Hi Everyone,
I’ve been having a LOT of fun with my new Strathmore® designs for Watercoloring. Each of the pads feature eight different pre-printed Zenspirations® designs on Strathmore’s 140 lb, cold press watercolor paper. There are three different sets of themed outlines: Nature Designs, Flower Designs, and Abstract Designs:
The 5”x7” size makes them easy to frame or turn into a handmade greeting card. Here are a couple of examples from the Nature collection that my daughter, Samantha Trattner, painted:
Here are some painted examples from the Flower collection. Color was added to the design on the left by my friend Penny Lisk; the middle flower was a collaborative effort by Samantha and me, and the design on the right was painted by my friend Linda Sharp.
In the examples from the Abstract collection below, I painted the design on the left, Sam painted the design in the middle, and my friend Sharon Jaffe painted the design on the right.
As most of you know, I love showcasing the collaborative efforts which result from people using my work as a springboard for their own creative efforts, and thought I’d share a few examples tonight.
Below are three designs which Sam painted; the left is from the Flowers collection; the middle design is from the Nature collection, and the design on the right is from the Abstract collection.
And here are the same designs colored and patterned by my friend Terri Brown.
Here is a close up of the cactus design so you can see the cool patterns and details Terri added.
Strathmore is my favorite paper company. Not only do I create most of my Zenspirations drawings on Strathore’s 400 series drawing paper, but I’ve been using their vellum surface Bristol Board for my original painted art for more than 30 years! Naturally I’m REALLY excited to be working with Strathmore on this new line; I consider it an incredible honor to have had my art selected to be featured on their paper.
For those who are interested, the Strathmore pads are $6.99 each, and you can get them from the Zenspirations webstore.
I’m going to be filming videos to promote the new line, and in addition to showing how the same design can be interpreted by different artists, I am wondering if I should show different color variations the design. For example, I painted all three of these with Sakura’s awesome Koi® Coloring Brush Pens… on the left-most design I only added color inside the shapes. On the middle design I painted a dark background wash and then created depth by using paler color inside the shapes. On the right-most design I painted bright shapes, and then pulled a little of the color out by adding water to create a light background wash.
I’ll be doing an overview video to introduce the new line, and will also be filming longer videos demonstrating how to paint the designs with:
a. tube watercolors
b. pan watercolors
c. watercolor brush markers
d. watercolor pencils
I’d love your input on the videos, and I’m hoping you will all help me make this line a success by answering a few questions. As an incentive, I will pick one name at random from those who leave a comment before the end of May, and will send that person all three watercolor pads! Here are the questions:
Thanks, in advance, for sharing your thoughts!
As a reminder, this is the last week of the Zenspirations Webstore special gift with purchase where I’m giving a FREE copy of my gift book, With God All Things Are Possible, with every order placed this month of $17 or more (not including shipping). To get the free book, all you have to do is add With God All Things Are Possible to your order along with the coupon code sam2017 and the $10.95 price of the free book will be deducted from the cost. International readers can get their gift with purchase by ordering through John Neal Bookseller. See last week’s blog for details.
Before closing tonight, I wanted to say hello to all my friends attending the National Stationery Show and SURTEX, and share a photo that was taken during last year’s show:
It was such a pleasure to meet Zenspirations Color & Creativity Enthusiasts Toni Popkin (and her service dog, Bud!), Leitha Hunt and Jamie Torres… I’m not attending the show this year because my son is graduating from High School this week… but I’d love to plan a Zenspirations get together during the Atlanta Gift Show in July… so let me know if you’ll be in Atlanta the 13th, 14th, or 15th, and maybe we can get a group together.
Stay Zenspired,
Joanne
Comments are closed.
These are beautiful. I enjoy seeing the same design using different pens. Yes to different color palettes and sharing other’s designs. Loved the patterned embekkishments. I practiced yesterday and kept my hand on the paper, lighter touch and moved my arm. Much better! :-). Thanks for your guidance!
These are great Joanne. I am a firm believer in making art more approachable to people who feel intimidat d by it. Congratulations on your wonderful product.
Hi, I’d like to see a video on number 1 and number 4. I am just loving your art work. You have no idea how much it has helped me to cope with my mothers death. Thank you for all that you do for us struggling artists.
They are beautiful. Amazing to see the same drawing painted so different and all beautiful.
I love these new design pads! I enjoy seeing the same design in different color palettes.I think it would be great to see other artists interpretations of your designs, as well. And, you can never have too much glitz…so, I’d love to see how you embellish the designs with glitter and metallic pens. I would also love to see you share the different types of paints you mentioned. Thanks for asking! Congratulations and best of luck with this new endeavor!
Hi Joann
I would like to see how you add metallic paint to your designs. Thank you for the inspirations of Zenspirations
Hi Joanne!
Thank you so much for including me in your blog, I am honored. As you know, I usually do my coloring with my Crayola Twistables, but I have been playing with watercolor pencils and of course the Koi watercolor markers. I LOVE the variety of effects you can get with them, such as light and shadow. The Strathmore papers are wonderful! They take the medium beautifully! I have an 11×16 Strathmore pad I recently got and plan on playing with the colors and experimenting more!
I would like to see you do a different card each video. I enjoy seeing your take on various cards and you know I love patterning and embellishment! So many choices…
Love and hugs,
Terri
1. Yes
2, Yes
3, Yes
4. Yes, please
5. Absolutely,
6. What about using a product like liquid glass by Close to m Heart?
Joanne, Most what I like is how peaceful coloring and (soon for me) water coloring is for my spirit. Thank you so much for sharing your passion!!
Answers to your questions, Joanne
1.I’m not sure your need a complete video for each different medium. Why do one and then have the others partly done and finish them on camera.
2. Yes, I think seeing different color combinations would be useful.
3. Yes, can be very inspiring.
4. As with number 3, can be very inspiring.
5. Personally, I would say no, but I suspect many of you readers would be interested in this.
Wow ! These are gorgeous ! Id like to see designs from all three books painted by you ! And yes Id love to see the techniques of adding the embelishments ! Thanks so much once again for sharing your passion with so many others ! Hence your passion has become
so many others passion as well !!
Staying Zenspired, Donna
I like to see the same design with different coloring techniques. Filling spaces with patterns, flourishes, etc should be its own video. Showing the work of others is an added bonus that is appreciated.
I’d like to see a video demonstrating how to paint the designs with watercolor pencils.
Hi Joanne, when comparing 4 different mediums is coloring, I think using the same design is most beneficial. I think the differences or sameness may be easier to detect. I love seeing how different colors are used, but when comparing different coloring mediums, I think stick to one color pallet at a time. Perhaps you could have one design complete before the how to part begins. That design can use each of the coloring mediums and can use different color pallets. Then during the demo use one design with each of the coloring mediums in one color pallet. Yes to question 3 and 4. When I was first introduced to your work I thought it was lovely and complete. But, as I entered your contests I added my own design to yours and found that my design did not take away from your originals. I think others need to see what us possible. I think many in our group like glitter and metallic enhancements, so to #5. For question 6 I have a couple of thoughts…when to add ink design….before or after coloring, and how to on cleaning up mistakes.
1- In the videos, would you prefer to see me paint the same design in these four different types of watercolors (tube, pan, brush marker & watercolor pencil), or would you prefer me to paint a different design in each video? Different types of watercolors.
2-Would you like me to show the same design in different color palettes, as I did in the image above? yes< same design.
3- Would you like me to show other artist’s interpretations of whichever design I paint in the video? yes
4-Would you like me to do a video showing how to embellish a design by adding patterns (the way Terri did on the cactus design)? sure!
5-Would you like me to do a video showing how to enhance a finished watercolor with metallic and glitter touches? yes
Thank you so much, Joanne, for including us in your plans for the video. Actually I like all the options and will vote for “all of the above,” if there is room enough on the video. I like the suggestion above of showing some from start to finish and others mostly completed and just showing the addition of a few finishing touches.
And thank you so much for sharing your talent and ideas with us. This is so much fun!
Hello my friend! These are all so beautiful, and I love what Terri did with her’s as well! I like the idea of different cards, and different types of watercolor. I think any examples of patterning, and for glitter, are always a good idea!
I hope the rest of the week goes smoothly for you, with Jonathan’s graduation, and with your family coming in! Sending lots of love and hugs!
Mary Anne
This is such a generous offer for all of us and I thank you so much for your sharing and kindness.
1. But agree with not needing a complete video on each medium. One full technique would be great then, perhaps, some info on the differences of using the other mediums.
5. I would like to see how you decided what to use where. How much is enough to add? What is the thought process you use here?
I love these, Joanne. I would like to see you do the same design with each of the different types of watercolor. I also like the idea of showing the design in different color palettes. Yes to the embellishments and the glitter. and metallics. Being a New Mexico native, I especially like the cactus picture. I can’t wait to get these and get back to coloring. I have been so busy with work and other things that I have had to set this aside for a time. This definitely makes me want to get back to it. Thanks again for another wonderful product. Can’t wait to see your videos.
This is a great idea. There’s something so relaxing about using a brush and letting the color flow. I like all of your video ideas. It’s good to see what other people come up with and also how you use each medium and different color schemes. The addition of glitter is the icing on the cake. All great ideas and whatever you do will be much appreciated. Thanks.
WoW! These are absolutely gorgeous!
Videos would be awesome!
1. I think Tube and Pan watercolors could be covered at the same time. Using the same image might be nice so that we could see at the end the differences between them!.
2. I really like seeing the same design done in different color palettes so you can see all the different options and ideas and get inspiration from it!
3. I think at the end of the video it would be nice to see what other artists have done to the same design! Like a gallery of finished images!
4. Yes! It would be nice to see how we could enhance some of the images by adding extra detail or zentangle inside the open spaces what product to use and should we embellish after or before we paint?
5. Yes! I always find it interesting to see how other people have added to their artwork using metallic paint or pens and love the glitter! Even adding white dots is terrific!
6. I absolutely love the new line! It is a perfect size and a perfect price I can’t wait to get some! Since it is on watercolor paper it would be nice to have the videos be a kind of ” Beginner Watercolor Series ” I like the idea of you showing how to use the different mediums on watercolor paper! Absolutely love the idea of adding patterns and enhancing with products at the end! Then maybe show a gallery of images other people have done so that we can get more inspiration! Will these be on YouTube? If so have you also considered making a Facebook page just for people who purchase these books so they can have a community to be part of!?
Hopefully all of this makes sense if not send me an email and I would be more than happy to elaborate!
Joanne I’m sure no matter what you do people are going to love it! We already love everything you have done so far and are excited to continue watching you grow as an artist and teach us along the way!
Thank you so much for everything you do!
We all love you!
Hugs!
I would ❤️ to see different designs using the different mediums!
and YES to learning how to enhance watercolours with BLING
I would definitely like to see more types of embellishments and flourishes!!!
For new things – I’m fascinated by seeing words inside patterns and seeing how to make capitals work with lowercase!!
So excited – when are you coming to Australia? PLEASE!
Yes, I’d like to see same design various ways. Yes, I’d like to see different color palette versions. I think seeing other artists’ interpretations would be neat. Yes and yes to #4 and #5 . Looking forward to the video and appreciate the opportunity to win the pads
Joanne,
Thanks for show casing your new products. I have been trying to decide about a May purchase and this blog was a great resource. I definitely want to try these.
All your ideas sounded great to me especially # 4 and 5.
As far as number six, I have never learned enough about shading, shadowing, and where to add weight. I love the ombré looks you create, but I would love to learn how to use them in designs. That would be helpful. I never know where it should be light or dark in a design. Thanks again for your wonderful weekly gift, the designs of all the artists were zenspiring!
1- In the videos, would you prefer to see me paint the same design in these four different types of watercolors (tube, pan, brush marker & watercolor pencil), or would you prefer me to paint a different design in each video? I would like to see the same design done in the different mediums and show the other three designs in the different mediums at the end.
2-Would you like me to show the same design in different color palettes, as I did in the image above? maybe with the other ones at the end.
3- Would you like me to show other artist’s interpretations of whichever design I paint in the video? yes. They could do the other ones I mentioned above.
4-Would you like me to do a video showing how to embellish a design by adding patterns (the way Terri did on the cactus design)? Not necessarily. It might be too much info at the same time.
5-Would you like me to do a video showing how to enhance a finished watercolor with metallic and glitter touches? YES, YES!!!!
I am not real fantastic with English but I get hold this
real easy to understand.