Still Life With Grapes

One day I was staring at the white sheet of Hahnemuhle 280lb watercolor paper and had no idea of what to paint on it. So I opened the fridge and grabbed the first thing I saw, which happened to be a bunch of grapes. Then I added my favorite Marjolein Bastin mug and a lemon leftover, and - voila - I had a juicy still life.

Embracing the Fall Colors

My favorite season is here! Craving to walk on fallen leaves and listen to the rain, but it's sunny and not quite sweater weather yet. At least the pumpkins are already starting to roll in.



Also, meet Lola enjoying the fall and cozying up in maple leaves:) I painted her for Renee who won my recent giveaway of custom pet portrait. I'm happy that Renee loved the portrait and found it to capture Lola's personality so well!

Cherry Turnovers

I've been meaning to try Hahnemuhle Leonardo watercolor paper for ages, but kept putting it off, because it wasn't available at my favorite art supply stores. So finally I ordered it on Amazon, and the paper came to me all the way from Europe. It was my first time painting on such a heavyweight (280lb) paper, and I totally loved it!


Showing you only one turnover, since I couldn't help but bite the half of a second one before I started painting it:) Also, this yummy watercolor is available on my Etsy shop.

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!

Watercolor Prints For Sale

The prints of my watercolors "Apple Season" and "Summer Flowers", are now available for purchase on my Etsy shop.
Both artworks were professionally scanned and printed on a high quality, beautifully textured (like watercolor paper) 300g Arches acid free archival fine art paper, using the latest generation Epson Stylus Pro 9900 with UltraChrome HDR archival inks.
Apple Season print comes in two sizes: 12 x 9 inches (like the original) and 4 3/4 x 3 1/2 inches.
Summer Flowers print is 12 x 9 inches, like the original.

You are more than welcome to check them out: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CMwatercolors

Lemon Raspberry Muffin - sold

This muffin was not easy to paint, because its teasing smell kept interrupting my focus:)
10''x7'' on Arches watercolor paper



Lemon Raspberry Muffin Original watercolor painting on a high quality 300 g/m - 140lb Acid Free Arches watercolor paper. 10''x7'' or 26x18 cm
SOLD

Tulips - sold

Being a watercolor paper lunatic, I was very excited to try Saunders Waterford brand. It is manufactured by St Cuthberts Mill, which has been in paper crafting business since 1700's, and is located in English county of Somerset, on the ancient land, covered with legends and mysteries related to King Arthur. Can you believe this?



As I unwrapped my brand new block of 140lb paper, I couldn't help but spend some time admiring its beautiful random surface texture. The paper has a pleasant slightly creamy color and very appealing look. I decided to paint something bright and springish on it, like tulips for example. To my pleasure, this paper handles the paint very well and doesn't fade as it dries. It also seems to be less prone to buckling (although I haven't tried wet-on-wet yet). Overall, I'm happy with this product and can't wait to continue experimenting with it.



Watercolor on paper 9x12 inches SOLD

Flowers on Fabriano

When I first tried painting on Fabriano Artistico cold pressed watercolor paper, I didn't enjoy it at all and kept sticking with Arches. However, having given Fabriano another try recently, I got added evidence that working with any art materials can be fun. It is simply the matter of finding the right approach to discover their potential. So I'll definitely be coming back to this paper from time to time.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Little Pumpkins

Every autumn I stock up on cute little pumpkins and gourds which can fit the palm of my hand. Lasting for several months, they make perfect home decorations, not to mention them being great models for painting:) 12''x9'' on Fabriano watercolor paper.

Roses

Summer flowers painted in fall colors. This is exactly how the rainy autumn behind my window looks like right now: rich greens and orange with a slight hint of gray to them. 10x7 on Arches watercolor paper.

Rainier cherries

One of my summer sketches for those who miss the time of sweet cherries like I do.
Btw, a few months ago I started a photo blog on Instagram under the nickname cmwatercolors. It is filled with some of the nice things that come across my eyes. New paintings in progress also show up at times. So come visit me there!

Baby pineapple

10''x7'' on Arches watercolor paper

Stonecrops

Did you know that stonecrop leaves are edible? Though I never tasted them, this fact made me thinking of all those flowers that are more than just delight to our eyes. Unforgettable gourmet breakfasts served with edible flowers in a small and cozy B&B on the California coast... Pancakes topped with rose petal jam... Some flowers could even be used for wine crafting! My goodness, these thoughts are making me hungry for real! :)
Anyways, no flowers were harmed or eaten in the making of this watercolor, since I painted it from my memory, after having a lovely afternoon at the nearest botanical garden.
16''x12'' on Arches watercolor paper

Cupcakes

I know you saved some room for dessert :)
7''x10'' on Arches watercolor paper

A little bit of summer

16''x12'' on Arches watercolor paper

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.

Piña Colada

Рiece of summer in the middle of december:)
9.5'' x 7'' on Fabriano watercolor paper

Apple season

Fall is... crisp juicy apples on your table
12'' x 9''

Autumn wine

A watercolor inspired by my trip to the wonderful Napa Valley Wine Country.
16'' x 12'' on Arches rough paper