Things That Attract My Eye – Part 33

Today was one of those gorgeous Winter days here in Sydney’s south-west. We are approx. 60 kilometres (37 miles) SE of Sydney.

All the images were taken on a 3.8km (2.3 mile) walk just near where we live.

Beauty is indeed all around us!

Till next time!

Written & Photographed by David Johnson

21 June 2026

Watercolour Sketch a Day! – Recent Sketches

My Watercolour Sketch a Day project has now entered its 8th year. When I complete today’s sketch, I will have been doing a watercolour sketch a day for 7 years 135 days straight.

Here are a few recent sketches…

“Solitude” 7 years 100 days of a Watercolour Sketch a Day
“Bombo Quarry” 7 years 107 days of a Watercolour Sketch a Day
“Sea Barrier” 7 years 115 days of a Watercolour Sketch a Day
“Snow Laden” 7 years 125 days of a Watercolour Sketch a Day
“Mountain Art” 7 years 133 days of a Watercolour Sketch a Day

Materials used:

Sketchbook: Pleinly 300GSM 100% Cotton Cold Press paper (a real delight to use)!

Paints: Kuretake Gansai Tambi; Sumikondo; Daniel Smith, & Winsor & Newton

Brushes: Aquawash & Neef

Other: Uniball White Gel Pen; Uni-Pin Fineliner

Still thoroughly enjoying the journey. I am going to start to attempt to expand the subject matter in these daily sketches. In the past, I haven’t done many sketches with things like reflections, people especially. I would also love to ‘loosen up’ more, as I feel my lines are still too straight. I’ll keep working on that!

I always find it interesting when some people I know, and some I don’t know, say, ‘I don’t have time to sketch or paint.’

Obviously, I don’t know what their lives are like fully, so it’s hard to say to people, ‘if you really want to do something, you need to prioritise it.’

I approach it this way. We are often waiting for things, e.g., in Waiting Rooms, in queues, and what do people use to fill that time in the modern world…the Smartphone. How about purchasing an A6 sketchbook and carrying any sort of pen or pencil with you? In those Waiting rooms, you could be doodling, sketching. Just a bit of fun. 🙂

What are the positives of this new habit?

  • You get to have some fun!
  • It gets you away from your screen
  • It may develop into a hobby/interest
  • It is relaxing as it diverts your mind from the problems/challenges of the day

Your new activity is something personal to you, i.e., you don’t have to show anyone your creations, or you can. Its totally up to you. 🙂

Happy Sketching! 🙂

Till next time!

Written, sketched and painted by David Johnson

13 June 2026

Things That Attract My Eye – Part 32!

Five of the following images were taken at the Nepean River near where I live. The 4th image down was taken at a local cafe/restaurant/bar also near where I live. It is an indoor plant. Contre jour (against the light), a favourite of mine.

Till next time!

Written & photographed by

David Johnson

5 June 2026

The Watercolour Journey Continues…

Yesterday, it marked 7 years, 100 days since I started this wonderful journey.

Here is the image I sketched/painting yesterday, one from my imagination.

Materials:

  • Pleinly 8×12 inch 300gsm 100% Cotton sketchbook
  • Kuretake Gansai Tambi Japanese Watercolours
  • Aquawash brushes
  • Neef brush
  • Uni Pin Pigment Liner 0.05mm

Till next time!

Written, sketched & painted by David Johnson.

10 May 2026

Horizon Awakes

Things That Attract My Eye – Part 30!

Today’s images come from three walks I did over the past week, two were 2.6 km (1.6 miles), and the other was 4.7 km (2.92 miles). All of these walks were in the same area, along the Nepean River in Camden, near where I ive.

I hope you enjoy them! 🙂

Till next time!

Written & photographed by David Johnson

4 April 2026

Things That Attract My Eye – Part 29

The following images were taken on recent walks close to home, except for an image taken at the Bombo Geological site known as Bombo Quarry, near Kiama, NSW, Australia, which is roughly 1 and a one-and-a-half-hour drive from where we live.

Hope you enjoy them! 🙂

Till next time!

Written & Photographed by David Johnson

21 March 2026

Life

Near & Far

I seem to do a lot seascapes. I live about 45 minutes to an hour from the nearest beach so I don’t get a lot of time to spend near the water. The painting below is another one from the imagination.

Like a lot of people, I guess I find the ocean/waves relaxing, even if I cannot get there, I love to recreate the feeling/sight at home.

  • Baohong Aquarelle 100% Pure Cotton Rough Watercolour paper
  • Kuretake Gansai Tambi Japanese Watercolour pans
  • Sumikondo Japanese Ink Pigments
  • Aquawash brushes
  • Size 18 x 26cm (7 x 10 inches)

Till next time!

Written & Painted by David Johnson

8 February 2026

7 Years – Watercolour Sketch A Day!

7 years, 2 days ago, I began my Watercolour Sketch a Day, Daily Art practice.

I began doing this daily art practice for a number of reasons:

  • I wanted to improve my skills.
  • Previously, I was only getting to sketch/paint what seemed like only once every couple of weeks. I thought I didn’t have time.
  • It’s fun!
  • Creativity assists my mental health.
  • It’s my ‘escape’ as I co-run a business and have a full life!

The Watercolour Sketch-a-day that I did for the 7-year mark is below.

I think it’s always good to look back and see where you came from/where you started your journey. I’m more than happy with my progress, though I still have a lot to learn. I’m certainly looking forward to doing my Watercolour Sketch a Day, each day forward. That is my number goal…a Watercolour Sketch a Day.

My very first Watercolour Sketch a Day is below. I started off using cheap Watercolour paper and below student-grade paints.

Thankfully, over time, I have tried several different papers, sketchbooks, pigment liners, brushes and paint, stepping up the quality of the tools I use and have been having a lot of fun along the way.

Looking forward to more fun, and of course, learning more and more!

Till next time!

Written & Sketched/Painted by David Johnson

31 January 2026