Watercolour artist Susan Chiang taught a class called ‘Shifting greens: one base green, two herbs’. This was another class where I was doubtful because I’m generally an abstract or semi-abstract artist. Susan described her pieces as ‘playful and loose’ but they looked very precise to me!
I used ultramarine turquoise mixed with cadmium yellow pale for one, and mixed with raw sienna for the other.
I’m particularly pleased with the parsley, and think the sage would have been improved by adjusting the design. I’m tempted to keep playing with this idea, because I’d love to improve my realism skills.
I love doing semi-abstract landscapes, and enjoy watercolour, so was excited about Julia Bausenhardt’s class. I liked her combination of watercolour, pencil and Posca. My piece feels a bit too controlled, but the process is similar to what I do anyway, so I’ll keep playing with it.
Irene Ruby ran a lovely calm session on creating a wobbly fantasy house using pen and watercolour. As with many of the sessions, not something I’d usually do — and that’s the point. Stretch, grow, learn new skills.
I used her general design but did mine without looking at the video again, so it’s from memory rather than a copy. I’m pleased with it, although I wish I’d been looser with the colour, and left white space. It feels overworked.
I’m doing Sketchbook Revival ‘26, and working through the classes out of order, just because I can.
Amy Maricle’s class was called Soothing Watercolour Eucalyptus pages. I used indigo watercolour and a size 10 round brush. I worked in the handmade journal, with an Australian Piano Hinge binding, we were encouraged to make for the course.
This was fun and turned out better than I was expecting. I like the technique Amy taught and will try this again.
Alan and I went bush for the weekend. I love being out in nature – trees, hills, quiet, no power or cell cover. No other people. Listening to Morepork at night, watching Tui during the day. Bliss!
I knew Alan would be doing his thing during the day. We both accept I have limited physical capacity some days. I had prepped two small art journals, and took water soluble crayons and pencils, and a few other bits and pieces. The journals are a new brand for me, and turns out the paper isn’t as durable as I like despite being a bit dearer than some of my fav journals. I bought them to try because they were 30% off. I also wish I’d taken actual watercolours, but both those problems are incidental.
What’s fascinating, as an artist, is while I absolutely love being in the bush it doesn’t inspire me to paint in the way I expect it to. It might just be that I haven’t done enough to loosen up and create the sort of work I like, but I’m also not sure I want to. And yet when I go down South I find the water, and the colours of the Hokitika Gorge, inspire me to create over and over and over.
What we love, and what inspires us to create, are not necessarily the same thing. Why? I have no idea really, but I’m mulling it over. In the meantime, here’s some samples of the pages I did do…
Cath Sheard Art 