Watercolor: Return of the Puffins

It’s been a hot minute since I last talked about the art I was working on over here on the main blog. So, I wanted to do that today.

Lately, I’ve been drawing a lot in my sketchbook, and I haven’t worked on as many paintings as I did toward the beginning of the year. However, on the 5th of June, I went back through some of my older pieces—the ones I did when I was just getting back into watercolor painting— and I came across the page of birds (I believe I mentioned it sometime in 2017?). I was in the mood to paint something different—not a portrait or one of my usual landscapes. I really just wanted to paint a puffin again. So, on the 5th, I worked on this painting.

The composition is a little off. That's mainly because I picked a few random plants I wanted to include, and I unfortunately didn't pay as much attention to the placement. However, this was just a practice piece. If I did it again, I would give more attention to where I wanted the eye to be drawn and would tie the elements in so that it didn’t look so odd next to the puffin. However, I did this for the process, and I accomplished what I set out to do. So, I’m happy with it. (Here's a closeup.)

Now, as far as Mermay...well, I thought about participating this year. However, I didn’t do as many individual pieces as I would have liked. I did a couple of marker sketches (not shown here), but the only completed ones are both in pencil. And the one in the corner is just a landscape I scribbled in because I had a sudden idea for it. However, after that, I got bored with the subject and went on to work on other things. It's a reoccurring theme on my end, which is often why I don't participate in month-long challenges. Since, I don’t have that much to show for Mermay, I thought I would share them here instead of on an individual post…

What have you been working on lately? Did you participate in Mermay?

Music Monday (84): Banks, Moonchild

   Rules:

• Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 

Breana: I’m currently listening to Banks’s new album, III. One of my favorite songs from it is The Fall.

Adri: I just want to share one of the songs I'm currently listening to, The List by Moonchild.

What are you listening to this week?

Music Monday (83): Chloe X Halle, Phony Ppl

   Rules:

• Music Monday is a weekly meme hosted by Lauren Stoolfire at Always Me that asks you to share one or two songs that you've recently enjoyed. For the rules, visit the page HERE 

Breana: Chloe x Halle released new music in June, and I like both of the tracks. Of the two songs, Who Knew is my favorite.

Adri: I'm listening to Way Too Far by Phony Ppl. I listen to this song way too much.

What are you listening to this week?

Quarterly Recap: April-June

It’s time for another Quarterly Recap. It feels like this year is flying by, but what can you do about it? Tell “time” not to go forward? I don’t think so. Besides, I have some upcoming posts—including a couple of reviews—that I’m excited to share on the blog. Plus, the release dates for some of the albums and fall books I’m looking forward to are approaching.

Looking back, I noticed that I didn’t get around to working on another colored pencil post. However, I’ve decided to hold onto that idea and use it at a later date. I was also largely inactive on the blog during the month of June. I needed the break, and it gave me some time to just read and create without feeling like I was running out of time. That being said, I read a lot of good books during the last 3 months. Among my favorites being: the entire Binti trilogy, Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey, and The Missing of Clairdelune by Christelle Dabos. So, as usual, I’m starting off with reviews….

April Reviews

• Binti by Nnedi Okorafor

• The Consuming Fire by John Scalzi

May Reviews

• Binti: The Night Masquerade by Nnedi Okorafor

• Binti: Home by Nnedi Okorafor

• Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan

• The Girl With the Dragon Heart by Stephanie Burgis

• The Missing of Clairdelune by Christelle Dabos

June Reviews

• Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey

Other April Posts

• Quarterly recap: January-March

• I listened to Cuz I Love You by Lizzo + The B Side

Other May Posts

• I listened to We Need To Talk by Tayla Parx 

Other June Posts

• n/a

Looking ahead, I have watercolor and music related posts that I will put on the blog sometime in July. And in September I will be talking about Word to the Wise (book #10 in the Library Lover’s Mystery series), as well as one of my new favorite romance novels: Well Met by Jen DeLuca. Word to the Wise is an excellent addition to the series. Well Met involves a Renaissance Faire and banter between the characters while they’re in costume. However, that’s all I’m going to say about those books until August and September. 

What’s a recent read that you really enjoyed?

The Friday 56 (156) & Book Beginnings: Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice where every Friday you pick a book and turn to page 56 or 56%, and select a sentence or a few, as long as it's not a spoiler. For the full rules, visit the the page HERE

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle. To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye.

Beginning: "In the land of Ingary, where such things as seven-league boots and cloaks of invisibility really exist, it is quite a misfortune to be born the eldest of three."

56: "It would be a thin blue face,: she murmured, "very long and thin, with a thin blue nose. But those curly green flames on top are most definitely your hair."

Comments: I've talked about Howl's Moving Castle for the Friday 56 before, but I'm sharing it again because I recently reread it. I also used this book as an example in an upcoming blog post. I love this book. It's been four years since I first read it, and it's such a great story. It was nice to reread it. Have you read Howl's Moving Castle or seen the movie adaptation?