Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Experiment

Mixed Media
A few days ago I experimented with a small 1/8th sheet of hot press paper.

It had been soaked in some  left over coffee for several hours.  Then placed on a board to dry overnight.

The butterfly was drawn with a crow quill pen and sepia ink.   Sepia watercolor washes were used on the wings.  A final glaze of quin. gold was used to brighten and bring this winged specimen forward a bit.

For the background a small amount of sepia ink and sepia watercolor pencil finished the piece.

This experiment was such fun that another sheet is waiting for a different subject.   Hope to share it with you later.


In the meantime please stop by for some cookies and coffee.  Would love to hear what you are experimenting with this week.   Will be looking forward to your visit!

 Hugs  Debbie 

33 comments:

  1. Evening Debbie, The sepia color is awesome....It's one of my favorite looks! I can see you are enjoying yourself these cooler days and nights.....I made some chicken ~n~dumplins last night and I must say "They were delish!" Perfect for a crisp air night~~~By the way..those cookies would have been great with the dumplins~~~Blessings, Roxie

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your butterfly is REALLY pretty Debbie. I love the sepia toned look! The cookies look inviting - I wish I was within cooee to come and visit you in person!

    ReplyDelete
  3. When I looked at the small pic I thought you'd made a lampshade. Wouldn't that be pretty? I finally got my Crafting With Cat Hair book out and am trying to make a badge. Couldn't brush enough hair, so the cats are walking around with big chunks of hair missing. Had to get it someway. They don't seem to mind.

    ReplyDelete
  4. HAH! I have always wanted to try that one - soaking wc. paper in coffee or tea. It turned out very well! And I'd love to "drop in" for cookies some time ... it's just the 3000 miles traveling ... :)
    Kathryn XX

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dear Debbie,
    Now I would have never thought of that... Soaking the paper in coffee... It looks absolutely beautiful!
    Cookies and coffee sounds great!
    I am not experimenting on anything, but I am needle felting a new piece... Hope to have it completed soon.
    Have a wonderful week.
    fondly,
    Penny

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dear Debbie, your artistic talents never cease to captivate me. Gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  7. What fun! If I was still making rag dolls, I might try soaking some fabric in coffee... Your experiment turned out very nice. Sorry, I can't have any cookies, not even vicariously, as I just started a new diet :( I plan to experiment with facial expressions as soon as I get my new (used) book I ordered thru Amazon "The Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker". am planning to study how these master cartoonists conveyed so much with so few strokes...have a great rest of the week! (and enjoy your cookies)

    ReplyDelete
  8. This has a beautiful mellow appearance. Everything flows together in perfect color harmony. What a beautiful butterfly. Is it a special kind?
    Stopping by for a cuppa and cookie sounds perfect. Who knows...one day, maybe.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Bonjour,

    Si c'est un essai il est un coup de maître!... J'aime beaucoup le résultat.
    Tout comme Julie je dirais que je prendrais bien une tasse de café ou de thé avec vous et bien sûr je dégusterais volontiers quelques bons biscuits que je me pro-poserais d'apporter... Il y a tant de choses que je voudrais expérimenter, seul le manque de temps fait que je repousse l'évènement!.

    Gros bisous ☼

    ReplyDelete
  10. HI Debbie - wonderful to meet you through the Blog Hop! You caught my eye with your butterfly (and those cookies!) Can't wait to read more of your blog! And thank you for stopping by mine & your very kind words!

    ReplyDelete
  11. The butterfly colors are interesting. I like the tone.
    I also like cookies! Imagine cookie dough ice cream with pieces that large. Dreaming. lol

    ReplyDelete
  12. The end result of your experiment is excellent - tea is quite good for sepia colours too. Hope you enjoyed the cookies - save one for me.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Interesting experiment and great outcome. Something to try one day and thank you for the idea. Oh and by the way I enjoyed the virtual cookies, they were delicious!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. A wonderful idea to soak the paper in coffee, it gave the painting a unique earthy tone for you to work on. The composition is gorgeous as well, I really love it!
    Those cookies are calling my name!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love working on coffee stained paper and have done it myself in the past. The butterfly is gorgeous, Debbie! Also those plates!!! I am in love with that plate pattern!!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a pretty experiment! I would love to stop by for cookies and coffee and a nice chat. Since I can't do it in person, I'll sip my coffee here at my computer and enjoy your posts and pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great to do experiments with new things. I love sepia work so this looks goo to me..
    and so does the cookie dough!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. SO unique, Debbie....beautiful work!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I really like this! Something simple and elegant about it. I wonder about the staying power of the coffee stained paper - I hope it doesn't fade or change colors. Looking forward to the next one!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi Debbie, what a cool thing to do. I look forward to seeing what you do next. Enjoy your day!

    ReplyDelete
  21. It's beautiful, Debbie! The cookies look delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  22. That butterfly is so beautiful and you are very creative. It looks like an old photo.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love the soft sepia tones of your butterfly. Very inventive of you! Would love some cookies and coffee about now. We're still very dreary and wet here today, but the reflections are really pretty! And we actually need the rain so all is well! :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. What a lovely piece this is, Debbie--soft and classy. Thank you for sharing your creativity with us. I have also enjoyed catching up on other posts; your photography is truly inspiring.

    ReplyDelete
  25. i really love the natural simple look of this butterfly artwork, i can't wait to see the next one, and coffee and cookies sounds perfect :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. This has a kind of parchment look. Very interesting piece Debbie! I love butterflies and this one is about the only one I've seen all summer. I don't know what's happened but for the last few years, they are a rarity. Now I'll have a cookie and milk please! Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  27. You got a beautiful vintage look to this painting, using coffee is a great idea . So wish I was near enough for a cuppa and a cookie :-)

    ReplyDelete
  28. fun way to go with a watercolour...it has an old world feel. I love experimenting too. it's like a jack in the box everytime it works out, jolly and fun!

    ReplyDelete
  29. pretty cool, debbie! thanks for the lovely comments on my blog - The Creator's Leaf - i always enjoy reading nice comments :) now, to spend some time visiting your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Would never have thought to use coffee! Very effective - simple yet elegant!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Debbie, that painting is really gorgeous. The colors are so serene and soothing, too.

    Blessings,

    Victoria

    ReplyDelete
  32. I'm very impresses, how beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  33. That mixed media butterfly is gorgeous !
    Hmm ~ I have been experimenting with eating less cookies ,unfortunately it has turned into eating more cake, so scratch that experiment .
    I have also been experimenting with my new cell phone camera , it's an adjustment from my old camera phone , both have taken great photos but I was so use to my old phones super camera.
    The verdict is still out at the moment on the new camera phone.
    Have a great weekend Debbie ,
    always great chatting with you .

    ReplyDelete

I love reading your comments. Thanks for leaving one.

Precious

 Life is made of up of precious moments.  Sometimes they come in a glimpse of a striking bird...  a surprise blossom blooming underfoot... o...