The images below were taken last week when my Wife, Susan & went into the City (Sydney) for lunch to celebrate our 27th Wedding Anniversary.
After a long lunch, we took a casual stroll around Circular Quay just relaxing and enjoying the views.
Beauty is all around us. We just need to be ‘aware.’
Till next time!
Written & Photograpghed by David Johnson
29 February 2024
Today marks 5 years of doing a Watercolour Sketch a Day, every day, straight!
On 26 January 2019, I decided to aim to do a Watercolour Sketch a Day as I wanted to:
I remember that after 7 days being happy that I had managed to get that far. Prior to setting my goal of a Watercolour Sketch a Day, I used to do one and then Life would get in the way, and before too long, 2 weeks had gone by. At that rate, it would take me a long time to improve.
Here is Watercolour Sketch a Day #1
It was done on cheap Monte Marte Watercolour paper with Winsor and Newton Cotman Half-Pan Watercolour paint.
About a month after I started, I was about to sign up for 10-week Watercolour course, then the first Covid lockdown hit, and so no course. Instead, I did 120 days straight of YouTube tutorials.
As time went by, gradually I improved however, I also noticed that I would ‘plateau’ and sometimes it seemed that I was going backwards…
Mostly, I endeavour to do the Watercolour Sketch a Day in the early morning before ork although due to various commitments, that is not always possible. The later in the day it gets done, of course the more tired I am so sometimes, the resulting sketch is not as good perhaps as it would have been if I had completed it earlier. Whatever I come up with I post on my Instagram page called ‘Communicating Creatively.’ All 5 years of Watercolour Sketch a Day’s are there.
The latest I have completed was 11.00pm at night.
Also, over time, I changed to using Artist quality Watercolours (Winsor & Newton; Daniel Smith and Schminke), and starting using Artist quality 300gsm/100% Cotton (Saunders Waterford; Winsor & Newton), and Art Spectrum 300gsm/35% Cotton materials.
Here is today’s Watercolour Sketch a Day.
So, where to from here?
I am looking forward to doing Watercolour Sketch a Day, 5 years 1 Day tomorrow. Yes, the journey will continue as I feel I have a long way to go to get to where I want to be as an Artist. I need to get outside my comfort zone more, too.
A few people have asked me, over time, what is the number you are heading for?
My reply is simple, all I am aiming to do is ‘a Watercolour Sketch a Day’ to practice and improve my skills. I just happened to have done that every day, for 5 years straight.
Happy painting!
Till next time!
Written by David Johnson
26 January 2024
It’s been approximately 2 weeks since I last posted. It has been rather a frantic time of late. Packing up the house and moving day(s) always are, and particularly when we we moving in a range of temperatures from 35C to 43C (95F to 109F).
We have moved about 20 kilometres (12.4 miles) West of where we used to live in Camden, which was about 60 kilometres (37 miles) South-West of Sydney, Australia, and are living in an area that is classed as semi-rural.
One of, if not the major highlight out is Lake Burragorang (pictured below) which is part of the Warragamba Dam (Sydney’s largest) Catchment Area, and is part of the Blue Mountains National Park. Best of all it’s only 8 minutes drive away. 🙂
We have visited it a number of times over the years. To have it so close is wonderful. I look forward to sketching and painting up there.
Till next time!
Written by David Johnson
14 December 2023
I’ve often said that walking is a great way to clear the mind, do some exercise and I always come up with a few ideas, whether they be for our business, a poem, a painting, sketch etc.
It’s also a way to sharpen our senses and awareness. There is so much beauty around is, natural or man-made, and on my walks, I love to capture this. Here are some more examples of ‘things that attract my eye.’
Till next time! 🙂
Written by David Johnson
28 November 2023
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
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