What’s On Your Workdesk this Wednesday?
For once, there is actually some activity going on in my studio this week!
I have been following a wonderful watercolour artist called CeeCee on Youtube recently, because I was attracted by her brilliant watercolour doodles. This was definitely something I wanted to try and I thought it might drive my mojo back. It was great to get back in the studio and just play.
On the desk you can see my ancient watercolour box, which I have had since schooldays, making it over 50 years old! Beside it are the fruits of my labours on Monday afternoon. I had such fun doing this!
I did a couple of wet-on-wet designs, soaking the paper well with water and simply dropping colour onto it and letting it do its own thing. Once they were dry, they were ready to doodle on.
Here are the watercolour doodles that I did, in order of personal preference – from least favourite to favourite. The first one is a floral design.
I also did an abstract design using the same method. In this case I added a bit of gold acrylic to give it a bit of bling.
I found these wet-on-wet ones quite challenging to do, because they make you use a very loose style which is not second nature to me! I think I will improve with more practice so I’m not going to give up on them. CeeCee does absolutely gorgeous ones.
Moving on to a different technique, I painted simple shapes with watercolour. After they were dry, I doodled over them, using the natural layers of paint to guide the doodles. These were the most fun to do.
The first one is a set of four basic oval shapes, with different random doodles in them.
The next two vied for the place of runner up in my favourites contest! The first is called “Globe Flowers” and I’m very pleased with how this turned out. When I built up the layers of paint, making the shapes darker at the bottom, the lines of overlap were visible, and these guided the doodle lines.
My second runner-up contender is “Wimsical Birds.” I was thrilled with how this turned out and it was tremendous fun to do.
With these ones, I used two colours for each shape, blending them so that the darker colour was at the bottom, creating some shadow. None of these birds looks particularly aerodynamic!
The final one, my favourite, is “Tulips.” Again, I used the overlap of layers to guide the doodle lines.
I am very pleased with how this project went. It’s definitely something I want to do more of, and I am thinking of using the technique for Zentangle. Also, I think it would be fun to try it on teabags. The whole adventure was tremendous fun, and easy-peasy to do. Also, I got some instant results, rather than the long drawn-out projects I usually indulge in! I think this is why I end up with so many UFOs, because after a while I go off the boil.
I made a video in three parts, showing the whole process.
You can see from the videos that I’ve still got a dressing on my finger! The nail is taking a very, very long time to grow back, but I think some progress has been made. It’s now a month and a half since I did it, and I suppose I’m getting used to having a dressing on, and having a rubber glove handy all the time for when I need to get my hands wet.
Kitties
My hubby has been quite busy lately, going out, and we don’t let the kitties into the garden unless he is around. Ruby hasn’t shown so much interest lately in trying to get out, but we can’t risk it. Last time she got out when my hubby wasn’t here, I had to go next door to try and catch her. The garden is extremely neglected and I nearly fell on the steps.
Lily is so desperate to go out all the time! She sits by the kitchen door and gets more and more cross, yelling and shouting with a very unattractive, unlady-like voice and stamping her little paw! As soon as my hubby comes home, her voice changes to its usual pretty little high pitched sound, so he doesn’t get to hear her having a temper tantrum! The other day, he was going out mid-morning, and he let them out first thing, and neither of us could get Lily in again, so she had to stay out all day! Ruby came in like a little lamb, and spent the time alternately between looking for her sister, and being over-clingy with me. She sat on the flat kitchen windowsill looking for her, and Lily, the little brute, didn’t care a jot! Ruby always likes to know where her sister is.
Lily has started being a trolley dolly again, often settling down on my trolley at the top of the stairs when she’s come in from the garden all worn out by her adventures outside.
They are two completely spoiled little kitties, but the other evening my hubby called me up to his office to come and look at them. I told him I thought they were sending us a message: “Our lives are total rubbish these days!” (Probably because they haven’t got full access to the garden.) What do you think?
Yesterday, Ruby clearly still considered her life to be rubbish.
Health update
Still nothing on the hospital front. Nothing to be done except be patient.
I am thrilled with the sample stoma bags that I was sent, and the other day I had a lovely conversation with the rep at the firm, and she has sent me 3 more samples of the large sized bags which are better for me, especially eating so many vegetables!! I never thought I would change my brand, but next time I put in an order with my supplier, I am definitely going for the new ones.
I have recently gone through another phase of getting a lot of very severe headaches, and kept telling myself I really should phone the doctor and try and get something a bit stronger than the OTC stuff that doesn’t touch the pain. Since Solpadeine Migraine has disappeared off the market, nothing else seems to touch them. My hubby went to the pharmacy on Monday to pick up my repeat prescription of Rivaroxaban (anticoagulant) and tried to buy me some more Solpadeine Max and Ibuprofen (a combination I have been trying, but they are far from effective), and the pharmacist refused to sell them! She said there was a contraindication with Rivaroxaban. I have never had any problems getting stuff before, and certainly haven’t been aware of any untoward side-effects. She told my hubby I should take paracetamol instead, but that is as much use as a sugar lump – it doesn’t even wave at the pain! This prompted me to phone the surgery and ask to speak to the doctor, and the receptionist said their resident pharmacist would contact me the following day, which he did. He explained that Rivaroxaban works on one particular part of the clotting cascade mechanism, and Ibuprofen, in addition to being an anti-inflammatory, acts on another part, thus increasing the risk of bleeding. This is why the other pharmacist wouldn’t allow me the Ibuprofen. I told the surgery pharmacist that I really needed something stronger, and he said he would speak to the GP and ring me next week, and recommended I try co-codamol, which is only available on prescription, and contains more codeine than OTC medications. I just hope it’s going to work…
Nothing much else to report this week.
Have a great creative week, everyone, and happy WOYWW.
I’ll check out the video later – I want to experient with watercolours, so thanks for the inspiration!
Happy WOYWW 🙂
Claire no. 4
I love your water colouring – they are all good but I love the last two, I think I’d put your favourite top of the list too. Just love the kitties sitting in the bin!!
oops, forgot the Helen #6
Brilliant! I love that technique – you may have been just playing but the results are fab and such fun. The birds are way better than those awful Tim Holtz crazy birds, your’s have much more personality. I like the way you’ve zentangled the detail as well!
Hugs LLJ 5 xx
How lovely to see your creativity blooming again. I love your pieces of work, and the birdies are so cute – I also love the wet on wet one where you worked a bit looser, the colours are beautiful in it. It looks like a lot of fun. I had to smile at the kitties in the bin – aren’t they funny little things!
Good luck with the medication – I hope your headaches are soon under control,
Diana x #18
Loving the water colours and really hope you can get to grips with your pain,
Happy WOYWDW
Lilian #15
Looks like you got your mojo back big time with these watercolour doodles. I think I like your whimsy birds the best, as I’m sure the kitties would choose them over the flowers as well! But of course the flowers look fun too! It must be very frustrating for the kitties not being able to go out, but I know it’s for their own good. Where we are, it’s pretty safe letting Oreo out – he tends to keep away from the road, but it’s possible that another cat might chase him, so I’m never 100% chilled about it and I’m always on the lookout for the neighbour’s cat. He very rarely comes around but we’ve had a few run-ins in the past. And a couple of times I saw an unaccompanied dog in the field behind the house, which was a bit shocking. Foxes are another concern, but I’m hoping he would just climb on a tree to save himself if necessary. Anyway, I feel better when he’s in the house safely tucked up somewhere and he’s always locked up for the night.
I’ve been plagued with headaches too, though thankfully they’re ususally shortlived, though the other day it got so bad I actually got sick, but I was ok after that. Hopefully it’s not going to happen too often and I’ll just put it down to the menopause. My boss, who used to be a pharmacist, recommended a medicine called Imigran which is supposed to be quite strong. It should be available over the counter – might be worth a try. I haven’t tried it myself, but I will if it gets any worse. Hopefully, you’ll find something that works.
Enjoy the summer, Shoshi – sorry I haven’t visited in a while. I even missed my bloggiversary, I’ve been so sidetracked.
Hi, I see you are still creating gorgeous things. Hugs Rita xx
Great watercolor art! So fun and so pretty. Have a wonderful week. Dorlene #29
I have to go out soon but will pop back to check out the video. Love the little birds and the kitties ….love them too. Wishing you a lovely creative week and a happy woyww, Angela x13x
Hi Shoshi, hope the medication gets sorted. I do know you can buy a small pack of Codeine/Paracetemol mix over the counter at Boots Pharmacy, that may help you for a while. Love the bird & tulip doodles, they are such fun. Eyes have cleared enough to be able to type now,lol. Have a lovely week, Hugs, Shaz #16 X
Your doodled watercolours are lovely. I particularly like the little birds. They may not look like they can fly but remember that bees are aerodynamically unsound but they still fly. Hope that’s your mojo returned. Love your kitties – they definitely know how to get a message over. Elizabeth x #24
I love all the experiments Shoshi, they are all so different. The videos were really useful too. i may well have to try this technique now that I have a bit more time. Hope the new medication sorts out the headaches without counteracting your other medications. Happy WOYWW and meow to Lily and Ruby. Sarah #2
Hi Shoshi, your water colour doodles are lovely. I can see why you put the top 3 in the order you did. I love them all. The birds especially. I will check out the videos when I’m at home (I’m at work now). It’s a good job you are a patient patient! I hope your finger heals up quickly – I cut my hand on my new paper trimmer yesterday, wow the blade is sharp. My own fault – I left the blade raised, and caught my hand on it! Lesson learned for future. My brother is on Rivaroxaban so I will tell him not to take Ibuprofen – not sure if he knows he shouldn’t. Hope the codeine works for you. Have a lovely week, and great to see the results of your crafting. Hugs, Heather xx #11
What a fantastic technique – I am definitely inspired by yours, and I love the birds in particular. I may have to have a play at time. I love the bin kitty! I really hope that they manage to get on top of your headaches. Have a great week. With love & God Bless, Caro x (#14)
I absolutely LOVE each and everyone of your watercolors! Your color choices and sublime detailing make them eye candy. Your kittens are such cuties, but glad you didn’t fall trying to catch them when they get out. We have a cat, but she’s an indoor cat. I’m sorry about your headaches, and am praying for you. Happy belated WOYWW!