A Peek In My Sketchbook: Whimsical Watercolor and Pen Animals!

Now that I have finally embraced the idea of using my sketchbook to experiment with all kinds of drawing and painting, things are starting to get interesting! I have never drawn anything even remotely similar to the whimsical animals I’m sharing with you here, and I actually really love the results. Stretching one’s comfort zone is the key to creative growth, and if not in a sketchbook, which is just for you, then where? A simple line drawing like the one I did, here likely does need color to make it work, and using watercolors is a great way to go, not to mention oh so simple, even in my thin drawing paper sketchbook. The animals and their shapes were inspired by Carla Sonheim, who has a wonderful online art school and lots of free classes for kids (that are great for any age) to get you started. Her style is truly unique and creative (the key right?) and in the great sea of crafting and art lessons online, something special.

And that lion, also inspired by a lion Carla did for a gelli plate printing class…..yes another thing I’m hoping to delve into soon, and I even have a gelli plate in my house, and another one halfway across the country with a friend who brought it from the USA for me. Lest I digress, quality art supplies are costly in Israel generally, without the wide array available in the USA, and shipping to Israel (except for pre-COVID when Amazon did have a free shipping special) costs a small fortune. Soooooo, that said, drawing with a waterproof ink pen and laying in blocks of color with watercolor requires quite basic supplies and the results can be wonderful.
This page came about as I had drawn some tulips, as a part of my on going flower sketches, and then I was inspired to draw the animals, and voila, a lion tip toeing throught the tulips, or thinking about it, was born. And filing in the blank space with little flowers and circles is a nice thing to try, it adds whimsy, and joy to boot! Okay, get sketching my friends!