Trying Out Daler Rowney Aquafine 24-pc Watercolor Travel Set

| Patricia

“Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.” ~ Pablo Picasso

I recently purchased a 24-colour travel set of Daler Rowney Watercolours made from high-quality organic pigments that deliver rich colours with premium mixing ability, with long-term resistance to fading, Made in England.

The pigments are, as advertised, strong and vibrant. The blue cloudscape to the left is my first try and I found it to be overly saturated.

Next, I resolved to load less paint on the brush and build up lighter layers that are more transparent as I would normally work with watercolour paints.

The second attempt was better but felt like I was still finding my way through the strong staining power of the Daler-Rowney watercolour pigments that continued to feel too heavy and a bit muddy.

The third exercise was painted with a 3/4” long #6 rigger liner brush using Prussian and Ultramarine blues, dragging the brush in long, flowing strokes.

I was starting to feel like I was getting the hang of these materials. 😉

Have any of you used this brand of watercolour? if so, what are your observations, experience using it in practice?

Thanks for reading.

A Tiny Pencil and Watercolour Daily Sketch

| Patricia

“The landscape thinks itself in me, and I am its consciousness.” ~ Paul Cézanne


‘GreenScape’ is a quick colour study from one of my older sketch books. For many years I have tried to keep a habit of doing art every day. Even if it is just a tiny sketch like this imagined landscape scribbled down in a small 4” x 5” notebook (one of a several drawing pads that sit on my bedside table). These studies can inform colour combinations and suggest forms to use in larger compositions.

Keeping a colour journal, as well as a features collection, can help when a larger future work isn’t quite working. Flipping through these binders and sketchbooks can give new insights for where to go in the new work.

The initial sketch, shown here, was drawn with a common HB lead pencil, with a few brushstroke washes added using a small Cotman Water Colour Sketchers’ Pocket Box.

All artwork and creative writing is Copyright © of Patricia White. No use of this content or concept may be used without the express permission of the artist/author.

Inky Tree Concept Sketch

| Patricia

“If I lose paper and ink, I will write in blood on forgotten walls.” ~ Henry Rollins, Spoken Word Artist

Not every work is a masterpiece. Some merely get the creative juices flowing. Some become fodder for future works. Any practice is better than none.

I prefer thinking in the abstract—the unknown or the simplistic. At times writing a passage that can be interpreted in more than one way, so the reader has some responsibility in how they react to what is written. Painting in broad strokes and leaving some of the detail to the viewers’ imaginations. I’ve created a multitude of tiny landscapes in this vein. It is a good way to loosen up for larger pieces.

Perhaps I have a short attention span, and simply want to get on to the next thing. However, I generally think in terms of “I like this right now. If I continue, I’ll screw it up”.

In addition, I’m one of those people who has multiple thoughts running through their brain at any given time. So I don’t have a lot of time to concentrate on just one concept, unless I want the others to float off into oblivion. Anyway, this is just a thought. Anyone else out there identify?

All artwork and creative writing is Copyright © of Patricia White. No use of this content or concept may be used without the express permission of the artist/author.

Striated Apple Sketch

| Patricia

“Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why.” ~ Bernard Mannes Baruch, American financier, 1870-1965

Striated Apple Drawing

A fanciful addition to my collection of Apple drawings: Striated Apple was roughed out in Apple Notes on my iPad Pro, then moved to Procreate for additional work. I opted for a decorative style for this little drawing.

Some Other Apple Sketches in the Series:

THE BIG BOOK OF TINY ART: MY FIRST TRY

SPECKLED APPLE ECO-CONSCIOUS ANALOGUE+DIGITAL PAINTING 7-23

SKETCHY COLOURED CHARCOAL APPLE, FEBRUARY 25, 2023

All artwork and creative writing is Copyright © of Patricia White. No use of this content or concept may be used without the express permission of the artist/author.

Circle Wave-Curl Concept Notes App Line Drawing

| Patricia

“Life is a wave, which in no two consecutive moments of its existence is composed of the same particles.” ~ John Tyndall, 1820-1893, Irish Physicist


A simple line drawing concept started in Apple Notes app and moved to Procreate for finishing in higher resolution drawing. The primary drawing tools in the Apple Notes app on my iPad Pro are the Pencil, Marker, Fountain Pen, Watercolour Brush, Mono-line Pen, Crayon, Fill Tool (Bucket), and the Selector Tool (Lasso). Below are the two major tools, the Mono-line Pen and Watercolour Brush, used to draw the original image in the Apple Notes app,



All artwork and creative writing is Copyright © of Patricia White. No use of this content or concept may be used without the express permission of the artist/author.

‘Apple Unravelling’ Sketch Using iPad Notes App Drawing Tools

| Patricia

“To converse is to risk the unraveling of the said and the unsaid.”
~ Claudia Rankine, Author.


This is one of my early scribble apple drawings, created using the rudimentary drawing tools in the Apple Notes app on my iPad Pro.

Drawn in 2024 it was the first of dozens of apple drawings and paintings, using a variety of analogue materials and digital drawing applications.

I hope to publish a book of Apple drawings this coming year.

What is your favourite subject to draw or doodle when you don’t have a preconceived idea when you sit down to draw or paint? Put your suggestions in the comments. Thanks for reading.

All artwork and creative writing is Copyright © of Patricia White. No use of this content or concept may be used without the express permission of the artist/author.

Inspiration: Where To Find It When You Need It

| Patricia

“You can’t wait for inspiration, you have to go after it with a club.” ~ Jack London, Author

Generally, when I get into a creative dry spell, I just keep going, doing something. Anything. A tiny sketch, a collage. A poem, a short story or new character profile for a future work. A found materials creation. I might even work up a new plant-based recipe in the kitchen. Any activity that engages the imagination.

I often pick up art books to help me get out of creative doldrums. I followed the author of this book years ago on Skillshare and YouTube

Check out the 52 Weeks of Creative Living book here.

What do you do to break a creative block? Put your suggestions in the comments.

All artwork and creative writing is Copyright © of Patricia White. No use of this content or concept may be used without the express permission of the artist/author.

Watercolour Salt Experiment: Mixed Results

| Patricia

“Passion is the salt of life…” ~ Françoise Sagan, author.

A small experimental piece to try out materials, techniques and colour combinations.

In this approximately 6” x 6” watercolour, I dabbed some beads of Daniel Smith tube colours (Yellow Light, New Gamboge, Pyrrol Scarlet, Quinacridone Rose, French Ultramarine, Phthalo Blue) midway down the sheet. Next, I floated clear water up to the paint, tipping the board to flow the colour into the corners of the space. When still wet, I sprinkled some table salt in a couple spots. Some lovely cloud-type and crystalline shapes formed. Though the salt did not disperse as much in later stages. Perhaps the paint was too dry by that time. Also, the salt didn’t rub off very well after dry. I expect it will work better with thinner washes.

Lessons learned include: a) work faster before the paint dries too much to easily flow; b) use a coarser salt and apply it where there is more water on the sheet; and c) put paint on in thinner or smaller daubs to start.

What are your ‘go-to’ subjects, materials, colours when you just want to doodle?

Art created 3/19/2026.

All artwork and creative writing is Copyright © of Patricia White. No use of this content or concept may be used without the express permission of the artist/author.

A Small Coloured Pencil Sunlit Ocean Landscape Sketch

| Patricia

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“The torrential rains pelted down from lowering moisture-laden clouds. The sun-burnt grasses, that lay flat on the long-parched hills, lifted their faces to the welcome relief from the drought.” ~ Patricia White. Written March 13, 2026.

A small sketch from my bedside stash of art materials. Whenever I pick up a pencil or brush with no preconceived idea of what to draw, it often turns out to be a sea/sky-scape. I love using complementary colour combinations for the dynamics they set up on the canvas.

What are your ‘go-to’ subjects, materials, colours when you just want to doodle?

Art created 2/12/2026.

All artwork and creative writing is Copyright © of Patricia White. No use of this content or concept may be used without the express permission of the artist/author.