Mini Sketchbook
I have a pocket sized Moleskine 9 x 14cm book with watercolour paper. This one in particular I have used for mini composition.
My medium is Winsor and Newton Cotman Watercolour Pan Studio Set.
I have a variation of brushes in my pot since my art student days,
The most used is Daler-Rowney and a couple of
Winsor and Newton Cotman.
“The Forest meets the Lake at Dusk”
I had looked into a lot of different sky lines and landscape photography, this is a combination of inspirations,
In one reference images I was drawn to how the photographer had captured the mountains.
I was drawn to lighting that showed the depth in the distance between each peak as gradually they changed tonally in colour.
Additionally I wanted to add depth and a small forest at the forefront of the composition to helps frame and balance the piece.
I find really find these miniature series really satisfying to create.
The way I work on these I subconsciously feel that I place way less pressure to the pieces in these sketchbooks.
In the act of letting go of this pressure, I find I can create very charming little pieces of their own.
The size itself feels quite personal to flick back through and very aesthetically pleasing.
It’s great for me to plan more realised pieces in the future and to try out the colour palettes in the early stages of developments.
“Viola & Thistles”
Inspired by shadowy photography of flowers angled towards the sky to create depth in shadows and colour.
I took this subject as I wanted to experiment more with subtle tonal depths of the florals.
“Quartz & Agate”
I felt during the time I was working on a few pieces that my colour palette is more drawn really tilted more towards purples and blues with pops of pinks.
I felt I needed to force my colours in a different direction.
I collect small nature trinkets, I pick florals and dry them, I collect shells from the beach and I had gemstones beside my desk I often look at for the magnificent colours they have.
So I grouped together a pallet of black and the warmer rusted/terracotta ones and thought it would look even greater with flecks of gold and even added a green as a contrast in one of the edits.
Experimenting in my sketchbooks helps me develop new techniques and master a freedom in happy accidents and give freedom to the things
I don’t control but instead let happen.
“A Selection of Experimental waves”
I follow an artist Hieu who goes by the alias “Kelogsloops”
He has fantastic technique to how I also like to work with my mediums and is a great inspiration to me as an artist.
He done a Youtube tutorial which I gave a go myself to try out how he achieves certain techniques, and I really loved how my own came out.
Credits really to Hieu for helping me realise my development, as more I practice this technique begins in these tiny sketchbooks before they become a part of my other pieces.
For commission enquiries please feel free to email me at claradesign@outlook.com