Anticipation
Posted: May 1, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized 14 CommentsI went out to Macdonald Farm to sketch today, hoping the rain would hold off long enough to paint. I have sketched there so many times you would think I’ve painted everything, but I always find something worth drawing, even if it requires spending a little time circling to find the right view. In a few days, when this cold air mass that is hanging above us finally moves on, the trees will explode with colour. I can’t wait to sketch that first green canopy. Sketched in a field watercolour journal, 8″ x 8″, (made by hand•book paper co).
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
Fabulous birch! I am looking forward to the greening up and waming up of Mtl:)
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Hi Shari! Love, LOVE, LOVVVVVE your posts! Thank you for taking the time to share with us daily!! Quick question: Do the Handbook journals hold the watercolor well? I’ve read that they buckle with the water — but trust your opinion implicitly!! 😊😊😊 Looking for great journal in different sizes… Which do you like best??
Thanks!
Denise
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Hi Denise, The handbook WATERCOLOUR journals do hold the watercolour very well, but make sure they are the ones with the grey linen cover. Their other books (red, green or blue covers) are not really made for watercolour. This book is the blue covered spiral book with Fluid watercolour paper inside it. First time I try it but I like it a lot.
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Ahhhh, so now I know! I have the one with the green cover, and it does handle watercolor fairly well (for sketching paper) but the paper is super thin and wrinkles easily. Had no idea there was a difference in these. Thanks for the info! 🙂
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That is the reason why Tonya. One of them is for drawing, mainly, and the other is for watercolour. I have successfully used watercolour on the drawing book but you can’t make your washes very wet. Dryish brush is better for that book.
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Thanks so much! This clears up the confusion!
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Great composition -love the ‘windows’ of the negative shapes.
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Thanks Anne. These trees always catch my eye on the way to the farm because of the curvy shapes and the negative spaces between them. I’ve been trying to identify what they are. The bark looks like birch, but they are darker and the branch formation is not like any birch I have seen. I looked in a tree identification book but no luck finding out what they are.
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I just did a painting of a family of centaurs,i needed something off to the side so i added some birch trees,glad i did. I used the global arts handmade 100% cotton rag 9×6 landscape.34 bucks (ouch) but it is a lovely book.
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I had not seen the HandBook field journal with Fluid watercolor paper before. I cannot wait to try one, thanks for the tip. I have been using Fluid blocks and really like the paper…and their value. As always your work is inspirational.
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Besides the marvelous composition, your colorful grays are absolutely unique. I love perusing them and how they play off your other shapes & color patterns.
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Beautiful work as always! I would love to see some process shots of this in progress.
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Love these trees. The birches always have such great patterns and a dramatic look.
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So beautiful, love the loose style and the layers on the birch trunks. Lovely painting.
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