Journal Entry..France..Watercolor..Texas Artist..Rae Andrews

Today’s journal entry is again of the area near Le Vieux Couvent in Southwest France.

This is a watercolor in a Stillman Birn journal. Love these journals.❤️

Not the best lighting to take this photo, sorry..I will replace the image with a better one soon. 

This is in my larger format Stillman Birn Beta series watercolor journal. 8” x 10”..

Thanks for visiting...

Journal Entry 10 (France) Texas Artist..Rae Andrews

 This is a journal entry from the village area I am conducting a workshop in May of this year.

I found this photo on the web.. Of course it's quite embellished and not really a direct copy of the photo I saw.

I like to get a feel for the places I will be going, in preparation for my workshops.. The internet is a wonderful reference 'bounce'...
Hence using this photo.

I will have bunches of my own photos during my trip, I promise.

This watercolor journal entry is in my Stillman and Birn (Beta series) journal.

I truly think it's great prep work to do a quick watercolor sketch such as this prior to a serious watercolor painting of the same or similar scene.

I can plan where I think my whites can be left and assess my tonal values with these small sketches. 

It's also a great way to change the design and composition one might be looking at, and eliminating all unnecessary elements..We are often daunted with a panoramic scene set out in front of us.. 

Less is more is a healthy way to look at it.

These are after all, not meant to be masterpieces, merely a record. 

Enjoy, and I hope you might try journalling sometimes..

Thanks for visiting...

Rae conducts workshops and demonstrations of her many techniques . She uses all media.

Please contact her through this blog, or via her website at:

www.raeandrews.com

Journal Entry 8 (Spain) Texas Artist..Rae Andrews

Another journal entry done in watercolor and pen and inl.

The Costa Brava Coast in Spain is wonderful, so many things to inspire the artist in me..

Thanks for visiting..

Rae conducts workshops and demonstrations of her many techniques . She uses all media.

Please contact her through this blog, or via her website at:

www.raeandrews.com

Journal Entry 2 (France) Watercolor..Texas Artist...Rae Andrews

This is the second journal entry and probably where I will stop for today. The scene is France, just a small vignette but perfect for a journal entry.

Watercolor is again my medium, and the new Stillman and Birn journal (Beta series) is the brand I am using. The size is 5.5" x 8.5" and opened out completely, I can fit quite a large image on both pages.

Thanks for visiting..

Rae conducts workshops and demonstrations of her many techniques . She uses all media.

Please contact her through this blog, or via her website at:

www.raeandrews.com

Journal Entry 1 (Spain) ..Watercolor..Texas Artist..Rae Andrews

Well I am off and running again soon to teach a workshop in France.

I will be mostly doing pastels for my demos, but a few watercolorists are also coming, so I will be taking that medium as well and jounaling is a great plein air tool.

 I always take a watercolor journal to get quick sketches in. They are such fun, not to mention a lovely way to capture the memories of a trip, and who knows, each image could become a more serious painting after I get home.

I bought some new journals off Amazon recently, and have to say, I like this paper a lot. Especially for pen and ink work. See below for the brand I am using.

This scene (above) is in Spain, after my last trip. Cadaques, not far from where Salvador Dali lived.

I was walking by this house and a man was sitting on his stoop enjoying the shade. He saw I was taking photos and we got chatting. 

He invited me into his very lovely courtyard and I took numerous photos, so nice of him to share his privacy.

THE PROCESS...
I did a pencil sketch first on the paper, then worked over it with a fine tip permanent marker before using some watercolor washes.

The book I bought is Stillman and Birn Mixed Media sketchbook, the BETA sreies.
I can recommend them.

I purchased a hard cover and a soft cover one, and both are great for watercolor, opening pretty flat while I work on them with washes. I do use a clothes peg at each corner just to secure the pages though. 

Anyway, I hope you enjoy these few pages I have done..You might like to try jounaling, it's great fun!

Thanks for visiting..

Rae conducts workshops and demonstrations of her many techniques . She uses all media.

Please contact her through this blog, or via her website at:

www.raeandrews.com