Little Stories – Escape

Quill feather bookmark @ inktorrents.com by Soma

 

I seriously needed to turn off the world and get away from it all.  Find some comfort in the little things.  I worked in the garden while listening to the trees swishing in the morning breeze, my favourite way to wake up.   I painted a bookmark and revisited my Simple365 photos of things that make me happy.  Let me share these little stories with you in the hope of bringing some joy to your world as well.

 

Early last year in February I started taking daily photos of simple, everyday things.   This set was taken during the last half of May.   I didn’t leave the house,  so the photos are of my everyday surroundings around the house, garden and my atelier where I spent most of my days.

 

 

Simple 365 – Set 6

Please Click on the image thumbnails to see the photos and read the captions.

 

 

 

I also created a page with all the previously shared photos from Simple365.  I will add more photos to that page as well, as I share them here.

 

 

A little tradition

 

Simple365 photo from Peak District Derbyshire England @ inktorrents.com by Soma

 

When we travel abroad, my husband sends me a postcard from that place.  That way I have something in the mail after I come home.  I rotate these postcards on my desk.   My little desk friend loves to pose in front of them.

 

 

A little joy from the garden

 

Growing Japanese Indigo @ inktorrents.com by Soma

 

 

 Japanese Indigo loves hot weather.   I mistakenly sowed some seeds at the worst time of the year, in autumn.    They were indoors in their little nursery for the longest time until I couldn’t keep them there any longer.  Unfortunately, I had to replant them in large pots right around winter.  We tucked them in at night under big shrouds, and used my husband’s halogen task lights to keep them warm.

 

 

 

Growing Japanese Indigo @ inktorrents.com by Soma

 

They not only made it through the winter, but are now blooming with the most beautiful tiny little flowers.   I love it when plants survive and thrive.  Do you talk to your plants?  I quite often pet them and talk to them.

 

 

A quill story

 

Quill feather bookmark @ inktorrents.com by Soma

 

However, even the garden work came to a sudden halt.   A few weeks back, it was quite abysmal outside due to the bad air from the wildfires.  By that Friday, I hadn’t seen a natural sky for days, only a smoke-filled grey-red sky.  My eyes kept burning, and only stopped when we filtered the air in the house.  All this from fires that were not even very close to us.

I decided to close the windows so I didn’t have to see the outside,  sat tight inside and worked on making a bookmark out of a scrap piece of paper.

 

 

 

Quill feather bookmark @ inktorrents.com by Soma

 

I have collected quite a few ink bottles and writing instruments from our travels to medieval castles and abbeys.  I transported myself into a place where a scribe is working by candlelight.

 

Art can be such a wonderful balm, and it really helped that day when I was so emotionally exhausted.  Working on this bookmark while listening to one of my favourite audiobooks was just perfect.

 

I feel much more refreshed and ready to take on the world once again.   The air around us has cleared, and I can go outside and play/work in the garden again.  Little stories that make everyday special.

 

I hope this provided you some escape from the everyday and made you smile.   I would love to know which photo is your favourite.

 

Until next time,
-Soma

 

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please pay a visit to some of them.

 

 

 

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Flowers Of The Deep – Marabu Ink Review

Flowers Of The Deep Sea Floral Art Print Marabu Aqua Ink Review | whimsandfancies.com

Purchase Flowers Of The Deep

 

A few months ago, I was strolling through the art supply store in search of something new.  I noticed a small bottle of watercolour ink with the name Petrol on it.  I love the teal colour and it was an extremely affordable ink.  Naturally, it came home with me.  Thus I was introduced to the company Marabu.  

 

 

Marabu Aqua Ink Review | whimsandfancies.com

 

As I painted with the petrol ink, I found it wonderfully pigment-rich.  Soon afterwards, I got a set of the primary colour inks.

These inks do not come with dropper-tops.  Pouring makes a big mess.  Also, you only need a few drops.  So getting a few droppers is good idea.

 

 

Marabu Aqua Ink Review | whimsandfancies.com

 

I was able to create many colours from the six bottles that I got.

The colours lift off very easily.  If you like layering, you will have to adjust for that.

However, if you like to add details by lifting off colours, you will love working with these inks. 

As a beginner, you are in luck.  If you are unsatisfied with a part of your painting, you can lift off the colour and redo that area as long as your paper holds up.  After you lift off the paint, let the paper dry completely over the next 24 hours before you paint on it again.

 

 

Flowers Of The Deep Sea Floral Art Print | whimsandfancies.com

 

Since watercolour inks are already liquid, I find it extremely easy to work with them.  These inks have very low to no granulation, resulting in smooth wash and painting. 

The inks also flow very easily on both wet and dry paper. 

 

 

Flowers Of The Deep Sea Floral Art Print | whimsandfancies.com

 

Although I used Canson XL Series mixed media paper for my painting, I suggest the Canson XL Series watercolour paper. It is much thicker, good quality, easily acquired, and very affordable.

The leftover dried inks in the palette re-wet easily too.  So no waste there.

 

If you are at the verge of wanting to try watercolour painting, definitely go this route.  You won’t regret it.

 

 

Flowers Of The Deep Sea Floral Art Print | whimsandfancies.com

 

As for my painting, I started off drawing the flowers with nothing specific in mind.  As I continued to paint, it started looking like an undersea plant.

 

 

Flowers Of The Deep Sea Floral Art Print | whimsandfancies.com

Purchase Flowers Of The Deep

 

I fell in love with the deep ocean idea and called it  Flowers Of The Deep.  Felt very adventurous.  Prints are now available in my shop.  Would make a nice gift for any fantasy and scifi reader or a nature lover.

 

Hope you liked the painting and that it inspires you to play and have fun.

 

Until next time,
-Soma

 

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please pay a visit to some of them.  

 

 

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