Fearless Friday, Ranunculus x 3
I treated myself to a new set of watercolor pens for an early Mother’s Day gift and I have had much fun playing with them, look at these beautiful colors!
note: even if your pens or paints come with a printed color chart, always swatch your own colors for reference, and it’s a good idea to laminate your chart for protection and durability
A couple weeks ago I did a fast and loose watercolor of a bunch of colorful ranunculus I found at Trader Joe’s
So pretty!!
The first painting was done with traditional watercolors in a fast loose style
The second painting was done with Arteza watercolor brush pens,
working more slowly and adding more details
Which one do you like better?
As you can see in the collages below, #1 was done more quickly with fewer steps:
For #2, I went a little slower and added more details
I work on a watercolor block pad, which to me is easier than taping the paper to a board, but sometimes the paper does warp a bit- as you can see above when I added the green background wash–but once it dries it lays down flat again
And
Just for fun I did the same painting a third time with markers on marker paper. Marker paper is slick, {it’s also bleedproof} and I tend to paint quickly as the markers glide along the paper
So…
What do you think?
Which one do you like the best?
#1, traditional watercolor, #2 watercolor brush pens,
or #3 marker pens?
If you have time,
please leave a comment
and tell me which one you like the best and why…
Being an artist is a constant learning experience,
and we all help each other grow
Hmmm…. I think I need to do this in acrylic…
Happy Creating, Be Fearless!
Juicy Details
Arteza 96 watercolor brush pen set/amazon.com
self adhesive laminating sheets/amazon.com
You will need a waterbrush pen or a watercolor brush and a small container of water for blending the watercolor brush pens
Arches watercolor paper block, cold press 140 lb./amazon.com
markers: I have a hodge podge of markers, but I recommend this Ohuhu set, great colors and value, 120 markers for about $65/amazon.com
Bianyo Bleedproof Marker Paper Pad/amazon.com
🎨 🌹 🎨
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Meal Plan Monday Dishing it & Digging it, Between Naps on the Porch,
Merry Monday Make it Pretty Monday Celebrate and Decorate,
Tasty Tuesday Oh My Heartsie Girl Full Plate Thursday
Comments
47 Responses to “Fearless Friday, Ranunculus x 3”Trackbacks
Check out what others are saying...-
[…] I began adding color with a watercolor brush pen […]
RSS - Posts
I prefer #2, watercolor brush pen rendition. With the green colorwash background, it looks more “finished” and I like the details. Lovely work, Jenna!
Have a great Friday!
thanks for commenting Charlotte, #2 seems to be the favorite so far…
I am always in awe of your art. You make it look so easy! I like #2 best for the details, fullness and a more finished appearance. I try to follow your strokes for using my watercolors, but of course, my “finished” piece never resembles yours. I’ll keep trying! Any suggestions for sketching and painting birds?
hi Ann, I haven’t ever painted birds, but one thing I can suggest is to look at other artists renditions {try searching Pinterest for bird paintings} as well as real birds and then practice, practice, practice, doing pencil sketches to get the proportions right 🦅
I agree, #2 looks more finished with greater detail and would be my choice. I like the softer look of the traditional watercolor too, though.
Thank you Carole, I’m not sure which one I like best, but none of them do justice to the real thing!
I agree I am also in awe of your painting talent.
Ranunculus are such beautiful flowers. Wish they were within my grasp to buy.
Wishing you a happy day!
Thank you Bonnie, Happy Mother’s Day!
You are so talented! Great ideas. I took my first of three art classes 3 weeks ago. I’ll store away this idea of swatching my colors.
That’s great Kim! Where are you taking classes?
Such amazing colors, your picture turned out beautiful!!
thank you Karren!
You had a Ranunculus kind of day…beautiful art!
Yes, I got a little hung up!
Jenna, first off I have ranunculus envy! I prefer # 2 for color and detail. You are so creative and talented my friend! Happy and Fearless Friday!
thank you Pam, you have to hit Trader Joe’s at just the right time to get them!
Beautiful! I like #2 best. 🙂
Thanks Michelle!
They each have their own appeal! I love the simplicity of the watercolor, but for depth of color, I love the watercolor brush pen. Each is a delight! Thank you for your generosity of information, inspiration, and examples through your talent.
Aren’t you nice, Thanks Susan!
Hi Jenna, oh how fun you bought yourself a Mothers Day gift of new markers. I love #2 and #3. You do such beautiful art work. Have a wonderful weekend and a Happy Mother’s Day.
thank you Julie, Happy Mother’s Day!
Love them all, but #2 is my fave–I’m just a detail woman.
Have a Happy Mother’s Day, Jenna!
thanks Shelia, #2 seems to be the favorite~
Gorgeous!! Jenna, I love all three but my favorite is the watercolor brush pen. It just seems to be a little softer but has more detail. Hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend! Hugs!
thanks Benita, everyone seems to prefer more detail…
Jenna, I have to go with the crowd, I love #2 but they are all pretty in their own way. I think #2 looks more like the original ranunculus which I love. Happy Mother’s Day my friend.
thanks Kari, Happy Mother’s Day to you too!
They are all lovely, Jenna!
My fav is #2 the watercolor brush. The bright pinks just sing and I love the combination of the dark and light greens. 💚🌸💗
thanks Patty Anne, everyone is choosing #2!
I like #2 the watercolors brush pen best. It seems more vivid to me! But LOVE all your paintings!
Thank you so much Susan!
You truly amaze me! I like #2 the best because of the details. The colors are superb!
thanks Nancy, I love bright colors!
Gorgeous Jenna!!! You are so very talented!!!…My Sweetie was just accepted to the School of Arts…so excited for her!…Happy Mother’s Day…so enjoy your paintings!
Oh that is exciting!! I hope she soars! Thank you Shirley!
My vote is for number 2 with the water colorbrush pens. I believe it has more detail, depth and I like the broad and narrow strokes of the stems and the light, pale green background makes the flowers all the more vivid. The other two are nicely done as well, but #2, is the best for me. (I made my choice before reading the others comments, but pleased to read that my thoughts were very close to the others. Great minds think alike, hehe.)
Thank you Cyndi, I am still learning how to use the pens, so I’m glad to hear that everyone likes that version!
I prefer the first one as its simple design gives the idea of the flowers and lets the viewer add more if wanted.
Thank you Mary, that’s my favorite too!
I think I like the Arteza best. Which surprises me because I have such trouble with mine — just can’t seem to blend right — they dry so fast! But they look great, all of them!
I agree Jeanie, I end up sort of drawing with the Arteza instead of painting with them. I think the key might be getting and keeping the paper really wet…I’m going to try that next.
I think I prefer your rendition with your new watercolor brush pens Jenna! What fun to have more tools to create with. ♥
I am a sucker for any supplies!
I love them both, Jenna! 💗 It is fun to experiment with different materials for one subject. Something I need to do more of!! 🎨👍
I know, I really should paint them in acrylic next, I think I could do them justice, but I’m a little tired of them so it will have to wait a while!