impossible to do one.

I’m happy to say that ‘I have broken through that barrier.’

The first A4 painting I was doing on Sunday was going well…until it wasn’t. It was of receding mountain ranges and, after laying the relevant washes, I wrecked the mountains endeavouring to add detail.

The previous night I didn’t get a good night’s sleep and I was about to just walk away from my Art Room, when I thought, ‘maybe I could something simpler’, and at least I could come away with something. The image below is what I painted.

A much simpler scene to paint and I am pleased with the result given how tired I was. I do think in hindsight that the rocks are not punchy enough so I will work on that next time.

Still, as stated previously, I am pleased with the result and I had fun which is the main thing.

Till next time…happy painting!

Written by David Johnson

30 August 2023

Feather Fountain Pen Set

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Stories From Life

One of the presents that I was very grateful to receive was a Feather Fountain Pen set. I had looked at these before and thought I might like one but wasn’t sure. They look unique though you cannot really try them in the shop so it seemed a bit of a gamble to buy one. I have two Fountain pens already, and not being a collector, I am very happy with the two pens, a Lamy Safari and a Waterman Hemisphere.

I used it for the first time last night and was very happy with how if felt in my hand, writing, in fact, I wrote a poem with last night. I also like the nib that was fitted to the pen, a Finer point. I love writing with Fine or Extra Fine nibs. As you can see, it comes with a selection of nibs and I am looking forward to trying them out.

There are more expensive Feather Fountain Pen sets available, however, I feel that this will be a great introduction to these type of writing tools. Looking forward to using it again.

Happy Writing All!

Written by David Johnson

26 December 2022

A Fleeting Beauty!

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Stories From Life

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

Urban Sketchers Sydney – October Meet

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Painting

Last Saturday, I went on my second Meet of the Urban Sketchers Sydney group. This time, the Meet was held in the grounds between the Sydney Town Hall and St Andrews Cathedral.

The main object of the day was to attempt a sketch of a moving subject, the newly built ‘Sydney Light Rail’, a red and deep grey, modern-style tram.

There were 40 or so Urban Sketchers in attendance and most started with the Light Rail as the subject. Quite a few of us went in the other direction and chose stationary subjects i.e. buildings or parts of buildings. I chose the side entrance/steps to the Sydney Town Hall.

Sydney Town Hall

To be honest, I found this subject challenging enough and when it started to rain a little it was even more challenging. After I finished this sketch, I did wander over to the Light Rail and started to sketch it. It was kind of weird how the subject kept disappearing… I didn’t get to finish the sketch at the time but it certainly was an interesting challenge and experience.

We then had the ‘Throw Down’ and once again it was marvellous to see all the different interpretations and styles of those present.

Throw Down

I am so glad that I came across this group on Facebook. Urban Sketchers Sydney is full of friendly and inspirational people and I am looking forward to attending my third Meet in November. I wonder where it will be? 🙂

https://www.facebook.com/groups/usksyd/about/

Till next time!

Written by David Johnson

3 October 2022

My Creative Journey In Visual Art

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Poetry 
My creative journey
Began with a camera
This went on for many years
I was an enthusiastic amateur

Joining and starting camera clubs
Was so much fun
I made many friends
My creative life had begun

I entered competitions and exhibitions
Sometimes I won
All in all
It was just good fun

Along the way
I became a Photographic Judge
Which gave me a different perspective
It gave my photography a nudge

Briefly, in the Nineties
I started to sketch
Though photography remained King
I felt the itch

I took a basic drawing course
In two thousand and ten
Three years later 
My photography business opened

The business ran 
For a couple of years
Then I decided 
To do something else

In the meantime my love
For sketching and painting had grown
It was battling photography
For the Title and Crown

Oil painting at that time
Was my preferred expression
It became my ‘go to’
My new expression

Joining Art groups
Has helped me to foster
My desire to create Art
They helped my creativity to prosper

Then I returned
To the first painting medium I tried
The one that had captured me 
That reminded me of Slides

Line and Wash 
Then caught my attention
It became part of me
A lifelike extension

A Watercolour sketch-a-day
Would give me loads of practice
It continues to this day
Feeding my Inner Sanctum

Oils too
Remain a passion
For me, I think
They’ll always be in fashion

Photography still
Has a special place in my Heart
It started my creative journey
Of me, it will always be a part

Though at this time
Sketching and Painting are my direction
They will for a long time
Have my attention

Written by David Johnson

22 September 2022

© CommunicatingCreatively/David Johnson 2022

First Time at Urban Sketchers Sydney!

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Painting

Last Saturday-week, I went on my first Urban Sketchers Sydney ‘Sketch-meet’. It was held in Surry Hills, literally 5 minutes walk from the southern reaches of the Sydney CBD.

I had joined their Facebook group late last year after it popped up courtesy of Facebook’s algorithm however, life came up in one form or another between then and this month which prevented me from attending the monthly outing.

Sydney turned on some beautiful Winter weather for the day with 19C/66F forecast and predominantly Blue skies. A warmer day than we can usually expect.

I arrived a bit earlier and met up with one of the sketchers, who had already started sketching. As time went by, more and more sketchers turned up until there were approximately 40 people in attendance.

One of the leaders of the day, Julie informed us where the important things were like local amenities, cafes and pointed out buildings and other places of interest that we might like to sketch.

We are then given 2 1/4 hours to sketch/paint and once finished, we all met as a group and enacted a ‘throw down’ as they call it. This is where everyone puts their creations in a group on the ground so that we can all see the different interpretations of the scenes being sketched/painted.

After that, a group photo is taken and posted on the Urban Sketchers Sydney Facebook page.

I chose a subject with too many windows I think and it was certainly a challenge perspective-wise. It certainly was relaxing, sitting there in the glorious sunshine. One of the attractions of sketching is that it is such a meditative experience.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable morning and I am looking forward to the next one!

Thank you Urban Sketchers Sydney for a great Sketch-meet!

Written by David Johnson

14 August 2022