Handmade art journal ~video

Here's a short video of my recently completed handmade mixed media journal. 

My Watercolor Palette

Me and my watercolors (demonstrating in a class)
photo by Tina Larkin, Taos, New Mexico

Some of you have asked about my watercolor palette.  So here you are! Right now, my palette is both Daniel Smith and Winsor Newton. (I would not buy student grade watercolors in tubes, go for the professional grade ~ if necessary, just buy fewer quality tubes.) 

When I starting to learn watercolors, I could only afford the primary colors:

• Cadmium Yellow Medium Hue or New Gamboge (golden yellow)
• Alizarin Crimson (my go-to red)
• French Ultramarine (my go-to deep blue)

If you can, I also suggest these two colors, for your basic palette: 

• Burnt Umber (basic brown)
• Sap Green (my go-to basic green)

In my palette, I also have these:

• Hansa Yellow (lemony)
• Cadmium Red Medium Hue (tomato red)
• Opera Pink (magenta pink. You just can't mix this color and it's perfect for some flowers.)

And these are my recent additions to my palette:

• Cobalt Teal Blue  or Cobalt Turquoise Light
• Imperial Purple or Winsor Violet Dioxazine

When you get your tubes of paint, squeeze out a bit of each color into your palette and let them dry overnight. Then, whenever you use them, touch them with a bit of water, and the paint will reconstitute and be ready to use.


That's it. I don't change my palette for the season or locations.

the story of a commissioned painting and a movie

"Autumn is my Favorite Season" by Jane LaFazio (watercolor 22x30 inches 2013)

painting in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio

I finally finished a commission. I was given this commission over a year ago! Yes, about 15 months ago. The person who commissioned me is my friend and tax preparer, Mark. Last September, he showed me around his large office and told me he'd love to have some of my work. He told me his favorite season was Autumn.

Why did this take me soooo long? I was busy, I was traveling, it wasn't autumn, I didn't have the subject matter...oh, a million excuses!  Commissions are paid-for work and very flattering, but so very intimidating somehow. I've done a few in my career, and they've always been very stressful. Each pencil mark and paint stroke, I worry, 'will he or she like this?' So, this is officially, my last commission. I'd LOVE for you to buy some of my work, but only the work already completed. It's just the way I am. 

"Autumn is my Favorite Season" by Jane LaFazio

"Autumn is my Favorite Season" by Jane LaFazio

"Autumn is my Favorite Season" by Jane LaFazio

delivering the finished painting to Mark, my tax guy. whew!

Here's a little movie I made of the process. It's the first time I've done a 'voiceover,' so keep in mind I'm still learning!

   

marks painting from Jane LaFazio on Vimeo.

Tiny Tutorial: Sketching & Watercolor

Sketching & Watercolor in Italy ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

I love sketching and watercolor when I travel. Here's a tiny tutorial from my room in Orvieto, Italy, last month.

drawing by Jane LaFazio

I began on a pre-stained piece of watercolor paper. (I spattered and painted it lightly with watercolor before hand, and then let it dry.) I sketched the artichoke in pencil, then refined the drawing in permanent ink.

watercolor by Jane LaFazio

When I began painting the artichoke, you can see I exaggerated and enhanced the color, changing it with each brush stroke. (And leaving plenty of white of the page)

drawing by Jane LaFazio

Sorry I didn't get a photo of the actual wine bottle, but you can imagine it! I drew it carefully in pencil first, then pen.

sketchbook page in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio

watercolor by Jane LaFazio

I shaded the bottle, very lightly with ultramarine blue watercolor, just to give it the impression of glass.

in progress by Jane LaFazio

I did the border in little brown checks but then thought it too bright and 'new' so I blurred it with a wet q-tip.

watercolor by Jane LaFazio

Wine and Artichokes ~ 5x7 inch sketchbook page by Jane LaFazio

There's really no better way to savoring a trip, than by keeping a sketchbook to record the moments.

Here's a little VIDEO I did in Orvieto, of the view from the clock tower. 

Doodles in layers

Can you tell I had lots of fun with this!?
















Here's the layer below, inspired by The Sketchbook Challenge January theme of doodling:

I did the doodle drawing, straight to ink and watercolored it. Then I traced some images ink, on to vellum, from other pages in my sketchbook, that inspired the doodles. Then I attached the vellum to the page and colored some of the images with color pencil. I'll definitely do more of these! 
Don't forget to leave a comment on my January 1st post for a great giveaway! I'll announce the winner on January 12th.

from art journaling to art

Tesoro de Corazon ~ treasures from the heart. (The name of the art retreats my friends and I do in Mexico.)







I love leveraging images from my sketchbook to create something else--stamps, thermofax, stencils, stitching..





I'm teaching a 6 week, online class called "Watercolor Sketchbook: Designs from Life." It doesn't start till March 29, but you can get started "Sketching & Watercolor: Journal Style" on January 24 on joggles.com and/or download or buy my DVD "From art journaling to art." OR, just get started! go on over to The Sketchbook Challenge blog and get inspired.

My sketchbook: Shells

  

In my sketchbook: Poinsettia

Is the addition of the stitched felt leaf clever? Well, I added it to cover up a drawing on the page I didn't like!

Balinese Sculpture

I bought this wooden sculpture in Bali in the late 80s. It's been in my backyard, on my bathtub and currently resides in the living room. Drawn and watercolor in my mixed media journal.