Practice

Today's practice efforts were mainly to test out two new art journals and decide whether I want to work with them for a new class. To do that, I used a different reference photo when working in each.  

The first effort was based on a Virgin Mary painting.  I was testing a Stillman & Birn Mixed Media Sketchbook.  At 270 gsm, the paper should be comparable in weight to 140 lb.watercolor paper, if not better.  But it isn't as thick as my 140 lb. Visual Journals. The paper worked pretty well in taking watercolors (see below).  The image was sketched with mechanical pencil (HB core), painted with Japanese watercolors, and embellished with white and iridescent pearl acrylics plus a gold Pen Touch marker.  The one thing I like about the painted image is the scarf.  It has a base layer of light watercolor and is topped with a white acrylic glaze that gives it a believable translucent effect.

The second effort was based on the photo of what looks like a medieval mosaic face.  I was testing a Robert Bateman 100% Recycled Paper sketchbook containing 110 lb. paper.  First, a layer of watercolor was applied to serve as the background.  The paper curled a bit with that application.  To simulate a mosaic, squarish brushstrokes of acrylics were added.  The paper seems to me to be a better drawing paper than a substrate for painting.  

Neither of these journals are going to work for Louise Fletcher's 'Find Your Joy' course that I've signed up for.  I want something sturdier.  So, next is testing a new Seawhite Concertina Art Journal.  The paper in it looks luscious and feels very nice.