GIVEAWAY - A Custom Pet Portrait (Cat or Dog)!

I'm running a Giveaway on my Facebook Fan Page! Click here to see the rules and participate.
Wishing you a good luck! The winner will be announced on my fan page on Aug 18th 12pm EST.

And here's one of my new pieces, a tiny hummingbird. Approx. 8x8'' on Sennelier watercolor paper.

My Favorite Art Materials: Watercolor Paper.

As I promised, my second post about art supplies is dedicated to watercolor paper that I like and use often. Actually, it is the most frequent question I get asked regarding my work, so here's my experience to add to yours. See also the first part, which was about watercolor brushes.



There are plenty of different brands and sorts of paper on the market, and it often gets confusing to figure out which one suits best for your needs. It takes practice and experience to know the behavior of a particular paper and predict the results you are going to get. So after some trial and error I found paper which I'm more than happy to paint on (it doesn't mean, however, that I stopped trying out new brands, since I always keep my mind open about art materials).

1. Arches cold press 140 lb is the paper I use probably 80 percent of the time. This paper suits my painting style perfectly, and I love the way it accepts lots of water and pigment, producing lovely results. As an illustration, here's my watercolor made in wet-on-wet technique, on a paper from 9''x12'' block. I prefer blocks over sheets btw, since they are so convenient to use - no need to cut and tape.


2. Sennelier grain torchon 140 lb is another sort of paper I've been using a lot lately for small illustrations like these butterflies. Personally, this paper is more accommodating for wet-on-dry rather than wet-on-wet watercolor technique. The surface has a very nice, "upscale" feel and texture to it, and the only downside of this paper is that it's pricey.



3. Saunders Waterford grain torchon 140 lb is also a great paper to work with. You can see its beautiful texture on my painting "Hand In Hand", which is sized 9''x12''. The paper has a pleasant, slightly creamy tone.


4. Fabriano Artistico cold press 140 lb is last, but not least. A not to miss paper, in my opinion, since it's versatile and receptive to all watercolor techniques. Therefore, I'm considering to use it more often. This is one of my latest works, painted on Fabriano paper. "Morning Coffee", 9''x12''.


Of course, the above is not a full list of papers I've had a chance to work with. It just would be impossible to tell about all of them in one post. I've painted on different media, from watercolor canvas to paper made of hemp and lokta, and I'm in a constant search for new textures to try. Apparently, it can be equally delightful to paint on either expensive, classic watercolor paper or some sorts that aren't even meant to be used with watercolor. There are no limits to creative ideas, after all.

In the comments section, I'd love to hear about your favorite paper. Have you ever tried anything unusual to paint on with watercolor?

PS Next time I will tell about my watercolor palette, so stay tuned!

Spring is time for birds

My favorite paper for painting birds so far is Sennelier Grain Torchon. I'm already finishing my 20 sheets block and going to restock on it. Very pleased with the surface and colors staying intense when dry. It also holds water very well. I personally wouldn't use this paper for big wet on wet paintings, but for small, illustration kind of work it's a keeper!




Btw, I've added three new bird prints in my Etsy shop.

Craving for snow

Unbelievable how fast time is flying by! It's winter already and I'm trying my best to feel the holiday season vibe (which personally is so not easy to do when living in a snowless place). Having been raised in the continental part of Russia, I crave for snow every year when the jingle bells start to ring. That being said, here's my top three to boost the holiday mood:

1. Watch "snowy" movies.
2. Go to Pinterest - an inexhaustible source of inspiration.
3. Last, but not least: if you can't have it, paint it!

When I was little, my grandfather would hang self-made bird feeders in front of the kitchen window. The winters were cold so those feeders would get pretty busy. Watching birds kept me entertained for hours, especially when beautiful bullfinches were coming over. They were my very favorite.



Another cute bird that reminds me of snow is Cardinal, which is more common in the US.



Both of these paintings are available on my Etsy shop. It's time to stock up on Christmas gifts! Consider giving original bird art this holiday season!

The Big Fall Post

Each year, as sweet autumn days go by, I feel like capturing all their beautiful moments in painting. As usual, most of my inspiration comes from what is around me, especially when the weather is so nice for hanging outside and collecting ideas.



The autumn sun bathes everything with a golden glow, and every single blade of grass seems a perfect creature. Take a look at this dog rose, for example. Don't you think it's begging to be painted?



Of course it is! I painted this 10''x8'' watercolor on Arches paper, using my special fall collection of colors. Although I usually prefer a limited palette, this time I couldn't help but use all 18 of them:) The painting was started wet on wet, in order for colors to blend, then some details were added as the paper was drying out.


My autumn palette includes warm reds, deep blues and natural, earthy browns. In case you wonder, here's the list:





Speaking of colors, here is another thing that brightens the season. Everything gets a cute pumpkin makeover this time of year:) What else pops into my head when I think about fall, is cinnamon gingerbread latte, woolen sweaters, warm apple cider, the aroma of freshly baked goodies, morning mists, rustling of leaves under the feet, dining with candles... Wouldn't it be wonderful to paint all of these and convey all those feelings?

And what are your favorite little things to enjoy in fall?

Mendocino

Here is the fifth painting from Mendocino series. I don't know about you, but I'm still living in the summer:) 9''x12'' on Arches watercolor paper

Little Bird

A new watercolor birdie in my Etsy shop Inspired by cute Lazuli Bunting - a North American song bird.

Nevada Landscape

My watercolor tribute to the beautiful state of Nevada 9''x12'' on Arches watercolor paper

Mendocino

Another painting of California Coast from Mendocino series. 9''x12'' on Arches watercolor paper.


And the whole Mendocino set so far:

To be continued...

The Old Chapel

You might think this is an Italian scenery, but it's not:) Actually, I saw this cute chapel on the road leading to the winery in California. The place was surrounded by grape vineyard with blue hills on the background, and everything was bathing in the sunlight.





9''x12'' on Arches watercolor paper.

Mendocino

On the coast of Northern California, there is a small town called Mendocino, which is impossible not to fall in love with. It's all about the ocean breeze, the rhythmic roar of waves, and cute houses buried in flowers. Ever since I visited that wonderful place, with its secluded sandy beaches and spectacular blooming headlands, I new I would paint a series of watercolors about it. Well, my project is started, and here are the first two paintings. 12x9 on Arches watercolor paper

Red Cabin

The summer is not too far away :) 12''x9'' on Arches watercolor paper

The Rowan Tree

I saw this beautiful rowan while visiting Leavenworth, a small town on the east side of Cascade Mountains. It was a warm September day and leaves had just barely started to turn colors. Gentle autumn sun showed through the clouds, making the place glow with a soft golden haze, so I decided that using wet-on-wet technique for my painting would be the best way to capture that enchanting light and atmosphere.

Mussel shells

I found these mussel shells a year ago at the coast of northern California. Now, the mini-installation on the pages of my journal brings back a lot of precious memories. I close my eyes and see the dark blue waves crashing into the rocks. I recall spectacular headlands covered with wildflowers in bloom, secluded sandy beaches and miles of trails winding along the cliffs. A beautiful, idyllic place that is good for your mind, body and soul.

Winter birdies

What do you think of when I say winter? Here is the list of things that pop into my head:
A lot of fluffy, sparkling snow
Winter holidays and waiting for a miracle
Ice skating and downhill skiing
Cozy evenings at home with a cup of hot tea and homemade cookies
Bright and clear stars in the night sky
Cold mornings and frost patterns on a window
Puffed-up birdies and snowflakes falling softly

Chenoa the owl

If you ever find yourself in the university town of Eugene, Oregon, I would highly recommend spending some time at Cascades Raptor Center. My husband and I were really excited about visiting that wildlife hospital specializing in raptor rehabilitation and release. A lot of birds of different species found their loving foster home there after being orphaned or injured. And each one of them has a personal story.
For me, the most surprising resident was a magpie named Miri, which had been illegally raised and imprinted on humans. Unable to survive in the wild, that cute little bird is totally socialized to people. Every time we happened to be around her big cage, she tried to get as close to us as she could. It was so touching and sad at the same time.
And of course, it's impossible not to mention about amazing owls, which are very plenty at CRC. As soon as I saw beautiful and mysterious Chenoa, a Northern Spotted owl, I decided to make her an object for my watercolor painting.
16''x12'' on Arches watercolor paper

Poppy heads

Recently, I have added a new painting to my handcrafted journal from Nepal. Made of Himalayan Lokta plant using the traditional eco-friendly process of ancient paper making, this piece of art features unique, rich texture paper sheets. Personally, I find this journal to be one of the most inspiring things in the world :)



P.S. You can find me on Facebook now, let's make friends!

Juicy watermelon

Today I woke up to the birds' singing, which means the spring is knocking on the door! Being in an excellent mood, I hope you are all doing well and staying in good spirits. This small 7''x10'' watercolor was inspired by the morning sunshine and the fresh air coming through my window.



By the way, have you seen the Google's new art project already? If not, you should surely take a look at this. "Explore museums from around the world, discover and view hundreds of artworks at incredible zoom levels, and even create and share your own collection of masterpieces" - that what they offer now! Isn't it amazing?! I've just spent a couple of hours on that website, and still can't stop browsing it.

Plein air sketch

It's not January I am used to. The weather is warm and sunny, and thanks to that, I had a wonderful Sunday afternoon in a local park filled with pleasant scent of pine needles. This colorful tree branch carrying the leaves of the last year was literally begging to be painted. As you can imagine, I just happened to have a sketchbook with me. And not only the sketch, I have also taken photos of the park's beautiful dry flowers. Blended together, the pine's magical scent and the colors of the sleeping flowers created truly charming and mystical atmosphere that turned the weekend into unique artistic experience.

Tropical fish

I had so much fun working on these journal pages! In case you wonder, the background cracks is a result of inserting crackle medium between two layers of acrylic paint: champagne gold and white. I let that "sandwich" dry and then used watercolors to paint the fish on top of it.