Red Onion in Inktense

[Joy]

Here is an onion. for the 27th day in Inktober, done entirely in Inktense. It is 8 x 6 in a Strathmore Visual Journal, which I am using up with ink drawings as it is rubbish for watercolor. Still getting the feel of the Inktense, so it is over worked.

 

[Grapes]

Beautiful work, Joy! I have no idea how to work with intense but this is very beautiful, soft and done with calm colors.

 

[PaintBoss]

Wonderful Joy!!
Wow, I just love seeing the skill in this piece. It has a beautiful quality coming off the page. What’s coming across on my screen is very realistic because of something you’ve done in the soft lighting where my eye focuses. You used a softer edge / colour that makes the rest sing. The top right of that round onion is sublime. It all works together. But that area has some magic. It plays with my eyes a bit, and then it pushes the rest of that onion out. It makes the rest sing. How you drew/ coloured the rest of onion is just awesome. It is making me feel the shape.

 

[Jade]

agreed .. love this.

 

[Triduana]

Great work on the onion skin!

 

[Donna T]

This is so beautiful, Joy! I love sprouting onions as subjects and you did excellent work. Thanks for the heads up about the Strathmore journal. I will pass on buying that one.

 

[Joy]

You are all too kind. It actually looks better on the screen, as the paper is such poor quality. As I do with everything, I spent quite a while on this.

@Donna T, in an attempt to be frugal (okay, cheap) I purchased a Canson XL watercolor and a Strathmore Visual Journal based on reviews. For someone who is very prolific, doesn't want to buy a lot, and mainly uses some ink and light washes, they likely they would be fine. But I will only buy cotton now.

 

[Jo Castillo]

Joy, this is awesome. (I use that word sparingly as it is way overused. So you know I like it.)

 

[ams]

Beautiful Joy. I love the shine on the skin and the little roots at the bottom.

I agree with your comments about XL paper. I work with very little water so it works ok for me but if you use a lot of water, you need better paper. I'm glad to hear that you are buying paper you will be happy with.

 

[Joy]

@Jo Castillo, your praise really touched me. Like you, I se the word "awesome" about once a year, as it is so often used to describe anything merely adequate.

 

[snoball]

Beautiful work, Joy! You have matched the colors of the onion perfectly. I love working in colored pencils, but fail to get the results that I am really looking for.

 

[snoball]

You are all too kind. It actually looks better on the screen, as the paper is such poor quality. As I do with everything, I spent quite a while on this.

@Donna T, in an attempt to be frugal (okay, cheap) I purchased a Canson XL watercolor and a Strathmore Visual Journal based on reviews. For someone who is very prolific, doesn't want to buy a lot, and mainly uses some ink and light washes, they likely they would be fine. But I will only buy cotton now.

It is surprising how much our supports and materials affect our work. If you can afford good paper, good canvas, good paint and good brushes, it is so much easier to get good results. I do love the onion, whatever it is done with and on.

 

[Balaji]

This is terrific. I love the composition, colouring, shading and highlights, and your technique in this work.
Most successful artists say that between paper, paint and brushes, the most important is paper.

 

[Joy]

This is terrific. I love the composition, colouring, shading and highlights, and your technique in this work.
Most successful artists say that between paper, paint and brushes, the most important is paper.

Thanks for your input! Yes, for watercolor, paper first, then paint followed by brushes.

 

[Sanlynn]

Beautiful work on this one, Joy! I like the crack in the skin and the tension you’ve created with the way it’s balanced sitting on the table.
I bought a Strathmore journal for watercolour on someone’s recommendation as well. I don’t like it either but I’m trying to use it up with quick monthly challenges.

 

[Joy]

Beautiful work on this one, Joy! I like the crack in the skin and the tension you’ve created with the way it’s balanced sitting on the table.
I bought a Strathmore journal for watercolour on someone’s recommendation as well. I don’t like it either but I’m trying to use it up with quick monthly challenges.

Sandra, thank you for your input. It is no secret I a great admirer of your work. Understandably, many cannot afford to buy a higher quality support, but I think my progress was really impeded in the early stages by using such poor quality materials. I came from very humble beginnings, and often struggle to spend money on things. For those that really produce a lot of art, the costs could add up quickly, but I am not very prolific. So the "investment" in better paper is well worth it for me.

 

[Jade]

Thanks for mentioning re cost Joy. That's partly why I stick to drawing for now. I am seeing the difference in paper quality though and learning...

 

[Joy]

Thanks for mentioning re cost Joy. That's partly why I stick to drawing for now. I am seeing the difference in paper quality though and learning...

I meant to say I struggle with the concept at times of spending, as I started from nothing. Getting what I need now isn't a problem, but I don't do a lot of art (am very slow and have other interests). So I don't order very often. It is also overwhelming to me to have piles of stuff (art materials or anything) that I am not using.

 

[Jade]

I understand, thanks Joy. I have the money too but I need to be careful at the moment and the supplies aren't cheap. Just setting up with budget pencils etc hasn't left me with much change. Also i am like you re overwhelm. I just have what I need.