[WIP] Japanese Chrysanthemum

Autumn is coming and I just met its lovely and delicate flower, Japanese Crysanthemum. Just settled down the sketch, I hope I will have time to paint on it soon.

Oriental Poppies: Zoom it in!

Yesterday I read Mattias's blog and found a feature to see the details of his work. Very cool! I made it for my Oriental Poppies.

Just ZOOM in on it to see the details :)


P.S. I don't have to share a huge file to let anyone enjoy my work with all the details anymore. What I need to do is just keeping the big file in a dropbox folder in my computer (or flickr, or any server you like) then giving the link to Zoom.it. Zoom it will do the rest and you can share your work excellently. Enjoy! :)

Pebeo | Winsor&Newton Masking Fluid

A few years ago, I won't have many options for watercolour papers or medium in Indonesia as I have now in the UK, such as masking fluid, a latex-rubber fluid that is applied to retain the white watercolour paper or wash underneath. I used to know only Winsor & Newton art masking fluid.

Since I start practising botanical art which often requires delicate details and sometimes a very tiny area to preserve, I made a time to browse a better option for masking. I found Pebeo drawing gum and I am happy I did it!

I like that Pebeo is significantly coloured (grey). It is nice to easily see where the masking is already applied. I love that Pebeo is thinner or more liquid than W&N masking fluid, so it is easy for making sharp edges and reaching the paper's deep texture quickly. I'm also fond of Pebeo for lasting a long time and not making solid gum on the bottle's neck and cap when not in use. I like that the cap is also easier to open than W&N.

I haven't tried other brands yet. I heard about other masking fluids whose bottle has a special nib so I don't need a brush and just gently squeeze the bottle to apply the masking. I may tried them later but for now, I am happy with what I've had. I never be worried about paper tearing or brush clogging as long as the masking fluid used appropriately. Read more tips HERE.

Comparison of the colour. Using dip/ ruling pen will give thicker masking and so darker colour than using a brush. Since I use brushes more often, I prefer the grey Pebeo that is easily seen on white paper.

Comparison of the thickness. I can't show you well the significant difference of thickness between Pebeo and W&N masking fluid but it was easier for me to move the brush/dip pen with Pebeo than W&N masking fluid. You can see the the branch silhouette in left painting has longer and steadier strokes.

Comparison of the sharp/clean edges. I love that the anthers of flower in the left image have sharper and rounder edges than the right one.

[Sketchbook] Manchester Museum

Waiting for my husband to met his professor, I killed an hour or two in Manchester Museum with my new sketchbook with me. The museum has a huge collection but I only saw some part of it. The most interesting sections for me were the living animals and Zoology. I never get bored with animal, love the visit.

[Commission] Bitchslap Magazine

Yippee! Just got the copies of Bitchslap - Copenhagen magazine #15 ^^ with 4 pages of my watercolour illustrations on it. I was commissioned to adapt photographs of products to spontaneous but identifiable watercolour drawings. Now they also have the online edition. Please take a look :)

Open publication - Free publishing - More 15
Update: Just found that this project was featured on IllustrationServed | Behance (31/10/2012). Cheers!