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
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- 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:
- TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen EF
- Platinum Carbon Fountain Pen Ink
- Canson XL Paper: • EH • BLICK • AMZ
Fabulous coloring of this scene for the cute viking.
Amazing coloring! This is such a fun card. 🙂
The colors are so vibrant, very cute card, thanks for sharing
Beautiful! Love the watercoloring on these!
Wow! Your cards are amazing! You color and paint so beautifully! I love your national parks journal.
So amazing!! Thanks for the video-so fun to watch!!
your scenes are amazing – LOVE watching your color -so relaxing
i might have to get the viking after seeing your creation – my son loves the dwarfs in movies and games
Awesome scenes! Love that fun Viking gnome and the whale! Wonderful cards!
WOW!! What amazing coloring! Beautiful scenes!
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.
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.
The gnome is darling and your card design is perfection
What amazing scenes you created..just wonderful.
Amazing coloring as always! Beautiful!
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!!
This is fabulous! Awesome coloring!
Your coloring is amazing! Great card.
Your coloring is always on point.
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!!!!!!!!!!!
Great card and coloring!
Love the background and your coloring!
Thanks for sharing.
I am a sucker for gnomes and your artistic coloring…amazing as always!
I love that gnome. He’s very LOR. Your coloring is so fantastic. I might check out these markers!
Your artistic skills take these to another level!
Absolutely adorable
How FUN! Your coloring is gorgeous
Cute stamp and GREAT scene. It’s always so easy when YOU do it! Scribble here, swish there and voila!
Wow, your background is amazing! Your entire card is fantastic!
Amazing scene and DARLING GNOME!
You continue to amaze me, Sandy!! Fabulous!
This is fantastic! I can’t wait to watch the video. You’re always so inspiring.
Love this gnome. Fierce and
cute. Great card. thanks for
sharing. txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com
Wow, I love that background with the little viking gnome!
Omg….your card turned out soooooo wonderful!!!!
Beautiful card as always
You never disappoint. Your skills are amazing. Thanks for sharing!
As always, simply amazing Sandy
Man oh man, I wish I could color like that! Love that viking gnome!