Watercolor: Japanese (Wakin) Goldfish

From the sketchbook, a watercolor study of a Wakin or "Japanese Goldfish." I wanted to experiment with some liquid frisket. I painted the frisket mask over the entire fish, then painted the background and added the spotting. I then removed the frisket and painted the fish. I used white acrylic ink for the characteristic Wakin fish spots.

Illustration Sketchbook: Angry Chickens/Watercolor

Angry chickens. Thought I'd try an illustration inspired by Joe Ciardiello with the background washed in and dramtic lighting. This takes a little more courage and speed. I am struggling ( like the salmon swimming upstream) with assuming a new vegetarian status...it's hard, but really, ultimately,...I think for me, plant-based is the way to go. (Ok, so..I still eat fish, so I don't know what category I am in really) Next in the sketchbook,...maybe...where's the beef? Recommended reading for anyone thinking of switching to a plant-based diet: The China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell II.

Sketchbook Experiments

I was so inspired by the sketchbooks of Q.Cassetti and Chad Grohman that I am going to try to work on creating a book that is more dynamic, with more continuity in subject, composition and style. There's a novel idea:) Also I want to think more about the drawing and other applications it might work in... like linocuts, print gocco, pen and ink, silkscreen, digital. This was done in watercolor in a 5 1/2x 5 1/2 inch square sketchbook journal (opens to a 10 1/2 inch spread)that you can find here. It takes all dry media and light washes. They have fabric covers and come in an assortment of colors.
Will finally have my mac back tomorrow. It was out for repair for what seems like a hundred years ago....

Gouache (gwash)

Quick gouache illustration of more silly species to christen a new moleskin sketchbook. ( I was inspired by Chad Grohman) I like the horizontal format. Mural proportions if I use both sides when open. Birds on my mind. Going soon to Cornell's Lab of Ornithology to draw real birds (actually they are preserved taxonomic specimens) with GNSI group for the whole day.