Unseasonal Finishes And Paintbrushes

Leaf On Asphalt With Neocolour II | Whims And Fancies

 

One day, earlier this month, we decided to walk along a route that we haven’t been on since the beginning of spring.  I found a few leaves on the asphalt that were already taking on fall colours.  Of course I had to put a few in my pocket and bring them home.  I painted one of them using Caran D’Ache Neocolor II pastels.  The pastels are from a special edition Fall Colour set, which could not have been more perfect for this leaf.  Afterwards, using watercolour, I painted cracked asphalt around it as the background.

 

Neocolour II and Escoda Versatil Watercolour Brushes | Whims And Fancies

 

I have been slowly buying a few good paintbrushes.  I had always wanted to buy kolinsky.  However, when it came to actually purchasing one, I could not make myself buy brushes made of “fur”.  I felt that my paintings would be tainted forever.  So I looked at different synthetic options and came across these Escoda Versatil brushes which are synthetic kolinsky.  I can’t tell you how they compare with real kolinsky brushes, but I like these brushes very much.

Mine are round, short-handle brushes.  They are well-balanced and feel very smooth on paper.  I have successfully used them on hot- and cold-press watercolour paper, as well as mix-media paper.  They retain their shapes very well and certainly hold enough paint for me to do long lines with ease.  These brushes are also beautifully made.  If you are looking into buying good watercolour brushes, I highly recommend them.  Buy them from a proper source though, so you know you are getting the genuine article.

 

Thank You Hat With Purl Soho Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

Since we vacation a lot in colder places, my husband recently requested a knitted hat.  I opted for this easy Thank You hat pattern from Purl Bee.  The pattern makes for a pretty long hat.  However, since he wanted a shorter one, I reduced the length by about 2.5 inches.  The pattern was extremely easy to follow.  I was able to finish making the hat within just a couple of days despite intermittent knitting.  It fitted him so well that I didn’t bother blocking the hat any more. 

 

Lego Harry Potter Quilt Along | Whims And Fancies

 

I also wrote the next two Lego Harry Potter quilt patterns, and will be sewing them this week.  Make sure to come by next week to get the patterns.

Happy Crafting,
-Soma

 

 

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Playful Pieces

Cello watercolour with Schemincke Horadam paint | Whims And Fancies

 

This was supposed to be a painting of a violin, not a cello. Actually, it’s not the right depiction of a cello either. Going against all my instincts, I didn’t fuss with the shape. I made it somewhat symmetrical so I could start playing with my new paint.

My husband recently gave me one of the best sets of watercolour paints.  The new paper I used didn’t work very well with the heavy wash, but I had fun watching the paints flow into each other on wet paper, followed by the salt creating a mottling pattern when contacting the wet paint.

The painting will be tucked away in a box within the next few days, but for the moment it can bask in the glory and virtue of play time.

 

Violin Drawing In Prismacolour Pencils | Whims And Fancies

 

I drew this one for my icad project on an index card last year using Prismacolor pencils.  I think I will paint another violin using acrylic.

 

Fingerless Mitts | Whims And Fancies

 

I have unravelled this pair of mitts more times than I care to remember. Finally, I decided that the Eye of Partridge stitch worked well with this yarn. Since I got the idea from Et Frais, I bought the pattern to support the designer even though I didn’t follow it. I played with the thumb area until I was happy with it.

These mitts are nothing special, but they will add colour to the still chilly, grey mornings around me.

 

Morning hike in the mist | Whims And Fancies

 

When I go out around dawn, it’s overcast most days around here with extremely low light. It always looks great around me, but capturing that low-lit atmosphere in photography is quite another matter. So I take many photos, toss out several, and learn in the process. The mist was being very elusive; this was the best I could capture that morning.

 

Tall Grass Husk | Whims And Fancies

 

I like tall, dry grass, but I am finding it to be tricky to capture in a photo. It either ends up looking like a giant mess or just background noise. Still, I kept on taking photos hoping to find an angle or composition that would work.

One day, my perseverance paid off. The morning dew was still on them, backlit by the rising sun.

 

Sunburst Star Quilt Pattern | Whims And Fancies

 

I love the One Monthly Goal link-up since it commits me to playing with a previously-forgotten project. My goal for July is to make this sunburst star block. I can then use it on another project that I have in mind, which will require a bit of playing around with size and fabric.

 

All the pieces in this post are results of playing.  You see, I grew up under the doctrine that every piece of work has to be great.  Although “Practice makes perfect” was preached regularly, the emphasis was always on creating the best on the first try.  Over time, the word “practice” got associated with “failure” in my head.

As I got older, I turned practice into playtime, be it maths, science, programming or art.  Without the pressure of perfection, I started having fun.  That enticed me to play more and I got better.

So I will keep blowing raspberries at those voices in my head that are telling me I am wasting my time and continue to play. I urge you to do same if you were subjected to the same doctrine growing up!

Happy Playing,
-Soma

 

 

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