Monthly Muse - December

Here is December's monthly muse painting and poem collaboration for the Wide Island View magazine. I painted a yellow bellied fly-catcher.
Painted with Holbein watercolour paints on Wirgman 320 cold press watercolour paper.

Laboratory Watercolour

This week, I managed to finish up a painting which I've been working intermittently on for the month of November. I plan on giving it to my extremely cool and arty hair studio, called Laboratory. They have a cool logo design which I painted realistically.

Monthly Muse - November

This illustration of Koi fish in the sky, is my monthly contribution to the Wide Island View webzine which is run by a team of JETs in Hiroshima Japan. Here's Akilah Bel's beautiful poem, Last Night I had a Dream.

Before painting the final illustration, I first did a few fish studies of goldfish and Koi in my new 200gsm cold press Moleskine watercolour sketchbook. Here are my studies which were much darker and dramatic compared to the light pastals I ended up painting.

30 Days of Watercolour - GIVEAWAY WINNER

The giveaway has ended, a big thank you to everyone who entered! I've really enjoyed this experience and look forward to doing more giveaways in future!

It's time to reveal the name of the lucky winner who will be receiving the complete set of my 30 days of watercolour postcard series!

http://gvwy.io/kmgrw2m

Congratulations Jewel H.S! The full set of my 30 days of watercolour postcard series is all yours!
I'll be getting in contact with you soon for all your shipping details!

30 Days of Watercolour - Japanese Summer Collection

My Japanese Summer Collection

Yesterday was a big day for me, I completed the 30 Days of Watercolour challenge!
I've been blown away by the amazing support and encouragement I've received throughout this project. I can't express how thankful I am for that. I've absolutely loved sharing my watercolours everyday and I thank everyone who was kind enough to join me on this 30 day journey!

I encourage you to keep an eye out, I have more plans and ideas that I wish to explore and can't wait to get start on them. In the mean time I've compiled all 30 watercolours in one image, feel free to select the days which interest you on the side bar for more information.

I've learned so much on this project! I have amazing friends who were kind enough to share their experiences and knowledge with me. Jessica, Desirae and Chris, thank you!

30 Days of Watercolour - Day 30

Day 30 - Daruma Doll

I did it! _(_  ^  _)/  We've reached day 30 and I'm beyond happy.
Before I started this 30 day challenge my good friend gave me a small daruma doll. I coloured in one of the eyes with the goal in mind, to complete this 30 day challenge. Today I can finally colour-in the other eye as I have achieved what I set out to do! That's why I've painted a completed daruma doll.


Materials used:
Holbein artists watercolours and masking fluid.
Wirgman 350g/m², Orion original watercolour paper.
Holbein Para Resable 350R brush series.

30 Days of Watercolour - Day 29

Day 29 - Peacock Blue Holbein Paint 

Seeing as watercolours have been a huge part of my summer I feel it's only fitting to paint a watercolour paint tube. This striking colour is Peacock Blue and comes from a special Holbein artist collaboration colour set by Yuko Higuchi. 

Materials used:
Holbein artists watercolours.
Wirgman 350g/m², Orion original watercolour paper.
Holbein Para Resable 350R brush series.
Sakura Micron, PIGMA 03 pen.

30 Days of Watercolour - Day 28

Day 28 - Melon Pan

Melon pan is a simple sweet bread bun with a thin crisp layer of cookie dough, topped off with a sprinkle of sugar. Melon pan is without a doubt my greatest weakness.

Materials used:
Holbein artists watercolours and masking fluid.
Wirgman 350g/m², Orion original watercolour paper.
Holbein Para Resable 350R brush series.

30 Days of Watercolour - Day 27

Day 27 - Hiroshima Carp Baseball Cap

Baseball is a big sport in Japan and Hiroshima loves their Carp baseball team. Today I painted my Carp baseball cap.

Materials used:
Holbein artists watercolours and masking fluid.
Wirgman 350g/m², Orion original watercolour paper.
Holbein Para Resable 350R brush series.

30 Days pf Watercolour - Day 26

Day 26 - Kumamon

The quirky Kumamoto mascot's fame reaches all prefectures in Japan. His face can be seen on fresh produce packaging in most supermarkets. Kumamon is my spirit animal. 

Materials used:
Holbein artists watercolours.
Wirgman 350g/m², Orion original watercolour paper.
Holbein Para Resable 350R brush series.

30 Days of Watercolour - Day 25

Day 25 - Asahi Beer

It's day 25 and there are five more paintings to go! I'm having a great time painting everyday and sharing them with everyone but man, I need a drink!>___<


Materials used:
Holbein artists watercolours and masking fluid.
Wirgman 350g/m², Orion original watercolour paper.
Holbein Para Resable 350R brush series.
Sakura Micron, PIGMA 03 pen.

30 Days of Watercolour - Day 24

Day 24 - Ice Cream

When it comes to ice cream, it takes me ages to eat it. This is a very common ice cream here in Japan called Gari Gari Kun ice cream. It's soda flavoured.

Materials used:
Holbein artists watercolours.
Wirgman 350g/m², Orion original watercolour paper.
Holbein Para Resable 350R brush series.

30 Days of Watercolour - Day 21

Day 21 - Gashapon

Oh, how I love gashapon! Gashapon are capsules that are dispensed randomly. The prizes are usually little toys, keychains or figurines and in Japan you can gets some really cute and arb things.
Tomorrow I'll be painting the mystery contents of this gashapon! 

Materials used:
Holbein artists watercolours and masking fluid.
Wirgman 350g/m², Orion original watercolour paper.
Holbein Para Resable 350R brush series.

30 Days of Watercolour - Day 19

Day 19 - Watermelon

 

When I think of watermelon, Christmas by the pool side comes to mind. Watermelon in Japan is rather pricey, so I only buy it for a special treat.    

Materials used:
Holbein artists watercolours.
Wirgman 350g/m², Orion original watercolour paper.
Holbein Para Resable 350R brush series.

30 Days of Watercolour - Day 17

Day 17  - Cup of Coffee

I'm the kind of girl who likes her hot cup of coffee even in summer. I really don't think I could get through the day without one.

Materials used:
Holbein artists watercolours and masking fluid.
HolbeinWaterford 300g/m², watercolour paper.
Holbein Para Resable 350R brush series.

30 Days of Watercolour - Day16

Day 16 - Wind Chime

Wind chimes are considered to have a refreshing effect during the Japanese summer time. Hearing a wind chime in the height of summer is a truly welcomed sound. I like to think of it as a friendly reminder that there is in fact a breeze somewhere out there. 


Materials used:
Holbein artists watercolours and masking ink.
Holbein Waterford 300g/m², watercolour paper.
Holbein 350R Para Resable brush series.

30 Days of Watercolour - Day 14

Day 14  - Uchiwa

During the summer time, it's very common to see people walking around with a hand fan. There are plenty of pleasing designs and styles to choose from, I myself have three. I find that hand fans and even parasols are far more commonplace here in Japan compared to South Africa.

Materials used:
Holbein artists watercolours.
Wirgman 350g/m², Orion original watercolour paper.
Holbein Para Resable brush series.

30 Days of Watercolour - Day 12

Day 12  - Berry Tart

Gosh, where do I begin. The cakes and tarts in Japan are absolutely gorgeous to look and they are of really high quality. I'm always looking to see what adorable animal shaped baked goods my local supermarkets often put out. I got this mixed berry tart at a cafe called Stick Sweet Factory, where all their cakes and tarts are usually in the shape of a rectangle. 

Materials used:
Holbein artists watercolours and masking ink.
Wirgman 350g/m², Orion original watercolour paper.
Holbein Para Resable brush series.

30 Days of Watercolour - Day 9

Day 9 - Onigiri

My favorite "grab and go" kind of food in Japan has to be onigiri. Onigiri is made of sticky white rice shaped into a triangle or ball, it's usually wrapped in nori seaweed. you can get a variety of fillings.  My recommendations are ebi mayo onigiri (prawn) and tuna mayo onigiri which is also sometimes labeled as sea chicken!😂

You have to love the genius packaging here in Japan. There is a simple three step process to opening the onigiri which keeps the seaweed fresh. It's really awesome.   

Materials used:
Holbein artists watercolours and masking ink.
Wirgman 350g/m², Orion original watercolour paper.
Sakura Micron, PIGMA 03 pen.
Holbein Para Resable brush series.

30 Days of Watercolour - Day 8

Day 8 - Japanese Green Gum

Green is a pleasant colour to look at.:) Those who know me know well that I have a strong liking for the colour green. Sap Green, Kelly green and Hooker's Green. The name doesn't matter, I love them all. Much to my delight, my favorite gum in Japan just so happens to be called Green Gum! I really liked looking at my watercolour pallet once I was done painting.

Materials used:
Holbein artists watercolours and masking fluid.
Wirgman 350g/m², Orion original watercolour paper.
Holbein Para Resable brush series.