Traveling vicariously by Art Journal #2

Since coming back from vacation in March in Iceland, I think I am ready for someplace with warmer temperatures. Don't get me wrong, Iceland is GORGEOUS, and like no other place on this earth I am convinced. But sideways rain, and having to wear snowboots on spring break wasn't as comfortable as the places I would be listed below. 

Despite the giant pythons and alligator-eating-children in Florida, I would love to see Key West. Something about all of those pastel buildings and islands that scream tropical vacation, without leaving the states!

What's even better than Florida? Tuscany Italy! While it may not have warm sandy beaches and cold fruity alcholic beverages, the vineyards and rolling hills seem romantic and dreamy just as well. This is my husband's dream vacation, and I really hope to get there with him for that honeymoon we never were able to take.

Traveling vicariously by Art Journal #3

I have been slowly filling up the Pentalic journal with places of travel that I have visited, hope to visit, or probably will never visit but still capture my fascination. 

This first image is of the Tjornon pond in downtown Reykjavik and is sketched from a photo I took in March while in Iceland. Yes, I made it there and you can see all of the beautiful places I visited on another one of my blogs. This pond was very peaceful with so many water fowl such as ducks, geese and swans. 

I don't find Australia particularly enticing to travel to especially with all of the reptiles and spiders it boasts, but I do find the Uluru rock amazing. It would seem like being in another world to see it.

The Faroe Islands are similar to Iceland without the volcanoes and tourism. It also appears to be much more isolated, which is intriguing to me. This is one country I would like to visit to see sights such as this waterfall.

Last but one of my favorites is this caldera with an acid lake that is located in Kamchatka Russia. Yes, it is this greenish aqua color due to the sulphur in it. There are a lot of places in Russia that I would like to explore by sketch.

Traveling vicariously by Art Journal

Even though I am such a homebody, I fantasize about traveling to places that are majestic and stunning. This is another art journal by Pentalic that I am filling up with places on eARTh that capture my attention and longing to experience that nature. This is a long work in process, but here are the first 9. Number 1 (Kirkjufell, Iceland) I am hoping to see in person next month. 

Kirjufell, Iceland. Hope to see this mountain in March 2017!

Canterbury Plains, New Zealand

Southern France

Arizona-I have seen these cacti up close, and they are amazing

Redwood Forest, California. Mind blowing to see these gigantic trees in real life

Colonial Del Sacremento, Uruguay

Crater Lake, Oregon. This is an incredible sight in person, never get tired of see this work of nature

Sagano bamboo forest, Kyoto Japan

Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

Watercolor pencils

It's sort of cheating, but it's too easy. Below represents my idea of a relaxing day at a warm beach. Used Fantasia watercolor pencils, and Johanna Basford Triplus Fineliner.

Montevideo, Uruguay

Montevideo is the capital of Uruguay, a small coastal county in South America. Years ago, I studied a lot about this country, it's culture, it's landscape, it's people. This country is quite a gem it seems, and I would love to travel here and spend a day on the sunny beaches. It's a peaceful place, with stability and a rich culture all it's own.

This painting is in my Art Journal-page 2-of a street with colonial homes. I painted these homes brighter than the photo was, but I imagine being there with the peaceful sunshine everything appears brighter. Initially sketched with watercolor pencil, coated with Daniel Smith Watercolors, and accented with Sakura Micron pens. 

Taos

Because canvas is expensive, and I can only hang so many in my home, I began an Art Journal. The Art Journal will feature paintings of places I wish to visit (if I had the opportunity). My goal is to see how I develop over time in practicing a technique in painting. I bought a Bee Creative Watercolor spiral bound pad for this experiment.

This is page one, and it is a replica of a photograph of homes in Taos, New Mexico. I loved the blue sky and the contrasting red clay homes with green doors, and defined the elements with a Sakura Micron pen.The initial sketch was colored in with watercolor pencil, and then I went back over that with Graham Gouache paint. 

Why Taos? New Mexico has always enchanted me, and Taos seems to define that enchantment theme.

Sketches

A Saturday night well spent-

Tasmanian Shoreline

French Fields of Lavender-

I am currently painting the French Fields of Lavender in Gouache. Finished product to be posted soon.