Our Wonder Forest

We have recently returned to our Missouri home, from our home in Washington. This is a beautiful time of year in the Missouri woods. We spend each morning here with our coffee, sitting in the bay window of our bedroom that overlooks our five wooded acres that we have come to call our Wonder Forest.

There are so many forest creatures to watch, including our birds (cardinals, titmice, black-capped chickadees, purple finch, yellow finch, hairy woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, redheaded woodpeckers, wrens, robins, doves, nuthatch, bluejays, cowbirds, hummingbirds), squirrels and an occasional groundhog, and of course the beautiful whitetail deer.

This morning we watched for 30 or 40 minutes while three deer played on the floor of the forest just below us. They were drawn by the salt lick we have there. I don’t think I have ever seen deer stay in one place for such a long time, nor have I seen them playing—chasing each other and obviously enjoying the early spring morning. I took some pictures out our window. The screen wire prevented great photographic outcomes, but here are a few of the pictures I took.

So I have created a Facebook location for when I “check in” at our location here in Missouri: Wonderforest.

Wildlife has always been one of my favorite things. So naturally as I develop my watercolor hobby with more practice, I am drawn to that subject.

Red fox (we have one that occasionally visits Our Wonderforest)

Field mouse (I’m sorry, but they’re just cute)

Titmouse

#watercolorpractice #wonderforest #MOhome #whitetaildeer #titmouse #fieldmouse #redfox

Himalayan Bluetail Flycatcher {Watercolor Practice}

Packing up the art supplies for the cross-country trip WA to MO.

Followed a tutorial by Let’s Make Art to attempt this one. It was challenging (but aren’t they all, for me!).

#watercolorpractice #LetsMakeArt #HimalayanBluetail #DrPhMartinsLiquidWatercolor

Citrus Watercolor Practice

It’s a rainy, dreary day here in the PNW. Bright sunshiny citrus fruits cheer me up!

Soon we will return to spring in Missouri. Bittersweet.

#watercolorpractice #citruswatercolor

More Spring Art

Articles have been written about how it is to feel like you’re getting worse instead of better…the nature of the “game,” I suppose.

Lots of cooking/baking and lots of scrapbooking also taking up my time these days. Fun stuff, really!

#LetsMakeArt #watercolor #sketchandpaint

Spring Fun

Sunday dinner at our house: a picnic in the back yard. Our great grandson LOVES to be outdoors! (It’s in his genes!)

I am in the process of completing the scrapbook album of Leeland’s first year. Since I’ve been practically obsessed with watercolor art, I decided to do a couple of tiny pieces to coordinate with some scrapbook paper for the last couple of pages in his album.

Daily practice with watercolor has resulted in a bit more confidence as I try a little more difficult tutorials, including this bunny. I love bunnies, especially in the spring.

This one was really fun, as two sweet friends joined me for coffee at my house as we each completed this project. I think we were all pleased with our finished products!

#watercolor #bunny #letsmakeart #watercolorbunny #greatgrandson #scrapbook

Spring Watercolor

Painted one of my favorite watercolor pieces on the page of one of my favorite verses: Psalm 19:14, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

Followed a Let’s Make Art tutorial to paint this peacock. This one was difficult!

Tulip Magnolia

#watercolorpractice

More Watercolor (Spring is on my mind!)

#watercolorpractice #spring

Sketching and Watercolor Practice

Recent Art Practice

Bible Art Journaling, early February:

My new hobby is learning more about painting with watercolor. I have a long way to go, but it makes me feel accountable if I photograph and post most of my attempts.

With the diversity, it is obvious that I am still searching for “my style.”

#WatercolorPractice #BibleArtJournaling #PracticeMakesBetter

God Created the Birds {Bible Art Journaling}

So, this is an example of what I call “hobby art,” or whimsical art. In other words, there is no intent at realism. This is obviously a cardinal on a tree branch. But it is not intended to look like a “picture” of a cardinal, or a cardinal in real life.

However, it IS painted with watercolor, in this case Dr Ph Martin’s liquid watercolors. Here I used an outline provided by Jenna at ScribblingGrace.com.

This is the first page in my ESV Interleaved Bible.

And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” Genesis 1:20 (ESV)

#BibleArtJournaling #BibleArt #GodCreatedtheBirds #watercolorinmyBible

“Real” Watercolor {Watercolor Practice}

So, every now and then, as I play around with whimsical, what I call “hobby art,” I wish I could do “real” watercolor art. It’s not the same. “Real” watercolor artists are so good, and I love the look of the art (though I tend to favor the more vibrant colors, even in watercolor, than the pale colors that many artists use).

I followed along with a free tutorial to create this pear. It really looked a lot better before I applied the “finishing” touches. The teacher said, “You may be tempted to quit now, before the final touches.” She was right, and I should have! It was not easy, and I was pretty tired of yellow and yellow-green before I finished! I have a short attention span.

Actually, the reference photo for this piece was a much riper pear than this one. Mine needs to ripen for a few days before it is ready to eat!

Also, I didn’t have all the same brushes and paints that she used. Maybe that’ll be my excuse…

Just wanted to document this, because I am hoping maybe I can find other classes or tutorials and actually learn a bit more about doing “real” watercolor art.

Meanwhile, I will certainly continue to use my “hobby art” on my Bible pages and in my sketch book!

#watercolor #annamasonart

Holy Spirit Promised {Bible Art Journaling}

I was inspired for this Bible journaling idea from my friend Jenna Parde at Scribbling Grace.

The focal passage for this art is found in Isaiah 11:2:

“The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
    the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
    the Spirit of counsel and of might,
    the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—”

#BibleArtJournaling #BibleArt #ScribblingGrace #watercolorinmyBible #SheReadsTruthCSBBible

Finally Doing Some Art Projects

I guess I must be missing my cardinals from our Missouri back yard, as we are out in Washington state right now, and this project came to mind. But, since the temperature here is 55 today (sunny), and it’s 16 degrees right now in Missouri (with a wind chill of 1 degree), I’ll just be okay with not seeing the cardinals for awhile.

This piece was done while following along with a tutorial. I can see that I have WAY a lot to learn. I am not very good at this watercolor thing.

It was good to be back “at it” with my Bible Art Journaling hobby today. This was inspired by Jenna at ScribblingGrace.com. Love the reminder that God is with me when I pass through the water. He has redeemed me. – Isaiah 43:2.

#BibleArtJournaling #FaithArt #Cardinals #ScribblingGrace #Watercolor #MixedMedia #InterleavedBible