Laura Kate

Cast-on Monday: Sock Time

Posted on July 19, 2021July 16, 2021 by Laura Kate

With the heat of the summer beginning to settle in, it’s time to start projects that are A: not heavy in your lap. B. suitable for year-end giving and C. car trip worthy. Socks fit that description beautifully.

Today I am starting a sock pattern that has been in my library for some time. Hermione’s Everyday Socks, available on Ravelry, are simple to knit, but have a lovely texture created by working purl stitch sprinkled evenly throughout.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hermiones-everyday-socks

I have chosen to use a monochromatic colorway from Ewetopia that drifts from light to dark and back again. I’m hoping that the color doesn’t vary so much that it overwhelm the subtle stitch pattern. This yarn is called Wisco Sock, and is milled and dyed in Wisconsin.

Here is a link to the yarn producer: About — Ewetopia (ewetopiafibershop.com)

The colorway is Superior, as in, the Lake. I’m very drawn to it – not a green but not a blue, rather a cool-ish grey such as how the lake surface may appear on a cloudy day. While I started these socks as a potential gift, it could be that I will selfishly keep them for myself.

painting

F.O. Friday – Painting

Posted on July 16, 2021 by Laura Kate

This project has been sitting around since mid May.

Back then, I sketched a picture that was a composite of two photographs: A group of fuchsia blossoms and a hummingbird.

Eventually I used this image during a class I attended on collage technique.

It was more convenient to transfer the image in reverse.

But had always intended to paint it. Today I finally finished. Here is my process:

**Transfer of drawing and first wash of flowers**

**Bird body and wings painted, second wash on flowers**

To finish it, I worked in a pale background wash, added final details to flowers and deepened the darks on the hummingbird.

This was a very good learning experience. If I were to paint it again, I would choose more transparent pigments. The cobalt blue was more granulating than I liked, and the alizarin crimson did not give a clean delicate hue on the flower petals. Instead I would use a mixture of ultramarine blue and Thalo blue and use quinacridone magenta, very thin, for the petals. I would also apply the background wash first. It was very tricky to work it around the finished flowers.

The parts I do like: The composition, the texture of the feathers and bird wings, and the shading on the petals.

painting

Furry Animal Monday

Posted on July 12, 2021July 10, 2021 by Laura Kate

I’ve been practicing painting squirrels. Here is my reference photo of a cute one perched on a stump at the forest’s edge. It is found on Unsplash.com and was taken by Yannick Menard

He’s so little and fuzzy. Here is how I interpreted him with my watercolors.

Completing this painting in my sketchbook was a real confidence builder for me. I think now I may be ready to paint squirrels that were photographed in our backyard.

drawing

Sunday Sketching

Posted on July 11, 2021July 12, 2021 by Laura Kate

Today I am posting another sketch of Cat. Cat used to be best friends with Henry, when Henry was toddling. I am interested in painting some watercolor pieces of Henry and Cat. So I thought I would practice with graphite. first.

Reference photo:

My sketch :

I spent my time on this one. It was a very enjoyable process. I think that’s because I have such happy memories of this time in my life. Back then we would drive to Albuquerque to visit our daughter’s family two or three times a year. Cat was just another family member back then.

I hope this drawing does honor to the memory those sun-filled days.