Pre-Cut ATC Paper

Strathmore is now offering paper cut to exact ATC / ACEO size (2.5 x 3.5 inches):

http://www.strathmoreartist.com/atc.php

Looks like a nice assortment of paper types and weights, as well as envelopes.

I normally cut my own, but the thought of being able to buy pre-cut is very appealing!

2 More ACEO Doodles

Slightly different than the previous few doodles, but still simple stuff. The first one has a landscape-y feel to me; I rather like it.

The flowers were imaginary, but appropriate for this time of year.

2 ACEO Doodles

A couple more ACEO doodles. Used a new gel pen: it's a nice shade of blue. I might put color in the second one; we'll see.

Four Doodles

Here are a few scribbles from my sketchbook in ACEO size/format. These are the kinds of things I do while waiting or on the phone. Not finished or anything, and they become ideas for other works -- or not. Who knows. Best just to get the ideas down before they vanish.

I'm calling the last one "Bearing Fruit" for the moment. The others don't have titles.

They're all done with either blue or black pen. Nothing fancy.

To sleep, perchance to dream ACEO

I've been playing with the idea of making an international symbol for "dreaming". You know, one of those white symbols on a blue background that everybody recognizes around the world -- like the one for women's restrooms (that poor female figure in a triangular skirt) or the knife-fork-spoon trio for restaurant. What would a symbol for dream look like?

Here's my take on it.

I didn't want the solid blue background. Instead, I liked the fuzzy gold/blue mix. Dreams are kind of fuzzy sometimes. The eye has somewhat of an Egyptian feel, so the gold fits in.

I tried a cloud (instead of the eye) above the sleeping figure, but that seemed vacuous. I like the eye better.

Sunset on the Beach

I spent one evening on the beach watching the sunset. The colors were really incredible. I took probably 4 or 5 dozen photos trying out the various settings on my camera that I never use.

One of the settings uses a long exposure -- which I didn't know. I clicked the shutter, it opened, and didn't close. Thinking there was something wrong with the camera, I started shaking it. Then the shutter closed and I realized what had happened. Doofus.

My first reaction was to delete the photo. Instead, I thought it might be interesting to leave the shutter open, and shake the camera side-to-side (intentionally) just enough to blur the details. I got a bunch of photos with really luscious sunset colors in horizontal bands. Very abstract, very soft. They'd make great paintings.

This ACEO is based on that evening. I painted it the next day from memory of that great sunset. Painting on location is something new for me. I'm insecure about doing it yet but am working on it.

It's watercolor on woven paper which gives it that great texture.

Read about the supplies I took along.

The Beach at Puerto Vallarta

Here's a quick ACEO of the beach in Puerto Vallarta. I spent a few days there earlier this month -- fantastic, lovely, warm (not snowing), relaxing. All the wonderful things I'd heard about it were true.

Breaking out of my comfort zone, I did some quick watercolor sketching on the trip. I admire people who do that, but never have myself. Really had to force myself to get over the nerves and do it, but it was fun. I'm glad I did.

This little card is watercolor on rice paper, which gives it that great texture.

I took along some new Bienfang watercolor brushes, which are hollow pens loaded with watercolor paint and a brush tip. One of the pens holds clear water. Squeeze the pen a little and the paint flows to the bristles. Just cap them when done. No cleanup, no mess, no spills. Very handy.

Security made me put them in my checked luggage during the flight, which worried me a little, but they arrived safely to PV. One of them leaked a little during the flight home, so I had a bit of cleanup to do, but better at the end of the trip than the beginning. Good thing I had them in a zip bag.

I hope to do more sketching in the days to come.