Hello little sprout! Baby bird watercolor for Illustration Friday

©SandraJessop Sprout watercolor

A quick, fun watercolor for Illustration Friday's topic "Sprout".

I giggle to myself when I look at this now, because the little bird reminds me of a watermelon.  That was unintentional but I am enjoying it!

One Two Three! Summer fun watercolor

©SandraJessop One, Two, Three! watercolor 8x10

Another topic from Illustration Friday: "Three"

One, two, three, jump!  It's been record setting hot in Phoenix and we are all trying not to melt.  Jumping into a pool is good, clean fun and it works!  This illustration is inspired by my own kids, neighbors and relatives.  So many creative games have been invented in the backyard pool and this celebrates those memories.  

To see an "extra friend" that was created in the pool go here:

http://azureviewart.blogspot.com/2014/07/summer-art-and-science.html

This is the initial sketch and the final in progress.  I decided to move them onto an angle to give more of a "falling" into the water feeling.  

©SandraJessop, watercolor

Ice skating on the frozen canal

©SandraJessop, Ice Skating in Hindeloopen, watercolor, 8x10

"Hallo!  Goedendag."

This week I remembered seeing pictures of people skating in frozen canals somewhere in northern Europe.  I searched images for different countries but couldn't find what I was looking for.  As usual I sketched a bunch of ideas from things I did see of Hindeloopen, Netherlands, and eventually worked out this idea of two skaters near a bridge.  Besides being a picturesque location, it was also fun to say as I drew: Hindeloopen. Try it.

I knew I wanted the colors to be very light and feel like the aurora borealis in pink, gold, blue and violet.  When consulting with my daughter as to which of the drawings she most wanted to see painted, she chose the bridge and said to be sure to include a horse.  I was sort of leaning towards a windmill myself, but I like the way this turned out.

For ice skating illustrations from last year try these:

http://azureviewart.blogspot.com/2016/02/winter-ice-skating.html

http://azureviewart.blogspot.com/2016/01/spin-for-illustration-friday.html

Imaginary Travel to Machu Picchu

©SandraJessop Machu Picchu, watercolor, 6x9"

It always seems that I get the idea to paint an outside wall at the beginning of summer, you know, when the temperatures are regularly above 100º.  Wouldn't it be better to do it in the winter?  Of course!  So why does the heat bring on the urge to paint outdoors?  Maybe it's because I start spending more time looking out the window, or dreaming of a vacation somewhere, as people talk of their summer plans.

Last year I was remembering a trip to Michigan, driving past all the wonderful sunflowers fields, so I painted sunflowers on a naked wall outside my house.  I blogged about it for Creative Every Day and you can see that here.  We originally planted trees/bushes strategically outside windows to cover the view of the block wall.  One year, a fierce storm removed one of those trees (also leaving behind a crack in the window) thus the sunflowers were planted.

Shortly after we moved into this house I painted a toucan scene on a corner wall, to brighten up  a view from inside.  I've alway wanted to continue the mural onto the next wall incorporating some sort of ruins.  In keeping with the South American theme, I decided on a place that fascinates me: Machu Picchu.  I've been scouring the internet for pictures and reading articles about traveling to Peru.  I am a bit saddened by the fact that the number of tourists has increased so dramatically, the area is experiencing problems with pollution and over-crowding.  Last year Peru imposed restrictions on the Inca Trail to limit the number of people and also raised the fee.

Since I will probably never see it in person, I'm making an imaginary trip.  I am still at the beginning of this journey, but wanted to share.  Incidentally, this is a good time of year to visit Machu Picchu, just in case it's on your bucket list.

This is the hidden wall where it will go, near the air conditioner. I did cut a few more branches so I don't get poked in the eye while painting, but I like the idea of it being partially covered.  Lots of drawings, color sketches.  I began chalking the wall to test the placement, as this is something to be seen through the windows of the house.  I'm glad I did because I needed to move the whole thing over about 6 inches.  I also decided I wanted roofs on my buildings.

Pre-mural

Figuring out the stonework

Making decisions

"Feed Your Mind" watercolor, Illustration Friday

©SandraJessop, Feed Your Mind, watercolor, 5x7"

As the summer begins all the children will be looking for things to do.  While there are certainly camps, games, computers, ipads and swimming pools, I hope they will also remember books.  Printed words can help us travel to distant locations, open our imagination and plant ideas that will feed our minds.  I'm a little old school, in that I love the feel of actual paper in my hands (sometimes even the smell of it too), the sound of the pages turning.  the gradual moving of the bookmark, and the texture - is it one of those new velvety smooth covers?

I hope you find a good book to read this summer!