Painting Mushrooms

There’s a million and one way to paint a subject, mushrooms included (mushrooms, perhaps, in a million ways more than any other subject, given their sheer variety).

The following three Instagram artists, each in their own way, have created a beautiful tribute to the simple little mushie.

Australian illustrator Karen Colenso @karencolenso has a very special touch when it comes to all things botanical. A true watercolour master, Karen never fails to bring the best qualities of the medium to the fore: transparency, fluidity and softness which, paired with her drawing skills, results in some of the most magical, airy, brilliant artwork. Karen’s whimsical collection is just as charming and equally precious. 

Madalina Tantareanu @madalinadraws, a Romanian graphic designer and illustrator based in Berlin, uses mainly ink and watercolour to tell her stories. Distinctly graphic in nature, her illustrations are very often monochrome and highly detailed, as well as decorative. Madalina focuses on small creatures, botanicals, birds, forest animals, and on nostalgic renderings of cityscapes.

Born in Brazil, Brunna Frade @brunnafrade.art lives and paints in Mantiqueira Mountains, so it’s no wonder nature, spirits of the forest and of the mountain are the main source of her inspiration. According to Brunna, she illustrates “affection, dreams, memories, places” and everything else her imagination conjures. Using watercolour as her main medium, Brunna paints delightful portraits, in addition to flora, fauna, mythical beings and esoteric objects.

Visit Lana’s Instagram gallery @calico.brush

Nanna Boegekaer’s eclectic illustrations

Thanks Nanna aka @littleboegekaer for taking part in our black and white illustrators’ interview series!

How long have you been drawing?

Since 2012/13, I think. I started late!

What’s your process?

I just draw whenever I get an idea really. It’s an urge most of all. I don’t really get the process but it feels magical at times.

Digital vs traditional?

Oof. Traditional is my first love but digital is growing on me.

How long does it take to create it?

Anything between five minutes and days.

Is it a hobby or your career?

It’s become a lifestyle for me. It’s become so integrated in my daily life that it’s just something I do like getting out of bed.

Why do you draw?

Because I don’t know how not to.

What inspires you?

Often it’s people. They put me in a certain mood, or say something that gives me the urge to create something. If I meet someone interesting, I often get a lot of ideas.

What is the proudest moment that you have achieved?

A tie between having drawings published in a book this year and starting my business back in 2016 when I was just 20!

What is the biggest obstacle that you have faced?

Letting people in.

You have one day to live, how do you spend it?

I’d hug everyone I love, eat my favorite things, listen to my favorite songs, and then I’d go see the ocean – maybe even going for a swim.

How can people get in contact with you?

Messages on Instagram are always welcomed! But I’m on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr as well. Email is okay too! Also wont stop you if you send a bird.

Links for social media:

https://www.facebook.com/littleboegekaer

https://twitter.com/littleboegekaer

https://littleboegekaer.tumblr.com/

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… in case you need it. 💛

A post shared by Nanna Bøgekær (@littleboegekaer) on

Nanna, her desk where she works, two pictures of her home – one where she lives in Copenhagen-ish and then one where it’s more possible to see that it’s Copenhagen, her dog (her name is Poe!), and then the view from where she live with her beloved plants! Aso, Toulouse, her second home

The Art of Sketching

How quickly can you paint something, giving it shape, volume, texture and colour, thus making it instantly recognizable, without getting bogged down in unnecessary fluff and the grip of perfectionism?

The art of sketching is going through a major revival, thanks to the permanent appeal of the fresh, uncluttered, intuitive artwork that allows the viewer’s eye to complete the picture on its own.

The following three Instagram artists are certainly among the masters of the art form. 

Australian architect and artist Liz Steel @lizsteelart is a self-professed “obsessive sketcher”. From her daily and weekly menus, through the urban scenes, landscapes, illustrations of her colour palettes and art tools, all the way down to portraits, Liz sketches her life journey with a passion and zest of a true art lover. Famous for her masterful collection of teacup sketches, Liz teaches both live workshops and online, at SketchingNow.com and her website.

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Back in 2015 I created an epic series of articles on my blog all about using fountain pens for sketching, but of lot of you don't know about it, or my other articles on ink etc. So With Inktober starting tomorrow I thought it was a good time to create an index of my most important fountain pen articles as I get asked the same questions regularly. Follow the 'fountain pen info' link in profile! . Here is a summary of the articles: . – Why draw with a fountain pen? Some of the reasons why I love fountain pens: flow of ink, ease of using at different angles, variable and lively lines, reusable etc – How to use a fountain pen How to hold your pen, vary your grip, post your cap (or not), what paper to use, how to refill and maintain your pen – How to choose a fountain pen Budget, use, nib, ink capacity and refilling, weight, thickness, length, design et – Review of a few ‘basic’ fountain pens – Review of a few fountain pens with variable lines (flex, brush and calligraphy – fude, stub and parallel) – Permanent Ink for Fountain Pens -The pen that I use and why – Flying with fountain pens . So what other questions do you have? Are you ready for Inktober? What pen and ink will you be using? . And yes I used five different pens with different coloured ink for this teacup sketch 😀

A post shared by Liz Steel (@lizsteelart) on

Jennie Kessinger @jennie_kessinger, based in States, is another passionate sketcher, dedicated to daily practice of the art. Using mainly watercolor, ink and gouache, Jennie fills her growing collection of over 50 sketchbooks with urban sketches, scenes from her road trips, interiors, drawings and illustrations of animals, plants, food, drink, landscapes and virtually any and all objects that land in her field of vision. 

Lisa Livoni @lisalivoni from Portland, Oregon, is a well-established watercolour artist, with a number of solo exhibitions throughout USA under her belt. Although not necessarily a sketcher, Lisa’s intuitive, loose and wonderfully vibrant art is marked by the spontaneity and freshness of a skilled master. Using botany as her main subject, Lisa’s brush never adds a single stroke more than is absolutely essential to create a brilliant work of art. 

Visit Lana’s Instagram gallery @calico.brush

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