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You are here: Home / Featured / Travel Sketches: Redwoods National Park…and a gnome!

Travel Sketches: Redwoods National Park…and a gnome!

June 7, 2022 by Sandy Allnock 39 Comments Filed Under: Featured

Today I’m joining my friend Taniesa over at Trinity Stamps to celebrate her company’s 4th anniversary! She’s one of my patrons, but honestly I’d have celebrated her milestone anyway because WHO DOESN’T LOVE GNOMES? Heehee!!

I’m additionally sharing a little more info at the end of today’s video about the class I spoke of in yesterday’s comparison of crafty vs artist grade watercolor markers…..and since that class is all about national parks, I gave this cute viking gnome a park to go for a walk in. With any luck he won’t chop down any ancient redwood trees with that axe!?!?

Video

Watch the video below or click here to see it on YouTube.

The markers are Sketchmarker Aqua pens, and they’re my new favorite crafty watercolor marker. They have really nice nibs that feel Copic-like. They have some of the same challenges as other crafty brands (like a few have color shifts when they hit water), but if you learn to use their properties rather than fight them, the shifts can be super cool.

When coloring “around” a stamped image, if the colors of the background are lighter than foreground, you could just splishsplash all the lighter background then cover it with the foreground colors. But with this gnome I wanted some light horns and metal, so I had to deal with coloring around him. I never worry about it being perfect – and I hope that frees you to do the same. Art is expression, and totally loses expressiveness when we try to make everything exactly perfect!

Yesterday’s comparison of crafty vs artist grade watercolor markers is here. And on Friday I’ll be using the other set for a travel sketch – I’m thinking Yellowstone maybe, since I used to live near there on the Montana side of the park – and you’ll see a real-life comparison of these two sets. If you prefer blog notifications rather than YT ones, you can subscribe to my blog here.

New water-based marker class

Here’s the fun Travel Sketches class with 5 national parks! I’m just sayin’….you’ll have a blast. And after the folks taking the Wash and Ink class and rocking it (with students saying “I can’t believe it looks like a mountain!” and surprising themselves that they CAN do it!), I’m really looking forward to seeing the student work in this class too!

Bonus!

I was also sent the cute Whale Done set – and of course had to add it to my post! And since I’m busy on National Parks this week, I did find ONE park that’s 95% underwater: Biscayne National Park in Florida! I do realize this whale wouldn’t fit in it since it’s 12 feet of water, but ya know, an artist’s gotta do what an artist’s gotta do! PS I’ve created a short video for this that’s an Artventure App exclusive – once the app stores update (today? tomorrow? who knows….) then it’ll be in the watercolor lesson of the $3 Tiny Tutorials class.

Bloghop

Hop along with Trinity by starting on their blog here!

Supplies

Some product may be provided by manufacturers for review and use. Compensated affiliate links are here at no cost to you. If you choose to shop using my EH (Ellen Hutson) links, please accept cookies on that site in order to retain the link to my blog, or that compensation does not happen for me. I appreciate your support of my work with your purchases! Full affiliate and product disclosure | My trusted partners in art

  • Norse Gnome stamps, Trinity Stamps (Coordinating Dies)
  • VersaFine Ink Pad, Onyx Black
  • MISTI Stamping Tool, My Sweet Petunia
  • Sketchmarker Aqua Animals set
  • Da Vinci Maestro Kolinsky Sable Brushes:
    • Round 8
    • Round 4
  • TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen EF
  • Platinum Carbon Fountain Pen Ink
  • Canson XL Paper: • EH • BLICK • AMZ

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sue D says

    June 12, 2022 at 7:24 pm

    Fabulous coloring of this scene for the cute viking.

    Reply
  2. Kelsey Thomas says

    June 12, 2022 at 6:11 pm

    Amazing coloring! This is such a fun card. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Connie Cappello says

    June 12, 2022 at 12:17 pm

    The colors are so vibrant, very cute card, thanks for sharing

    Reply
  4. lisascreativeniche says

    June 10, 2022 at 8:34 pm

    Beautiful! Love the watercoloring on these!

    Reply
  5. Lauryne Cunningham says

    June 10, 2022 at 12:29 pm

    Wow! Your cards are amazing! You color and paint so beautifully! I love your national parks journal.

    Reply
  6. Laurie Brown says

    June 10, 2022 at 10:17 am

    So amazing!! Thanks for the video-so fun to watch!!

    Reply
  7. Dee Earnshaw says

    June 10, 2022 at 9:42 am

    your scenes are amazing – LOVE watching your color -so relaxing

    Reply
  8. Megan Decker says

    June 10, 2022 at 7:28 am

    i might have to get the viking after seeing your creation – my son loves the dwarfs in movies and games

    Reply
  9. Denise Bryant says

    June 9, 2022 at 9:40 pm

    Awesome scenes! Love that fun Viking gnome and the whale! Wonderful cards!

    Reply
  10. Melissa Leftrick says

    June 8, 2022 at 8:26 pm

    WOW!! What amazing coloring! Beautiful scenes!

    Reply
  11. Henriëtte says

    June 8, 2022 at 1:24 pm

    Fabulous drawing/painting Sandy.
    Great to see how you work with these markers, they seem to work more easely thank the Zig markers with there real brush nibs.
    I’m totally in love with the Viking Gnome, what a cutie!
    Thank you so much for the great video tutorial, stay safe and have wonderful day.

    Reply
  12. BethAnne Dunlap says

    June 8, 2022 at 1:23 pm

    Absolutely amazing! But then, you never are anything but! LOVE both cards HaHa. U put so much ‘life’ in your adorable gnome that I want to hug him even though he’s hauling some frightening weaponry there. Your visions and skill just blow me away. Great instruction too. Thank you for sharing and inspiring us always.

    Reply
  13. Debbie Selby says

    June 8, 2022 at 10:49 am

    The gnome is darling and your card design is perfection

    Reply
  14. Mary-Anne V says

    June 8, 2022 at 10:39 am

    What amazing scenes you created..just wonderful.

    Reply
  15. Joan Lucht says

    June 8, 2022 at 6:44 am

    Amazing coloring as always! Beautiful!

    Reply
  16. June from Minnesota says

    June 8, 2022 at 6:00 am

    I was amazed when you “removed” color from the beard! This brightened up the beard so much– you blew my mind! It was like magic!
    Your pen work is terrific. I just love your “style” of what you call “calligraphy” strokes. Your idea for a National Parks travel sketch book is perfect for the summer. I am signing up right now!!

    Reply
  17. Shelly says

    June 8, 2022 at 5:59 am

    This is fabulous! Awesome coloring!

    Reply
  18. Susan Sheehy says

    June 8, 2022 at 4:33 am

    Your coloring is amazing! Great card.

    Reply
  19. Marisela Delgado says

    June 7, 2022 at 11:54 pm

    Your coloring is always on point.

    Reply
  20. Sharon Gullikson says

    June 7, 2022 at 8:46 pm

    I was worried that no one would use the gnome!!! I LOVE HIM!!!! I love vikings, and gnomes, so this is PERFECT for me. I really hope that I am one of the lucky winners so I can get this stamp. I am Norwegian, and would LOVE to make some cards for my family. Thank you for showing us how amazing this guy can look with nice coloring. SO WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  21. Kelly Jones says

    June 7, 2022 at 7:03 pm

    Great card and coloring!

    Reply
  22. Lori L says

    June 7, 2022 at 6:14 pm

    Love the background and your coloring!
    Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  23. Gail Spence says

    June 7, 2022 at 5:01 pm

    I am a sucker for gnomes and your artistic coloring…amazing as always!

    Reply
  24. Heidi Pugliese says

    June 7, 2022 at 4:49 pm

    I love that gnome. He’s very LOR. Your coloring is so fantastic. I might check out these markers!

    Reply
  25. Laura Casselman says

    June 7, 2022 at 3:34 pm

    Your artistic skills take these to another level!

    Reply
  26. Angela Hall says

    June 7, 2022 at 3:30 pm

    Absolutely adorable

    Reply
  27. Julie says

    June 7, 2022 at 2:18 pm

    How FUN! Your coloring is gorgeous

    Reply
  28. Sherry Woods says

    June 7, 2022 at 2:12 pm

    Cute stamp and GREAT scene. It’s always so easy when YOU do it! Scribble here, swish there and voila!

    Reply
  29. Giselle D. says

    June 7, 2022 at 12:25 pm

    Wow, your background is amazing! Your entire card is fantastic!

    Reply
  30. Meghan Kennihan says

    June 7, 2022 at 11:58 am

    Amazing scene and DARLING GNOME!

    Reply
  31. Daria Zender says

    June 7, 2022 at 11:57 am

    You continue to amaze me, Sandy!! Fabulous!

    Reply
  32. Amanda Wilcox says

    June 7, 2022 at 10:25 am

    This is fantastic! I can’t wait to watch the video. You’re always so inspiring.

    Reply
  33. Mary Holshouser says

    June 7, 2022 at 10:01 am

    Love this gnome. Fierce and
    cute. Great card. thanks for
    sharing. txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply
  34. Amanda Stevens says

    June 7, 2022 at 9:17 am

    Wow, I love that background with the little viking gnome!

    Reply
  35. Silvia says

    June 7, 2022 at 7:27 am

    Omg….your card turned out soooooo wonderful!!!!

    Reply
  36. Robin says

    June 7, 2022 at 7:01 am

    Beautiful card as always

    Reply
  37. Tammy Hanson says

    June 7, 2022 at 7:01 am

    You never disappoint. Your skills are amazing. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  38. amy tsuruta says

    June 7, 2022 at 6:45 am

    As always, simply amazing Sandy

    Reply
    • Tammy L Mason says

      June 7, 2022 at 2:26 pm

      Man oh man, I wish I could color like that! Love that viking gnome!

      Reply

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