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

Relic

Earlier today, I attended another Sketch-Meet run by Urban Sketchers Wollongong. I have been to a number of their sketch-meets over the past 2-3 years, and I really enjoy the subjects we do, the time together, the conversation, and of course, the Throwdown. It really is always so interesting to see not only the different subject matter the artists pick, but also seeing the different interpretations is a joy to behold.

Today’s outing was to the HARS Aviation Museum at Albion Park Rail in the Illawarra Region, south of Sydney.

I chose the a plane that is actually attached to the ground and is at an angle outside the museum.

I could have been closer, i.e., on the other side of the entrance however, I quite liked the angle as seen in the image above.

Here is my interpretation below.

I am pretty happy with the result especially as it is only the second plane ever that I have tried to sketch/paint.

Looking forward to attending the next Urban Sketchers Wollongong Sketch-Meet.

Till next time!

Written, sketched/painted by David Johnson

3 May 2026

New Sketchbook Adventures!

Last weekend, I ordered a Pleinly 8″ x 12″ sketchbook via Amazon. I’ve been researching their Watercolour Easel package and am about to buy it. When you buy the Easel package you get the sketchbook below with it.

I have used it on my last three Watercolour Sketch a Day’s (below) and have to say that I am impressed with what I’ve seen so far. Every type of Watercolour paper handles differently and although I am still getting used it, I’m having a lot of fun. 🙂

A few things I’ve noticed are that it can take a lot of water, it feels different to touch and paint on than other cold press 300gsm 100% cotton papers/sketchbooks I’ve tried. Considering it has 52 pages and it is 300gsm, the sketchbook is quite light. I haven’t painted on the back of the page yet, but I am confident the paper will take it.

“Headland” 7 years, 83 days of a Watercolour Sketch a Day
“Light Interceding” 7 years 84 days of a Watercolour Sketch a Day
“Alpine Design” 7 years 85 days of a watercolour Sketch a day (Yesterday)

Later on, I will do another post and make some further comments. Can’t wait to do today’s sketch! 🙂

Till next time!

Written and sketched/painted by David Johnson

25 April 2026

Watercolour Sketch a Day – Sheds

I love photographing old, rusted and or wooden sheds, and I’ve taken quite a liking to sketch and paint them. I think I am improving, and at the same time I’m endeavouring to ‘loosen up’ my sketching style.

The following two sketches are not of any particular sheds anywhere; they are just random images I did.

Materials:

  • 300GSM 100% Cotton paper sketchbook purchased from Amazon
  • Kuretake Gansai Tambi Japanese Watercolours
  • Sumikondo Japanese Ink Watercolours
  • Daniel Smith Watercolours
  • Neef brushes
  • Aqua Wash brushes
  • Pigment Liner – UniPin 0.03 & 0.05
“Old Shed” Watercolour Sketch a Day 7 years, 23 days (yesterday).
“Work Shed” – Watercolour Sketch a Day 7 years, 24 days (today).

Till next time!

Written & Sketched/painted by David Johnson

22 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

A Journey Uncharted

“Glacier” – 6 Years, 125 Days of a Watercolour Sketch a Day!

It has been another very hectic month for many reasons. I am fortunate to have started this daily Art practice a few years ago. Without this practice I think I would have been using the old excuse, “that I didn’t have time” a lot!

Here is today’s sketch.

Materials:

  • Aquarelle Watercolour sketchbook 300gsm Cold Press
  • Sumikondo Japanese Watercolours (Blue-Black)
  • Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolours (Indigo)
  • Aquawash & Neef brushes

I had a lot of fun doing this one!

Till next time!

Written & painted by David Johnson

31 May 2025

Story To Be Written

Watercolour Sketch a Day – 6 Years Straight!

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

Sumikondo (Japanesque) Watercolours

Recently, at an en plein air field trip to a ‘Back to Belgenny’ farm open day with some fellow members of Macarthur Art Group, I was introduced to Sumikondo (Japanesque) Watercolours by Michele Arentz.

Michele has been using them for a little while now and quite liked the colours. Below is an example of the 6 colours I recently purchased from Amazon to try out.

I must say that even with my early attempts, I am quite impressed and am thoroughly enjoying using them. Michele has a set of 20 colours and I feel it won’t be too long until I add more of these Watercolours to my set.

Below are a few of my Watercolour sketches with these paints so far. A couple are using only the Sumikondo Watercolours, and I have also included a couple where I have used these watercolours plus Daniel Smith watercolours.

My first attempt. Blue-Black and Purple-Black are used here.
Blue-Black, Purple-Black, Red-Black plus Daniel Smith Burnrt Sienna & Burnt Umber
Purple-Black, Blue-Black, Red-Black, Green-Black & Yellow-Black
Blue-Black, Purple-Black, Daniel Smith Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Yellow Ochre

It’s only early days yet however, I believe Sumikondo Watercolours have a lot to offer, and I am having a lot of fun experimenting with them.

I’m currently working on a 15cm x 23cm Watercolour using both the Sumikondo & Daniel Smith Watercolours. The Watercolour paper I am using for this one is Baohong The Master’s Choice, rough, block paper, 300gsm. I am already loving the combination of the Watercolours and the paper and I will post the finished artwork on this blog.

Till next time!

Written by David Johnson

7 September 2024