Watercolor Journaling - Students' Work

The Eyelash Curler

Jessica got into the class at the last possible moment - she'd played around with drawing on her own, and the eyelash curler just goes to show that we have unique subject matter all around us - she did an excellent job - only using black, blue and gray.  What was interesting is that Jessica told us at the first class that she'd seen an ad in one of the local circulars about a juried art show and had entered a drawing - just on a lark.  How exciting for her and for us to find a week later that she had won an award!  

The Spanish Steps, Rome, Italy

Evelyn was really a catalyst in my teaching watercolor journaling - when she heard that the North Charleston Artist Guild was going to offer various art classes, and that I was thinking of teaching watercolor journaling, she got so excited that she bought supplies 6 months before we even had the planning completed for the class.  When I looked at her first attempt, I knew exactly what and where it was, and it really stunned her that I recognized it - I love how she uses vignettes and captures the essence of a place without painting a lot of detail.  She does a lot of light drawing but I love how she doesn't paint everything.  

Roman Ruins

Evelyn continued her travel journal of places in Italy - you can see she is already developing a distinct style with vignettes, big shapes, blocks of color - very nice, very readable.  I'll be excited to see what she does in April - she has already signed up for the next class round!

More Watercolor Journaling Student Examples

Watercolor Journaling Sketches

Barbara wanted to journal her 15 month-old daughter - who we see above thoroughly enjoying Mama's pots and pans as toys...  Notice above how Barbara has set apart the watercolor sketches of her sleeping dog and the waterlily by using a "frames" design outlined with a micron pen.

Page division with drawings to paint at a later time.

Barbara had to train herself to work fast - and she practiced quick drawings to capture the unlimited energy of her baby! - again we see how she divides the page with little framed drawings - small, simple, strong.

Big and Bold!

Sarah loves color (can you tell?)!  She was at a place in her life where she wanted to work big in an expressive manner.  If fact, she asked if she could work with acrylics because it was easier to produce intense color right away without successive layers.  I was so glad she worked like this - you can see how her colors mirror the joy that spills out of her when she paints - Sarah brought a new and exciting dimension to what we normally consider "watercolor journaling"!

Watercolor Journaling Class - Student Examples

"Bella" by Kathy C.

What a gem!  Kathy decided in the beginning that she would choose a theme to focus on in her journaling, and her theme was unique - she wanted to journal the cats she'd had throughout her life.  I especially liked the stories about George, who would literally jump into her suitcase on top of the clothes she was packing and settle in - like who was she to go off and leave him? Above is Bella, this beauty of a kitten - a big white fluff with clear blue eyes and a touch of gray on the forehead and ears.  Many times "less is more" and we see here how well that works in the design - a simple square using a micron pen surrounding the watercolor rendering of those striking blue eyes, nose, ears and fluff, giving us a charming and intimate close-up of a very special cat.

Each week different watercolor and journaling techniques were introduced, explained and demonstrated, with lots of practice time. Some even made their own separate technique pages at home and brought them into class, probably knowing how impressed the teacher would be...After all, while the visual and the auditory give you the necessary information, the "doing" is what makes the learning a real part of your art toolbox.

Student Practice Pages

with Pen and Watercolor

Examples of Watercolor Mingling and Glazing