Tulips and glitter paint

Dear Sarah - Day 84 of our daily drawing exchange

March 25, 2025
Dear Nikki,

After I talked to you, I decided to have another go at the tulips, which are getting very blowzy and droopy--but only the purple ones. I wanted colour, so I pulled out the kids' dollar store liquid watercolours (which are weirdly grainy) and attempted to capture what was in front of me. I have no idea how to use watercolours (especially shitty ones) and I got very annoyed at myself for not knowing what I was doing. I almost threw the result away, but then picked up a pen and added some lines and it's a little bit better. But not much.

While I was drawing I totally forgot that my bread was at the "please bake me" stage, so that made me grumpy too. It is now in the oven and I have a Zoom call with a client in 40 minutes and I haven't eaten yet. Grrrr.

I did get out for a walk in the sun today, and I did do yoga and I did book a ticket to Canmore, so I'm going with that.

By the way, if you turn your doodle from yesterday on its side it looks like a poodle. Also not a failure.

XO S

Hi Sarah -

Apologies in advance that you are likely to see more pilgrim-themed images coming your way between now and the end of the semester as I try to find something I can develop enough to use in our final project.

Also be warned that I am in full blown experimental mode at the moment and really don’t know what I’m trying to do. You can’t really see it in the photo, but this was partly inspired by today’s thrift store find of a bottle of tempura glitter paint. The actual figure/statue/carving is to be found in the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela and his curly locks are shiny gold (gold leaf? gold paint? gold plated? no idea).

I think this nicely illustrates my inability to draw a straight-ish line (witness the snakey staff in his right hand).

Funny we were both drawn to colour today… it is spring, after all. Even here, I could smell earth tones on my walk.

Until tomorrow -

Nikki