Having a Hoot With Hot Press and Sneak Peek

I have finally had opportunity to try hot pressed watercolour paper!

Hot pressed paper is satiny smooth - but not glossy...

Very similar to bristol board or poster board on it's surface

and the ability to lift colour off the paper is very good.

I and my favourite fine-tipped pens are rejoicing!!

I've been dragging my poor 

0.005mm Sakura Pigma Micron 

and 0.05mm Staedtler pigment liner pens

across the toothy dimpled surface of cold-pressed paper 

for the past few years as I add finishing touches on my illustrations 

and in so doing I have drastically shortened their normally decent lifespans!

 

The following illustrations are some fun "trying the paper out" doodles:

 

I love that the colours look richer/stronger on the hot pressed and the 

pen work can be so much bolder without fear of damaging the pens!

Woo-hooo!!!

I'm in the midst of a couple commission pieces right now

but still making time for doodling (as seen above) and

working on a big illustration just for fun...

Here are a few sneak peeks of my soon to be finished 'just for fun' illustration:

 

The field mice are up to something! Whatever could it be? 

...Flowers? ...Banners?  Hmmm.....

And is that a resident of Elderberry Hedge that you have not yet met?

All questions will be answered in the coming weeks!

♥ Cath-

  

 

 

Further Adventures With Ellie

Every time I draw Ellie,  I just think "Spring"!

Emerald blades poking up out of the soft earth...

Flowers unwrapping from their dark bulbous cloaks

and slowly stretching upward after a long Winter nap...

Little animals, full of excitement, playfully prancing everywhere!!

Aww, Spring! What a beloved season of transition!!

- - - - - - -

After introducing Ellie, it was suggested that Ellie should have a friend.

A friend with which to have many adventures!

A friend who, with the help of the field mice (of course!), 

would plan Ellie a big, beautiful birthday party!

A friend who would share in Ellie's love of the outdoors and sunshine!

Ellie has found that friend in AJ!

 ~ Angelina Joyce, to be precise! ~

But everyone just calls her AJ!

Even Angelina, um, I mean AJ, prefers 'AJ' because she is always running

between one fun adventure and another and stopping to say her whooole name, 

well, that would just take waaaaay too long!

Ellie and AJ love going on outings in the nearby pastures.

They, each in their own way, document their day...

Ellie, usually with pen or brush and AJ just with memory!

For example, Ellie will sit and wait for a butterfly to land on a nearby flowering 

bush and quickly and carefully sketch it and add colours to her drawing before 

it flits away.  Whereas AJ will simply play Follow-the-Leader with a butterfly, 

until one of them runs out of energy - and that's usually the butterfly!!

There are some big celebrations coming up in Elderberry Hedge and the surrounding area!

Springtime is always busy around the Hedge! So many birthday celebrations and parties 

to get everyone out and about and reacquainted after the long winter!

In the Springtime, many of the hibernating animals gather at Town Square 

to hear of all the Winter happenings from the grey squirrels and the Town Crier, 

Baxter, the blue jay - What a ruckus! All that chattering and calling! 

Some have learned that they can simply stay in the comfort of their own home

 and still hear the highlights that boisterous bird recites!

Well, there are puddles to be jumped in (or over) and many things to do!

So stay tuned for splashes of colour and celebratory scenes 

from around the Hedge in the coming weeks!

♥ Cath-