This has been a summer of exploration for me in terms of creativity, and my latest adventure has taken me into the beautiful world of watercolour and hand lettering.
How did this happen? Well, it all started with my friend and Canadian Scrapbooker magazine team mate Kerry Engel…along with the enabling shopping friends Connie Nichol, Kim Gowdy and Michelle Marks. Kerry told Connie about how awesome the Tombow Dual Brush Pens are. Kerry creates so many fabulous artistic projects, so eventually I came aboard and bought the full set of pens. Gulp.
Did I use them right away? Nope. They sat for at least a few months. Then last month on Instagram, I saw Tombow post a 10 second video of lettering “Hello” with a purple Dual Brush Pen. I was mesmerized. ha ha
I pulled out my set of Tombow markers and the rest is history. I started practicing lettering and watercolours for a few minutes every day.
The weird part is I don’t know how to paint or draw or sketch or anything, including flowers. I’ve never used watercolor paints either. I haven’t taken a class or watched youtube videos and online tutorials.
Basically, I do a rough, loose sketch of the flower with the Tombow Dual Brush pens, add water, and the magic happens. Honestly, I probably cannot replicate most of these flowers. Ha ha! Maybe with more practice though.
As for the lettering, I started to find some fantastic hand lettering artists (is that what they’re called?) and followed them. Then I came across a challenge on Instagram by Sharisse @piecescalligraphy and her friend Nina @anintran called #HandletteredABCs.
I decided to join in because I fell in love with lettering and thought I would practice both my watercolours and handlettering at the same time. I don’t know calligraphy, so I’m definitely not as skilled as most out there, but I’m trying. Using the Tombow pens is called “Brush Lettering.” and I LOVE it.
Sharisse’s blog is filled with tons of fabulous lettering and tutorials and information. Click HERE to visit her blog.
The watercolours come easily to me, and I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I’m a Pisces. HA HA All I know for sure is, this makes me happy 🙂
The lettering takes a LOT of time and practice but I can take it anywhere and pull it out wherever I am (with some strange looks sometimes).
I’ve just decided to enjoy the process and the journey …. and see where it goes. No expectations or commitments. I usually overthink things. Everything. So I’m desperately trying not to do that this time.
So for those of you who have been asking me about “how do you do this?” …. here is a very short video that shows you my watercolour waterlily. I still love to teach, so maybe some day I will be teaching these techniques!
I hope this post encourages you to experiment, go out on a limb, leave your comfort zone and try something different to expand your creative and artistic soul.
Gabrielle Pollacco
July 31, 2015 at 2:53 pm (9 years ago)I didn’t even realize you were using markers! Loving the effect! I have a bunch of thise Tombow markers in my stash too (kind of an earthy color set, but I think I need to try this ;)….what I really want to learn though is how to create a pretty hand lettered look!
Gabrielle Pollacco
July 31, 2015 at 2:54 pm (9 years ago)Oh! And forgot to say, beautifully done Kelly, thanks for sharing this!
@lli
August 3, 2015 at 5:35 pm (9 years ago)Gorgeous!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!! 🙂
Dorina D
August 3, 2015 at 6:52 pm (9 years ago)Nice work. I love using calligraphy (lettering) on my cards and occasionally on layouts. So much fun. Your cards are gorgeous. Great job.
Michelle Marks
August 3, 2015 at 7:26 pm (9 years ago)Soooo…I’m an enabler now am I ? Lol. Loved having you here and watching these little gems “bloom”! Beautiful work Kelly .
justrhonda
August 3, 2015 at 11:33 pm (9 years ago)beautiful!!! I’ve wanted to buy some of those markers for a while! They look so cool!
Izzy
August 7, 2015 at 9:58 am (9 years ago)I am just amazed by your beautiful watercolors and lettering. Do you use special watercolor paper? These would make such pretty notecards.
piecescalligraphy
August 7, 2015 at 11:22 am (9 years ago)Kelly! This is a GORGEOUS post! And thank you so much for the shoutout! <3 <3 Keep up our amazing work. You are workin' those Tombows!!! 🙂 🙂
Kathy Jo
September 4, 2015 at 9:42 am (9 years ago)Kelly- everything is so beautiful! I will have to watch your video this weekend. I also have Tombow markers that were intended for watercoloring…have been waiting for use now for a couple of months! Your projects are inspiring me to break them out! Thanks, Kelly!
Debbie Fisher
March 7, 2016 at 7:06 pm (8 years ago)WOW! This is so cool! I love all your designs and thank you for the little video too.
Marcella blackwell
January 26, 2017 at 4:46 pm (7 years ago)Thank you so much for sharing this video on flowers with tombow. I appreciate your honesty and love your technique. I recently purchased a set of 96 and had this wish to do watercolour flowers with them. I was thinking I had wasted my money but I now feel inspired as I love watercolour and flowers. Once again a big thank you for sharing.
Kelly
January 26, 2017 at 6:42 pm (7 years ago)What a beautiful comment….thank you Marcella, you made my day. I love using Tombow Pens for watercolor art, but I haven’t been doing much of it lately because the lettering has taken over my life ha ha (in a good way).
Heidi
November 3, 2017 at 5:08 am (6 years ago)Your cards are beautiful! I have been wanting to make some watercolor cards so it was perfect that I came across your blog. I was wondering about using the markers on watercolor paper for lettering. Does it work ok or do you use other paper for your cards?
Thanks for sharing!
Kelly
November 13, 2017 at 9:29 pm (6 years ago)Heidi, I use very smooth hot press watercolor paper for cards OR smooth Bristol paper because rough paper and regular watercolour paper will damage the brush tips with friction.