Journal Entry..Greek Islands..Watercolor..Texas Artist..Rae Andrews

Today’s journal entry is of the Greek Islands. I took a cruise around the islands with my dearest artist pals a few years ago, great fun!

This image is from the island of Myconos, an island I had been to before, but still remains a favorite of mine.

I used my larger 8” x 10” Stillman Birn journal for this one.

Rae teaches workshops in both the USA and Europe. For more info, please contact her through this blog or her website.

raeandrews.com

Thanks for visiting..

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

This journal entry is of  Saint Cirq Lapopie while I was teaching at Le Vieux Couvent this past May. A fascinating medieval cliff side village 300 feet above the River Lot.

We had a wonderful day trip to this village, shopping and meandering through the winding little streets, just full of charming stores and restaurants.

I did not manage to paint there, but did take lots of photos which is where this study came from.

I will be teaching again at Le Vieux Couvent in July 2019.

It’s a wonderful place to stay and expose yourself to the peace and charm of the Southwest France region.

If you want more info please contact me through this blog, of my website 

           

   raeandrews.com

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Journal Entry from French Alps and Switzerland ..Watercolor..Texas Artist...Rae Andrewsw

Annecy is in the French Alps. This town was a part of the workshop I taught in the Alps recently.

We stayed here as well as Geneva (Switzerland) and Combloux in wonderful hotels. And the scenery was to die for!!

So back to Annecy, known as the 'Little Venice of the French Alps' and you can see why, I think. Lots of canals and reflections, just perfect for the artist in me!

We did a LOT of shopping here as well, so many interesting stores and markets to stroll.

I will have very fond memories of this workshop and my students, they all did an amazing job , but then it was very inspiring for any artist!

Rae teaches workshops in both the USA and Europe. 
For more info please contact her through this blog or via her website.
raeandrews.com

Thanks for visiting...

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

Just finished this journal entry.. a few years ago I was at the banks of the Pedernales River not far from where I live here in Texas. It’s a great spot to paint.

Lately we have had an enormous amount of rain and flooding, so this area is a good place to stay away from till the water subsides. 

I used an old photo for this journal entry.

 It’s in my Stillman and birn 8” x 10” Beta series journal.

Thanks for visiting..

Rae teaches workshops in both the USA and Europe. 

For more info please contact her through this blog or via her website..

raeandrews.com

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

This journal entry is from one of my wanders off the beaten track during my workshop at Le Vieux Couvent in France one year ago.

While students were painting the church nearby and vineyards, I did a little excursion through the brambles with my camera and found this amazingly beautiful scene to paint.

The reflections were simply beautiful. They were just reaching out from the shore and in the far distance there was a small beach of some sort..just perfection.

This is in my larger format 8” x 10” Stillman and Birn journal.

Thanks for visiting..

Rae teaches workshops in both the United States and Europe.
For more info, please contact her through this blog or through her website..

                                           raeandrews.com

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

I had this journal entry drawn out ready for watercolor touches, so I finished it and decided to post today as well as the previous post.

I am sure you know me well enough by now and conclude I cannot go a day without painting something.

This one is here in Austin and is the area I walk the dogs sometimes, lovely after all the rain.

Rae works and teaches workshops  in all media. She teaches locally in her studio in Texas, and does workshops in both the United States and Europe.

                        For info please contact her on this blog or through her website..

                                                        raeandrews.com

                                                         Thanks for visiting...

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

This journal entry is from the island of Maui. Olinda is the area next door to Makawao where is used to live, just the most special place for me, as it reminds me so much of my home, Australia.

The journal is an 8” x 10” Stillman and Birn Beta series journal.

Thanks for visiting..

Rae teaches workshops in both the USA and Europe . For more info please contact her through this blog or her website.

raeandrews.com

Journal Entry Watercolor ..Texas Artist..Rae Andrews

I have done this scene before in pastels.

 I decided I would like to make it a journal entry as well, this time in watercolor. It’s a scene very dear to my heart, as I pass it almost daily when I walk my puppies. 

I did embellish the colors a little, Texas is not that showy with FALL COLORS, so I gave it some help. 😊

The journal is a Stillman Birn ( Beta Series) journal. 8” x 10” and I used both pages for this image.

I hope you enjoy these journal entries, more to come soon.

Rae teaches in all media. please contact Rae through this blog or her website for more info.

If you want to see more of her work please go to 

raeandrews.com 

Journal Entry France 2018..Watercolor...Texas Artist..Rae Andrews

This journal entry was after the rain and we all went to Labastide Murat to an antique Market. Lots of fun!

Of course we found a wonderful café in which to have a drink, or two as well. 
France's weather can be changeable, however the best part is, it does not seem to last for long. 

This was a fun day.

Thanks for visiting..

Rae paints and teaches in all media, for more info please contact her through this block or via her website:

raeandrews.com

Journal Entry ..France 2018..Watercolor ..Texas Artist..Rae Andrews

We went to a great village on this day called Saint Cirq-Lapopie.. 

The town itself is very hilly, perched on the side of a cliff above the Lot River.

For any artist, there is a multitude of reference to paint. 

I chose something very simple here, a doorway and vines. I think this door led into a nice restaurant.

So this was my journal entry for this day, all watercolor this time. I love doing these visual journal entries, more personal than just writing don't you think? 

Thanks for visiting..

Rae paints and teaches in all media. To get more info on her workshops please contact her through this blog or her website at:

raeandrews.com

Journal Entry..France 2018..Watercolor.. Texas Artist..Rae Andrews

This journal entry is all watercolor. It shows the street near the convent where we stayed in France. 

Andre's house is on the right, and this particular day we spent some time in his gorgeous garden . Wow!! His flowers were so beautiful, he obviously spends a lot of time pottering there.. 

Thanks for visiting..

Rae works and teaches in all media. To get more info please contact her through this blog or via her website:

raeandrews.com

Journal Entry France 2018..Watercolor..Texas Artist...Rae Andrews

This is another journal entry from my recent workshop in France .

 The area is in Castlefranc, a quaint town very close to le Vieux Couvent. 

We painted by the river and had a lovely picnic this day, braving the wind a little, but it was still nice.

 I did this entry on site, and it's all watercolor with a final touch of gouache with watercolor on the tree trunks only.

Don't forget that gouache can be used quite comfortably with watercolor, it is after all watercolor with a touch of white in it. I use it a fair bit while doing my journal entries.

I hope you are liking these posts and are traveling along with me on this wonderful trip.

Thanks for visiting..



Rae works and teaches in all media. If you want more info on her workshops and classes, please contact her through this blog or her website at
raeandrews.com

Journal Entry..France 2018..Watercolor..Texas Artist..Rae Andrews

 This journal entry was done as a demo for the recent group in France 2018. 

I decided to tint the journal page first with an orange acrylic wash, in readiness for my entry.

After I tinted the page and it was dry, I drew in my subject.

I then used watercolors to get the bulk of the scene situated.

When that had dried, I used watercolor and white gouache mixes, to get my highlights and some middle valued.

The orange helps a great deal to give the scene some 'punch' .. I could very well have used a magenta or a blue as my first wash of acrylic, that would have changed the drama effect of the painting and the mood. Experiment with this, it's great fun and very good for plein air painting... just have the page all tinted prior to going out to paint.. Good luck!

It is a great way to get away from the bright white paper of the journal, which some people are very intimidated by, and don't want to ruin their journal. 

**However with this color tint already on the page, one is now forced to work more with the highlights and darks (using the acrylic tint as a middle value) 

If this seems to be describing your own watercolor struggles, maybe try the mid value tint first?

 I find it helps a lot, especially when one is confronted with an all green landscape while painting en plein air. Just having those flecks of an underneath color helps the painting come alive.

FYI..Why did I use acrylic first and not tint with watercolor or a colored  gouache?
Because both those mediums will lift with further layers of painting, which will 'muddy' your colors. Acrylic is a safe option,  as it dries hard and fast, and will not budge with continued layers.

France 2017 Journal Entry..Behind The Church..Watercolor..Texas Artist..Rae Andrews

This little watercolor vignette is from behind the church in Frayssinet.

Alleyways and a surprise 'pop' of irises and moss laden walls, just wonderful!

Thanks for visiting..

France Journal Entry..2017 Lily Pond...Watercolor...Texas Artist..Rae Andrews

                                                  Another France journal entry .

                                                    Almost finished this journal.
This sketch is of the wonderful 'frog laden' lily pond at le Vieux Couvent. We were serenaded constantly. Just lovely!

                                                             Thanks for visiting..

France Journal Entry..2017..Watercolor..Texas Artist..Rae Andrews

This is the road into town if one turns left coming out of the convent. However, all roads seems to lead into the village of Frayssinet..

It was fun for me, a directionally challenged person, to find my way back to 'GO'..

Almost finished this little journal, only a few more sketches to fill this one, and then maybe I will make a small book of them as per Pam's suggestion who came on the trip with me.

We will see.

Thanks for visiting..

France Journal Entry 2017..Watercolor..Texas Artist..Rae Andrews

The last journal entry for today is this scene just around the corner from Le Vieux Couvent. That little red fence and gate was just perfect to accent my scene. And yes, it was actually there.


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France Journal Entry 2017..Watercolor..Texas Artist..Rae Andrews

Another watercolor sketch of the view as you turn right out of Le Vieux Couvent, and follow the road.

All roads seem to lead one back to the same area which was great for me, who is known to be 'directionally challenged' at the best of times!

Thanks for visiting..

France Journal Entry..Down the Stairs into the Village of Frayssinet..Watercolor..Texas Artist..Rae Andrews

These stairs in Frayssinet were very steep and LOTS of them. I walked them a couple of times, then decided to stick to more level ground in the future.

However the vantage point was very interesting for a possible painting. I am glad I went there.

Hope you like this one..
Thanks for visiting..

France Journal Entry..The Church in Frayssinet..Watercolor..Texas Artist..Rae Andrews

Across the road from Le Vieux Couvent is the village church.

The bells ring every hour and every half hour, except in the wee small hours of the morning.
Sometimes they will chime on about 10 minutes after the hours too, not sure why, guess in case you did not hear them the first time.

One gets used to hearing the chimes, it's way better than wearing a watch and very comforting somehow.

The washing was hanging almost every second day, always towels and very colorful.

I just love washing on a line. Who would have thought I could feel so excited about painting it ..Ha!

                                               Thanks for visiting..