This week's Illustration Friday submission for "propagate"

Watering Can    mixed media on watercolor paper

Don't Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Don't Follow the Yellow Brick Road
Originally uploaded by meganhoover

This came from one of my sketches when I was so into drawing all of these bizarre faces. I think I was drawing most freely and consistently during that time (November?) To get my "head" back into it, I dove back into my sketchbook and found something to paint. This is an 8x10 piece of 300 lb Fabriano watercolor paper...I've strictly used quality paint on this one and I think it makes a difference. The better paint covers more with fewer coats and also stays wet a little longer. Plus, you cannot believe the strength of the colors...pure pigment! I don't think I need to use 300 lb. paper so next I'll be buying 140 lb. I did do a random, layered, textured background first. I think I need to start with darker backgrounds...it's working better for me. My new obsession is watercolor pencils...wetting them in some places, blending with paint in some places and letting them be in other places. I've had these for a long, long time but it's so fun to pull out supplies that you either haven't used in a while or have simply forgotten about. I needed to shake things up a bit. My family still thinks these are "weird"...I just can't stop painting them!

Ride Like No One Is Watching

Ride like no one's watching
Originally uploaded by meganhoover

I'm trying to soften my colors and also experiment with other sky colors. I was tired of such cool colors and felt I needed to warm everything up a bit. I love playing with color! Anyway, this has a lot of texture and was easy to get a somewhat messy look. This time I dragged watercolor pencils around ON TOP of the texture when the painting was just about done. THAT WAS SO FUN AND EASY!!! It gave just the right amount of ???? to the background for me. LOVE it. I'll be doing some more like this!

"Follow Your Heart" (IF submission for ADRIFT)

This was a mixed media painting I did recently that fits the theme this week.  She's ADRIFT but she's following her heart!  This was done on watercolor paper with lots and lots of layers of acrylic paint, gel medium, and graphite.  It measures 11x14 and smaller sized prints are available in my etsy shop: 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MegansMixedMedia

Thanks for looking!

muddy

muddy
Originally uploaded by meganhoover

Trying Illustration Friday again after several years.

This was an attempt at a watercolor but turned into mixed media...can't stay away from mixing up watercolor pencils, graphite and such. Anyway, it was just a quick little experiment...300 lb. Fabriano paper, Holbein wcs, Derwent watercolor pencils, graphite and gel pen.

untitled

untitled
Originally uploaded by meganhoover

This was one I'd started a few weeks ago...she was tough to finish because I just couldn't decide on the balloon. I painted the barn pink with polka dots because I've never seen one like it. I'm feeling a little lost with my painting since I don't seem to be able to get into my studio and get dirty lately. Too much effort goes into set up and clean up and then BOOM, Jack's awake from his nap. After this summer, I'll have 2 mornings to myself or to volunteer at the girls' school occasionally.

quote

Dwell in possibility.  ~Emily Dickinson