Vegan Waterecolours

I've just had the pleasure of reviewing an intriguing new range of watercolours, intriguing because they are vegan - no animal products.

The palette is quite unusual in that it's very organic, Colors of Nature as they are labeled by the Canadian manufacturer.  There are lots of Siennas and Umbers.  The brightest pigment is the Ultramarine and there is a good Chromium Green.  This is a plaette that is a natural for landscapes and probably portraits, as the pigments dilute down to ver soft washes.  Good granulation and a beautiful range of greys is achievable.  I'm missing a clear bright red.  The Real Red is very much an Indian red.  This palette is certainly tailormade for Tuscan landscapes and architecure.

The paints come in little pots and are very reasonably priced.  Good luck to Colors of Nature - http://colorsofnature.com

Patonga Pelican Linocut

 Linocut 10 cm x 13cm

One of my favourite things about going home to Australia is to see the pelicans at Patonga.  Well it won't be long now but in the meantime I've made this two plate linocut.  Not sure which I prefer.  I think the first one.

Patonga Pelicans Drypoint Prints

Patonga Pelicans 14 x 17 cms
Drypoint printed in three colours and finished with Sennelier oil pastels

Drypoint 14 x 17 cms

When I return to Australia I'm always hanging out for the sight of my first pelican. Patonga, a little fishing village about an hour from Sydney, is my favourite place to spot them. I was told I'd get my best shots early in the morning when the local fish and chip shop owner throws out his rubbish. I waited in vain on Monday morning. Not a pelican in sight.What I didn't know, but the pelicans did, is that the fish shop is shut on Monday so they give Patonga a miss and go to Fisherman's Wharf further up the coast.

Next morning I was having my coffee at the local shop when I spotted the fish shop proprietor heading to the wharf with a bucket. I had no camera, no sketchbook. Then realised I had a mobile phone. In a state of bliss I got some pictures - bless my little Nokia 2700 classic - they are good enough to sketch from.