My newest painting. I got some new paints and they are Kisshou Gansai Japanese watercolor paints, which are a little different from other country versions. Interesting article if you're interested: What is Gansai? 

 

Anyways, I had to test my new watercolors out, of course, so here is what I come up with. I titled it "Alone" Painting, drawing, coloring and many other forms of expression are healthy ways to get out your feelings. I guess you could look at the title and painting and interpret how it relates to you. To me, it has a meaning that even if you are surrounded by bright colors (or good friends/people), you can personally be covered in darkness (sadness/depression) and feel all alone. The "Alone while in a crowd" feeling. Also, I just really like galaxies and silhouettes.

 

I also used black and white gouache to get the darkest color and the white of the stars.

 

 

Here are my paints, if you're curious. Pen for size reference.

 

 

 

 

Number 12 is white, so you can't see it in the photo. Number 23 is grey, so also hard to see here.

My set was missing number 70 and instead I got number 52 (which wasn't supposed to be in the set.) 70 looks like a pearlescent gold shade. I want it, but I won't be petty. Haha

It isn't reading, so I hope you don't mind. I've recently got into watercolor painting! It is a relaxing hobby, no matter if I'm good or not. I'm pretty clueless and basically winging it. I'd like to share my paintings with you.

 

"Trees and Stuff"

This is the first full watercolor painting I did. This is on normal sketch paper, so the paper is a bit warped. I think I tried to channel Bob Ross, but he makes it look so easy! Of course, oil painting is a lot different from watercolor. 

 

"Galaxy Sky"

This is my second watercolor painting. I tried following a tutorial by artbybee7 on Youtube, but I could not get my sky to do what she was doing, so I ended up winging it. I like how it turned out.

 

:"Sunset On Water"

 

This is my third full painting. I wasn't satisified with how it turned out, but it is growing on me. I have to remind myself that I am a beginner and not to give up! Not every project is going to turn out how we imagine and that is okay!

 

"Sometimes Dead Is Better"

 

This is my forth full painting. I also did some final touches with some Prismacolor colored pencils. I was only going to paint a house and trees at the bottom, but it turned into a church and a graveyard. I keep seeing Pet Sematary stuff and maybe that influenced me.

I'm always on the lookout for inspiration to help me sketch. Confession: I do not sketch but all artists need to sketch. I know this and yet I still don't do it. *hangs head in shame* Since my primary medium is watercolor I was happy to review this book.

The book is wonderful for the beginner. It has some great information including some history of watercolor presented in a way that isn't boring. Plus all the illustrations throughout the book keep the book feeling light and fun. I even learned something. The author suggest using alcohol (yes the kind you drink) if you are confronting bad weather like extreme cold. While the alcohol might dull the colors a bit, you might get some interesting play on the paper. While this was a good epiphany, the rest of the book was a rehash of things I already knew. So, therefore, I would recommend the contents of the book to beginners on the watercolor journey.

I did have few criticisms of the book. One was when the author was describing glazing. This technique is often when you apply one wash of color over a dried wash of color. The author left out some important information in this chapter. One was knowing your staining colors. Those are excellent to glaze over since you won't be picking up paint while going over that color. The other is transparency of the colors. Some watercolor paints (like your cadmiums) are somewhat opaque and will affect your glazing ability. I also would have liked a section for water control. It is important to learn how much water your brush is holding to get the effect you want for your painting. My last criticism is that this book seemed geared for finished paintings and not sketches. While that is usually your goal, it isn't always with sketching. He did give some great advice toward sketching but it kept switching between that and finishing your painting. I think it would have been more effective the book was about sketching and have an ending chapter about finished work.

I give this book 3 stars. I recommend it to those that need a foundation course on watercolor in particular. More advanced artists might enjoy it for the loose sketching and artwork within.

Watercolor by Leigh T. Moore
Series: Dragonfly #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: See Review
Release Date: September 28th 2013
Print Length: 274 pages
Overall Rating: 4 STARS

Review:
Watercolor is the third book in the Dragonfly series, and they must be read in order. If you have not read the first two beware of spoilers below.

Dragonfly focuses on Jack, Julian, and Anna. Undertow, on the parents. Then in Watercolor the focus is on the blossoming relationship between Julian and Anna. But Anna is hiding a huge secret from Julian, and it weighs on her heavily.

This series is just full of drama, and at its heart is Anna. At times I wanted to shake her I was so frustrated, I felt like she was being fickle. But she grew on me. She was always meddling in the previous books, sticking her nose where it didn’t belong, but I think she realized she bit off more than she could chew. Her knowledge that Bill Kyser was Julian’s dad and he didn’t know it tormented her. She hated keeping this secret. And I think she knew she would have been better off not knowing.

Why couldn’t I just have a normal life, a normal boyfriend, the things you see on after-school specials. Instead I had Jack, who’d spun my head then jerked me around. I had Julian, who I loved and couldn’t tell the truth about something that was tearing him up inside. And now I had fake friends spying on me and getting me in trouble…

But at its heart is a heartwarming first love story. And I fell in love with Julian right alongside Anna. He was such a sexy charming young hero. *sigh*

This entire series is VERY unique. I have never read anything quite like it. The storyline is extremely original, and fascinating. And it’s just keeps drawing me in further with each book. AND OMG there is a preview of Mosaic, the final book in this series, and WoW! I was blown away, and devastated. I mean I cannot believe Leigh did this to these characters so early in the book and then teased us with it!!!!!
I CANNOT wait until it’s released! I’m dying over here!!!

Overall, I really liked this series and this installment and highly recommend you read Watercolor if you have read the first two. You will not believe what she has in store for us in Mosaic… And, like the first two, I have a hard time deciding what age group this novel belongs in. But if I had to, I would categorize this as a Young Adult novel with a few steamy scenes. The characters are seniors in high school and are sexually active so I don’t think it’s appropriate for younger teens.

Dragonflies meant deeper understanding. They meant new beginnings, and in some cultures they meant good luck.

~StacyHgg
Books Unhinged Book Blog
Format: Kindle eARC
Source: via tour host
Review Date: October 12th 2013