babblingbrooksnbooks

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Since the library is closed this Monday in observance of Labor day, I had an art hang out with one of my friends, painting Howl's Moving Castle inspired pieces while watching the movie.

As much as the movie has a special place in my heart, I find myself favoring the original book version (written by Diana Wynne Jones), so I wanted to paint the castle inspired moreso by the book's depictions, particularly on the cover of the book copy I have.

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Art at the Library 13

Today I taught a class, teaching how to break down a reference and turn it into a painting. To do this, we recreated Monet's "Woman with a Parasol." As an extra challenge for me, I used a limited pallet to try to keep things simple for my students. I still had fun 😊 (despite desperately missing my other colors 😭).

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Art at the library 12

I worked on my tarot card redesigns today. I had posted my sketchbook doodles of these designs, and I was feeling like dabbling in digital art today, so I focused on figuring out the color and composition of 4 of those designs rather than a full render (The World, The High Priestess, The Star, and Death). Eventually I would like to do the entire tarot deck, and I'm thinking of doing the final product in watercolor (though I could always change my mind between now and then 😅).

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Art at the Library 11

I did another art study, today's being Caspar David Friedrich's "Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog" (excuse my typo on the painting). I was feeling pretty low energy this morning, so I wanted to do something a little less involved but still interesting. I really like how it came out. Done in watercolor with white gel pen detailing.

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Art at the library 10

Today's master study was of Thomas Gainsborough's "The Blue Boy" (Animal Crossing fans may recognize this as the Basic Painting) in watercolor. I wasn't as drawn to this painting as the others I have done (or maybe I was just in a funk today), so the beginning of this painting was a struggle, but I'm happy with how it came out.

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Art at the Library 9

Leopold Franz Kowalski is really inspiring for me right now, so I did another study of one of his paintings, this time his "Jeunes Filles Ceuillant de Fleurs." Did I overwhelm myself at first choosing a painting with three subjects?? Absolutely 😅 but I got through it and I learned a lot. Like the rest of my studies, this was done in watercolor with white gel pen highlights.

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Art at the Library 8

After my monster of a project last month, I wanted to return to my comfort zone, so I'm back to watercolor studies. Today's study was a section of "Picking Wildflowers" by Leopold Franz Kowolski. I sorely missed painting with watercolors, and I especially enjoyed building up the layers in the background.

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After working on it for a month, the Lady Knight painting is finally done!! 🥳✨Acrylic on canvas.

I learned a lot during this piece, especially with acrylics. Watercolors have always been a more instinctive medium for me, but it was fun to step out of my comfort zone and work with a medium I tend to reserve solely for pet portraits.

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Another painting for a friend (for their friend) styled after my Beatrix Potter inspired drawing challenge. This friend also connected with foxes, loved cats, and had a garden (they also own the exact hat that the fox is wearing). Watercolor with colored pencil.

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A painting for a friend (for their friend Hilary) in the same style as my Beatrix Potter Challenge. Their friend Hilary was a nurse, connected with foxes, and her state bird was a hermit thrush. Done in watercolor with colored pencil

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In May of 2023 I had lofty plans to do another art challenge not long after my previous one in February. I made it quite far, 27 days, until I ran out of gas 😓. However, instead of pushing myself over the edge, I decided to end my art challenge early and appreciate the art I had created. With that in mind, here are my personal favorites from my 2023 Beatrix Potter art challenge ❤️ Let me know if you have any favorites that I didn't mention 😊

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Day 27 of my 2023 Beatrix Potter Challenge: Squirrel baking pecan pie

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Day 26 of my 2023 Beatrix Potter Challenge: Bunny decorating Carrotcake

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Day 25 of my 2023 Beatrix Potter Challenge: Foxes dancing the foxtrot

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Day 24 of my 2023 Beatrix Potter Challenge: Floating crocodile/alligator

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Day 23 of my 2023 Beatrix Potter Challenge: Napping Panda

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Day 22 of my 2023 Beatrix Potter Challenge: prairie dog potter