Tiny Tutorial: Sketching & Watercolor

Sketching & Watercolor in Italy ~ photo by Jane LaFazio

I love sketching and watercolor when I travel. Here's a tiny tutorial from my room in Orvieto, Italy, last month.

drawing by Jane LaFazio

I began on a pre-stained piece of watercolor paper. (I spattered and painted it lightly with watercolor before hand, and then let it dry.) I sketched the artichoke in pencil, then refined the drawing in permanent ink.

watercolor by Jane LaFazio

When I began painting the artichoke, you can see I exaggerated and enhanced the color, changing it with each brush stroke. (And leaving plenty of white of the page)

drawing by Jane LaFazio

Sorry I didn't get a photo of the actual wine bottle, but you can imagine it! I drew it carefully in pencil first, then pen.

sketchbook page in progress ~ by Jane LaFazio

watercolor by Jane LaFazio

I shaded the bottle, very lightly with ultramarine blue watercolor, just to give it the impression of glass.

in progress by Jane LaFazio

I did the border in little brown checks but then thought it too bright and 'new' so I blurred it with a wet q-tip.

watercolor by Jane LaFazio

Wine and Artichokes ~ 5x7 inch sketchbook page by Jane LaFazio

There's really no better way to savoring a trip, than by keeping a sketchbook to record the moments.

Here's a little VIDEO I did in Orvieto, of the view from the clock tower.