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.
Recently, I posted a Watercolour I painted using Baohong – The Master’s Choice Rough, Block Watercolour Paper. This time however, I decided to paint with Daniel Smith and Sumikondo Japanese Watercolour paint.
The materials used are as follows:
Baohong The Master’s Choice Artist Rough texture, Block Watercolour Paper
Daniel Smith, and Sumikondo Japanese Watercolour paint
Neef brushes
Size: 15 x 23cm (5.9 x 9 inches)
“Thinking Time”
In the above image, the colours used were:
Sky: Daniel Smith: Cerulean Blue
Ocean: Daniel Smith: Cerulean Blue, Burnt Sienna
Boulders/rocks: Sumikondo Blue-Black
Sand: Daniel Smith: Yellow Ochre, Titanium White
“Rocky Beach”
In the above image, the colours used were:
Sky: Daniel Smith: Cerulean Blue and Ultramarine Blue
I paint a fair bit from imagination. I also use my own reference photos. Sometimes, I paint from photos I come across on the Internet (and give them credit, of course).
The painting below comes from my imagination, and I called it, “Seaview.’
Materials used:
Baohong The Master’s Choice Artist Rough texture, Block Watercolour Paper
Daniel Smith, and Winsor & Newton Watercolour paint
Neef brushes
Size: 15 x 23cm (5.9 x 9 inches)
From the moment I starting using this paper, I loved it. I had never used rough textured paper or block paper before.
I purchased the smaller size just to try it out. Am looking to purchase a larger block. This paper is so much fun to use. 🙂
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
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.
Four days ago, on 13 August 2024 I completed by 2,000th Watercolour Sketch a Day in a row.
Back in 2018, I had started back doing Watercolour after doing it briefly in 2010 after doing a basic, six-week Drawing course. Photography was still my main creative interest at the time so doing Watercolour, or any other sketching/painting-related activity was just something I dabbled in for a bit of fun, on and off for the next eight years.
Towards the end of 2018, I wanted to start to learn Watercolour however, I was only getting to do it once or twice every two-three weeks which was frustrating. Around that time, I was talking to a business friend, who in outside hours, sketched in Charcoal and also used Soft Pastels. Also, I have been listening to a podcast called, ‘Sketching Stuff’ over time, which was broadcast by Charlie O’Shields who created the ‘Doodlewash’ website. Charlie had done a Watercolour sketch a day & a blog post every day for 5 years. He only stopped as he was going to be working on a project, doing illustrations for children’s book from memory.
I thought that something like what Charlie did seemed impossible, but he had done it. I didn’t start straight away, though.
On 26 January 2019, it was Australia Day and I was sitting at home relaxing and thought I would do a Watercolour sketch, the one you see below.
It was done on cheap Monte Marte paper with Sennelier Student Watercolour half-pans. This sketch ended up being Watercolour Sketch a Day, Day 1.
I set my goal as doing ‘one Watercolour Sketch a day’, and that is still my goal. I was very pleased to reach seven days in a row. Quite chuffed actually. I almost stopped after 400 days in a row, then I thought ‘this is so much fun’, and it became a kind of meditative experience where I could ‘zone out’ from the day.
Sometimes, I do the sketches early in the morning before the business day gets going. Other times, I do them at the end of the day. I really look forward to the time I spend doing them. Sometimes, I spend 10-15 minutes, other times it is 30 minutes or more. It just depends on the day.
Sometimes, you notice improvements, and other times it can feel like the sketches are not as good as some of the previous ones. It’s kind of like Life, or building a business.
The Watercolour Sketch below is the one I did for Day 1,000. It was tutorial by Peter Sheeler on YouTube. Early on I did quite a few tutorials, particularly by Peter Sheeler, and Nil Rocha Art. I highly recommend them.
Between 1,000 and 2,000, I’ve done less tutorials and more
sketching from imagination
sketching from my own reference photos
en plein air
Within that time, I’ve also attended quite a few sketch-meets with Urban Sketchers Sydney and Urban Sketchers Wollongong, and over the past few years, I’ve obtained a lot of inspiration from being a member of Macarthur Art Group and Red Point Artists.
I also use much better, Artist quality paper this days and a few years ago switched to Artist quality paper and brushes which certainly makes a difference.
For my 2,000th Watercolour Sketch a Day, I chose to do a landscape/seascape below. This is a variation of a previous one I did. Sometimes, I like to go back to a previous sketch and see if I can improve upon it, from last time. Very happy to have this image as #2000!
So, where to from here?
Well today is 5 years, 203 days of a Watercolour Sketch a Day and I’ll be doing it at an Open Day called “Back to Belgenny”, which is being held at a colonial homestead about 1/2 hour from where I live. I’m one of quite a few members of Macarthur Art group who are doing en plein air demonstrations for the public, which seems a long way from the Day 1 sketch I did in my lounge room back on Australia Day 2019.
I am loving the different experiences of this Artistic journey, which I will be continuing for a long time to come yet. 🙂
Written by David Johnson
17 August 2024
All the Watercolour Sketch a Day images are on my Instagram:
Today was our first time back at the Red Point Artists Art & Craft on the Grass event since April this year. The May event was cancelled due to bad weather and we couldn’t get to the June event as we both had Covid (for the first-time after dodging for 4 1/2 years).
Today was also the 4th time I have had a stall there.
Once again it was a fun time, a little cool and windy for the first few hours, then the Sun came out and warmed things up a little.
Today also represented ‘5 years, 168 Days’ since I started my ‘Daily Art Practice.’ The image below is today’s effort.
I have already booked my spot for the August event, and there are a number of things I need to do in the next month to ‘upgrade’ my presentation at the stall.
It was also great to see a few other Artists brave the Winter day and come to display their creative efforts. It’s always a joy to see their latest creations.
Yesterday, I just finished a watercolour painting on Arches Watercolour paper. For many years, I have heard just how great it is, and I have to say that I enjoyed using it immensely.
The main reason I hadn’t used it before is that it is one of the expensive Watercolour papers out there. At this point, the largest Watercolour paper I have used on a regular basis is A4.
I purchased a pack of A3, as the store had no packs of A4 left. It was 20% off and I cut each sheet in half as I go to use it.
The image below came from my imagination.
“Distant Delight”
Materials used:
Arches Watercolour Paper 300gsm 100% Cotton A4 Cold Pressed
Paints: Daniel Smith; Winsor & Newton: Schminke
Neef Watercolour brushes
I thoroughly enjoyed using this paper. As I get to use it more, I will highlight more about it. Looking forward to the next one!
Recently, I purchased some Baohong The Master’s Choice, Artist Quality Watercolour paper and I must say it continues to impress me. It is 300gsm, 100% Cotton, Rough Block paper.
“Retired Lighters” – Norfolk Island
I love the texture and how well it takes water and paint. The Lighters above are what Norfolk Island used to use to put cargo on from visiting ships. There are a few dotted around Kingston, Norfolk Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Yesterday was my third time having a stall at Red Point Artists, ‘Art & Craft on the Grass’ event in Port Kembla.
It was a quieter day, people-wise yesterday, as their was a Maker’s Market on at Wollongong University. Usually at a Wollongong Maker’s Market there could be anything from 50 – 100 Art & Craft stalls.
Still, we had a fun time. In between talking to the people who did visit, I worked on my Watercolour Sketch a Day project, and on another larger Watercolour that I have been working on over the last couple of weeks.
I also had some inspiring conversations with both visitors to Red Point Artists, and some of the Artists themselves. Susan enjoyed conversing with others and also did some Crochet.
After packing up, we attended an exhibition by three Red Point Members, Linda Simpson, Heidi Uhlig and Alan Blake, which is being held in Gallery Eight within the Red Point Art precinct. The exhibition features Mixed Media, Watercolour and Carvings. The exhibition is on until 17 April 2024 at 100 Wentworth Street, Port Kembla.
On the way home we stopped into one of my favourite Art Stores, Levers, which is a long established, family run, Picture framing & Fine Art materials store, or as I like to call it, ‘Art Heaven.’
If you are in the Wollongong area, pop in our check it out.
Looking forward to the second Saturday in May, when I will be back at Red Point for the Art, the craft and the conversation!
Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of being part of ‘Artists In Action’ again.
My first appearance at this event, last year was so enjoyable I thought I would do it again this year.
Some 30 or so local Artist’s, some professional, some semi-professional, and some enthusiasts, all combined to showcase their art and craft at the Camden Civic Centre in Camden, some 60km (37m) south-west of Sydney, Australia.
It was such a fun event again. People of all ages came in to view our art and craft. There demonstrations and workshops, and people could enjoy having a go at creating art.
At my table, I had some my art on display and in between talking to people, I went about doing a couple of watercolour sketches, including my, ‘Watercolour Sketch a Day’ that has been going for over 5 years now.
As I did last year, I encouraged people who
‘had always wanted to try sketching and/or painting’ but hadn’t,
‘those that had been doing it but had stopped’, or
those who think that they don’t have time’ to go ahead and try it/take it up again, as it offers:
some great mental health benefits
it’s fun and relaxing
All-in-all a fun day! Looking forward to next year’s event.
Communicating Creatively 