Creating and Connecting

The Calgary Zoo has a beautiful display of flora throughout their grounds.  Whether it is sunny or rainy, beauty abounds.     Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you have a wonderful day! Betty

The Calgary Zoo Conservatory has a beautiful display of butterflies.  Watching them makes me happy and brings me peace.  Here are a few photos I took this past summer. I hope you enjoy their vibrant rich tones of color. If you visit the Calgary area in the spring to fall check to see if the butterflies are at the conservatory. I hope that you have a bright, beautiful day! Betty

No line watercoloring is one of my favorite techniques, so today I have used the Essentials by Ellen  Mondo Magnolia stamp. The reason I am excited to share this card today is because I want all of you to know about an amazing paint color.  I did not have this color in my palette until a sweet friend shared it with me. (You know who you are, and thank you!) It is the main color I used in this image,  Daniel Smith's Bronzite Genuine .  Do you see that shimmer! (If you are on your phone please zoom in, it is there.) I love it! I did not add the shimmer, it is right in the paint. Other small tips: Prior to painting I masked the stamens using a calligraphy pen to apply the masking fluid. I used  Daniel Smith Blue Apatite Genuine for my shadows and mixed a bit of  Daniel Smith Burnt Sienna with the Bronzite Genuine for the fine details of the flower. Once everything dried I removed the mask and added some glossy accents to the flower a...

I watercolored the Essentials by Ellen Mondo Amaryllis .   It is a wonderful new addition to the mondo collection of flowers and is amazing to watercolor. I remember every Christmas our Mom would have brought an amaryllis bulb out which she had stored to somehow, miraculously to me, make it bloom at just the right time.  And there was always the suspense before it opened on how many flowers would be on it that year.  This image is a fond reminder of those days! Tips: When painting petals of this size I paint one petal at a time. After letting it dry I add a second layer for the detail. I mixed a bit of Sepia with Quinacridone Coral to soften the coral boldness.  I used Payne's Gray for the drop shadow. I used a white gouache with a bit of Payne's Gray for the stamens. The opaque nature of the gouache allowed me to cover the under layer of painting. If you are thinking of buying the Daniel Smith watercolors and will only use them for sm...