Jacaronda Snow

What fun to explore this Jacaranda ink from the Inkvent Calendar!  It's a wonderful ink to use on the winter landscape - especially a snow-covered one!  Many of our cedars have grown so tall, they make majestic subjects when laden with heavy snow.  I can remember the days when I had to hunt for baby cedars back in the woods, and they were scarce.  One by one I brought them to the main part of the property, where a few have multiplied to more, and they grow more stately every year.  I didn't know back then how much I would love painting them one day.  Painting number 4032 in 4032 days.

Buck's Fizz Sunset

This flashy orange ink is my favorite above all other orange inks.  Not only is it vibrant and rich, it shimmers with gold!  Buck's Fizz is from the Diamine Inkvent Calendar 2023, and is a keeper!  I've done my line work with a new glass dip pen in the same color, because, of course, I need to match my pens to my inks! I love this ink adventure each December, even if I am a bit slow wrapping it all up this year!  Painting number 4030 in 4030 days. 

MB Cedar

I'm using a new glass dip pen with this bright green ink - Merry and Bright from the Diamine Inkvent Calendar.  I was so busy with paintings and commissions during December that I still have untried inks!  I think there is only one left, and then I will post them all together as a collection.  This green is bold indeed, but it is hardly of use in the landscape.  I do think it will be wonderful for painting Christmas ornaments next year - and I must remember to pull it out!  Painting number 4023 in 4023 days. 

BH Sunset

What a lovely ink to use at sunset! This one from Diamine's Inkvent Calendar is called Bah Humbug - lol! It would have been a perfect color for inking a Santa, but it's a bit late for that.  It is rich and deep with green in the heaviest areas.  If i were to apply it thicker, it would up the deep dark green.  I am trying out a new glass pen, as well, which is so like another that I have, I am going to give it to my son. A few of my kids like pens and inks, so I share any that are nearly duplicates.  This last batch of glass dip pens include 3 that GLOW IN THE DARK!  This characteristic was not even mentioned when I bought them!  Imagine my surprise when the lights went out and they were glowing! What a special treat!  Painting number 4021 in 4021 days. 

Moon Beam

I LOVE living in the country where wildlife abounds. Any moment could be an opportunity to paint, and this little squirrel caught my attention today!  We have both red and gray squirrels who are constantly picking up acorns and walnuts around here. This one is a gray, allowing me to choose an ink of a matching color to use - Moon Beam. The ink gets pretty dark in heavy applications, and there is a delightful teal shimmer, too.  Another of the Inkvent 2023 selections, this one is matte with no sheen or chroma really. It's fun to try these inks on miniature wildlife paintings - and challenging at this size!  Painting number 4014 in 4014 days. 

Frost Deer

This buck emerged from the frosty fog this morning, visiting until I headed to the gym.  It's hard to leave when the wildlife is near!  Pen and ink with Lavender Frost, from the Diamine Inkvent Calendar, using one of my glass dip pens for the dual work. We have deer visit almost daily, and it is helping me practice on their forms.  This beauty was alone today, and he stood proudly in that frosty landscape.  I do love capturing these little moments of life here on the farm.  There is a wonderful shimmer to this ink, though it doesn't seem to get very dark.  Perhaps I need to apply a thicker coat next time to see what it can do.  Painting number 4013 in 4013 days. 

Astral Deer

Tonight, as the whole family played games, these two deer came for a visit outside our windows.  I'm sketching them with Astral black ink with it's lovely green shimmer.  I am very particular about my black inks, only the darkest, richest, and most velvety make the cut.  This ink has all of that AND a gorgeous green shimmer that sparkles in the light of the darkest areas.  I could totally try this one on a broader level, perhaps in it's own fountain pen.  I do wonder if that shimmer would clog up the works at some point.  I am very demanding of my pens - i want to pick them up and have them work perfectly no matter how long I've left them in a sketch bag.  I guess time will only tell with this one, but i will look for it is a bigger size for sure! This first painting of the year kicks off 11 years of daily painting, and is my 4011th painting in 4011 days. Happy New Year!  ❤️ 

Tranquility Wreath

Today's ink choice from the Diamine Inkvent Calendar is Tranquility, a lovely purple with golden green shimmer ink! It gets very dark in heavy application, and washes out to a warm pink in light areas.  I sketched a wreath that adorns my front room doors, thinking this ink would push a little more red.  I think this ink is a keeper when I'm looking for a warm violet on my ink palette. Painting number 4003 in 4003 days. 

Nightfall

What a lovely, peaceful evening to squeeze in a tiny painting in ink! We had a full day of family fun and board games, and it was a bit of a trick to get this accomplished! This is Diamine's 5th ink of their advent calendar, Nightfall, and is a rich deep blue that washes out towards turquoise. Additionally, it reaches a very dark value with heavy application. This blue could be lovely in a stormy skyscape!  I can hardly wait to see what comes next - and alas, I have so little extra time!  Painting number 3984 in 3984 days. 

Masquerade Oak

 

What a cool and moody ink Masquerade is - from the Diamine Inkvent Calendar!  I love using it to pen this old pin oak tree! This ink has a lovely shimmer which must be seen in the light to appreciate.  Perhaps I'll take another photo in direct light to show the effects of this dramatic ink.  It gets very dark, too, which I love about any fountain pen ink. It moved with water very easily after other areas had dried, so this one must be watched when using near wet areas.  That very thing can be a real bonus in certain applications. Can't wait to see the next one!  Painting number 3982 in 3982 days. 

Cashmere Rose

Cashmere Rose is behind the second door in my Diamine Inkvent Calendar - and it is a lovely rosy pink!  It is so much fun to reveal a new ink every day!  I'm using a few sketch lines to begin this year, where before I have only used the ink in a direct watercolor way.  I'm exploring how this ink works in a sketch, though I'm only using line work sparingly for now.  I can't wait to see what's behind door number 3! Painting number 3980 in 3980 days. 

Fortune's Gold

I'm so excited to open the first door of this year's Diamine Inkvent Calendar!  Fortune's Gold is rich and shimmery - and perfect for painting this antique Shiny Brite ornament on my tree!  It's been a while since I've penned and painted with ink - so the process is most of today's journey.  My glass dip pen was too fine for the watercolor paper, so I ended up using a brush to avoid scratching into the paper.  The wet ink also soaked into the paper a bit.  I'm using an old watercolor paper I don't ever remember using, so that is also a fun new adventure!  For those of you who don't know, I have never liked 140lb cold pressed watercolor paper.  In fact, that paper is the whole reason I avoided watercolor for most of my life.  But now, I'm up for all challenges, so let the exploration begin!  Painting number 3979 in 3979 days.