Yule Log Landscape

This rich brown Yule Log ink from Diamine's Inkvent Calendar is amazing!  All of this chroma comes from that one ink with a little hero from water. The thin pair line towards the horizon is bleach, applied gently, to see what reaction I would get. I love the serendipity of it all!  Painting number 4117 in 4117 days. 

Bliss

 

It's Diamine Inkvent Calendar time again and my Day 1 ink is Bliss - and just look at that beautiful chroma!  Choosing a glass dip pen in a matching color, I sketch my lines with the pen.  I then add ink along the top with a dropper, floating water along the edge with a wash brush.  I add more ink with the dropper, allowing it to mingle naturally.  I did use a little bleach, to see how it would react - but it only lightened, without added chroma.  It's a lovely color ink though, and i think it will may be really great to use in sunny skies.  Painting number 4411 in 4411 days.  #diamineinkventcalendar2022

Pink Ice Ornaments

I spent this warm, lovely day outdoors, working in my gardens!  The ground is so soft that I could actually plant the arbovidaes that adorned my front porch as Christmas trees all season long!  After we spent some time with Mom, Danny and the boys, I am ringing in the New Year with Diamine's Pink Ice ink and a pink glass dip pen!  The color is a lovely fruit punch shade, and the pink of the glass pen is hardly noticeable with the Christmas lights behind it!  Hard to believe that it is almost 2022! Painting number 3268 in 3268 days. 

Winter Spice

I love experimenting with the inks of Diamine's Inkvent calendar!  I was SO JEALOUS in 2019 when I learned there was such a thing - only to find it was sold out before I could order one.  So imagine how wonderful it is to open a little door to a new ink adventure, each day this month!!  I must admit, I am getting a little derailed from my schedule, lured away from my work by the sweet temptations.  Creativity does feed the soul, and I love pushing the limits of each ink.  I really love the pinks that emerge with a little water on this one, and the rich brown color.  Maybe I'll start using a brush to lay that ink on heavy, too.  So many options, so little time.  Painting number 3246 in 3246 days. 

Stone Pillar Vineyard Inked

This glass pen is a work of art!  I chose this one because it holds the stainless nibs, and the set comes with 7 ranging from super fine to very broad. Using the ark 14 nib here, I love how smooth the flow is, even on my rough cotton rag paper.  I like the feel of the glass pen in my hand, though it is heavier than my others.  I actually dropped it when trying to set it to the side!  Yikes!  Fountain pens are delicate - and that is definitely a big no-no!!  All is well, and this pen draws like a dream!  Thanks to Daveliou for producing such a fabulous fountain pen set!!  I really love the indigo ink, too!  Painting number 1704 in 1704 days.

Tangle of Roses

Burning the midnight oil tonight with my new assortment of inks and pens!  Trying out each one to see how they work, for every ink is different and responds to water in a wide variety of ways!  More to come later on my personal ink preferences!  Painting number 1698 in 1698 days.

ink on paper, 8x6
purchase here

Mason Jar of Brushes

Today has been a solid day of cleaning and reorganization!  Starting with Michaela's room (since she just left for college) and ending with my art books - I was in for a sweet reward!  Inside of my boxed drawing book set were supplies I'd never opened, and one was a dip pen and black ink!  I was just saying today that I'd like to try one to see how they worked - and mere hours later, one appears!!  I learned a few things tonight.  A fine nibbed pen is not kind to my fancy cotton paper, so I lightened my pressure.  The ink has to be put into something deep enough to dip past the well in the nib each time I reload.  The ink flows longer than I thought it would with one dip.  If I set down my pen for 20-30 seconds, the ink has already dried on the nib, and I have to swish it off in a little water and wipe with a cloth (see how dark my water is?)  And finally, the nib pulls right out for easy cleaning.....and I could replace it with another, if I like!  What a great way to end a day of drudgery!  Painting number 1692 in 1692 days.

ink on paper, 8x6
purchase here