Nature Journaling

Northern California Wildflowers in Napa @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

Ever since I moved to California, my yearning to be close to nature has grown immensely.  Even when we lived in metropolitan Los Angeles, I always found a way to be close to nature.  My day usually starts with spending some time with the plants.  I love to photograph the local parks just as much as I love to photograph the grand scenes of the California landscapes.

 

Please Click on the image thumbnails to see the photos and read the captions.

 

 

While I tend to the garden, I come across beautifully mottled leaves, an occasional green acorn, a knobbly branch, or even a piece of old rosewood.  Since I always have a camera on me, it’s easy to pause from garden work for a few photos.  I suppose I have always used photography to record the little things around me.

 

 

Nature Journal handbound watercolor book @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

I have a dedicated Canson book that I use for painting flowers and leaves and such,  but it’s too large to carry around all the time. 

That changed when I started making my own books.   Of the two books I made for nature journalling, I am keeping one for myself.  I am giving the other one away along with the little artist colour paint kit ( valued at $45- ) as a thank you.

 

 

Nature Journal handbound watercolor book @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

A little bit about my books – I am more than a little picky about paper.  I use only very high quality artist-grade paper for my watercolour books.  I hand stitch them the traditional way with special thread, then additionally use glue and other methods to secure the spine.  The end papers are made with card stock and the book is finished by encasing it in a cover made with high quality book cloth.

 

The Giveaway has now ended.

 

 

 

Northern California wildflowers at local park in Napa @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

I am thinking about taking my book to the parks around here.  They are full of trees and during the months of March and April, the whole place is dotted with beautiful wild flowers.  Soon afterwards, everything turns into straw from the harsh California summer, but for those few weeks, it is just wonderful to get close to the ground and find these little gems even if it means getting mud and dirt all over my clothes.

 

 

I have gotten requests for adding photo prints to my shop.   I couldn’t think of a better way to start than by adding a set of sweet little wild flower photos that I have taken around here.

 

Northern California Wildflower Shooting Stars @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

Purchase Dancing Shooting Stars

Shooting Stars happily dancing with each other

 

 

Northern California Wildflower Sweet Pea @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

Purchase Wild Sweet Pea

Little wild sweet pea flowers saying hello

 

 

Northern California Wildflower Spring Vetch @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

Purchase Butterfly Flower Vetch

The Common Vetch posing as a butterfly

 

I hope you like this set.   I print them on high quality photo paper with archival ink.  They can also be used as cards,  framed as-is in a 5″ x 7″ frame, or displayed on a small table easel.   You can find these northern California wildflower photos here in my shop.  Let me know which one is your favourite.

 

Good luck to each one of you for the giveaway.  My heartfelt thanks for visiting me and leaving such wonderful, encouraging words, and also for continuing to purchase from my shop. Each sale is very special to me because it enables me to make donations to my favourite shelters and humane societies. 

 

 

 

Don’t forget,  Wandering Camera is at the end of the month, 26th of August.  An Art & Photography linky party!

Until then,
-Soma

 

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.   Please pay a visit to some of them.

 

 

 

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Dragon magic bow and arrow painting @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

Little Stories – Lost Pages And More

Dragon magic bow and arrow painting @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

Today I have quite a list of things to share with you.  New finishes and projects.  The revival of a  linky party and news of an upcoming giveaway.  Also, there’s a new place in the shop for The Girl And Her Cat.  I called the very first post of this year Little Stories.   It is a blend of the many things I worked on during the long winter break.  I miss sharing the little things that I come across now and then and I almost always have a little story or an anecdote to go with my work.  I thought I’d make Little Stories a series.   So, without further ado, let me show you around.

 

 

After The Storm Print @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

After The Storm

 

Twitter Art Exhibit is an event where artists send their works to be sold for different charities each year.   This year, all proceeds will go to the L_I_N_C, supporting leukaemia and other blood cancer patients and their families.

Last year I injured my right hand very badly.  For a while I couldn’t even hold a pencil, let alone draw and carve for a relief print.   Thankfully, they extended the deadline and I was able to finish this print.   I am happy to say that it got sold within the first day of the online shop opening.  That made me incredibly happy.

 

 

 

Knitting WIP @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

My hand has also mended enough for me to knit again.  The background in the photo is a cardigan that I finished knitting, now waiting for a zipper.  The front is a hat that I am currently knitting using wool that I purchased on our travels.  Hopefully I will be able to share the finishes here soon, along with pattern links and review.

 

 

 

Wandering Camera photography and arts linky party @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

We decided not to travel this year.   Since I really miss travel photography,  I thought I would take this chance to go through old travel photos and share them here.  Wandering Camera linky party is coming back.  It not only motivates me to work on my photos, I also love seeing yours.  If you follow me via email, you will get a reminder.

 

Even though I miss the excitement and wonder of visiting a new country, I am content with wandering in my painting books for now.

 

 

Paintings From The Lost Pages Book

 

Here are the last few paintings from the Lost Pages book.   Please Click on the image thumbnails to see the photos and read the captions.

 

 

 

I finished this book on my birthday.  Since I am squarely a winter girl,  I thought it would be apt if  The Girl And Her Cat were enjoying the aurora during an Arctic dawn.

 

 

 

Dragon magic bow and arrow painting @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

This one is really special to me.  I painted this bow and arrow imbued in dragon magic for protection and strength for an old friend who was going in for cancer surgery the next day.  The Girl And Her cat brought him to safe harbour though the storm.

 

Lost Pages Paintings

 

You can see all the paintings from the Lost Pages book together at the above link.   Each page of this book tells a little story.  

 

 

 

Little sketchbooks for painting @ InkTorrents.com by Soma

 

 

Here is the latest stack of books I have made for painting since December of 2020.  They are all named and at least one of them is an illustrated story.   Most of them are about The Girl And Her Cat.

 

A Thank You

 

I really want to thank each one of you for visiting me and leaving such wonderful encouraging words, not to mention continuing to purchase from my shop.  Each sale is very special to me, whether it is a quilt pattern or a an art print.   The sales enable me to make donations to my favourite shelters and humane societies.  I will have a special Thank You giveaway next month.  Stay tuned!

 

Until next time,
-Soma

 

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page.  Please pay a visit to some of them.

 

 

 

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