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.
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