Art Journal: Watercolor Faces

Many years ago, I bought this children's book from a thrift store:

I really bought it for crafting purposes. I christened it as my art journal and the pages are filled with collage, watercolor paintings, and even blackout poetry. 

The inside pages make for a fun background, as I did here:

 

The text behind my cherry blossom painting add some dimension.

However, with a layer of gesso (I put a small amount on the page and spread it evenly with an expired gift card).

This is what the page looks like with a layer of gesso...TADA! The text is still visible but tamed down.

One of the recurring themes in my art journal are watercolor faces: 

Repetition and practice help improve my work. These sketches are a mix of techniques I learned from Jane Davenport, Dina Wakley, Amarilys Henderson and the classes I joined on Workshop Week, Summer Creative Retreat, and Sketchbook Revival through the years. 

I'll keep at it and maybe someday, I can create more lifelike portraits.

Who knows, my work can become surface patterns like the ones I see at the shops:

T-shirt designs, perhaps?

Or pillow covers? 

That's how we can turn our everyday sketches from blah to TADA!

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