Are you a Watercolor Addict?

Summer Bouquet, watercolor by Emma Kaufmann

Hello it is five days since my last meeting.
I find it hard to not look at something and wonder how it would look rendered in watercolor!
I can't resist buying watercolors.
I have A LOT of pads of watercolor paper.
I want to give it up......I just can't!
I'm a Watercolor Addict

I don't know when I became a watercolor addict...probably about five years ago. There is something so seductive about the way watercolor bleeds and runs across the paper. Some people are scared of it because it often doesn't do what you want it to do....but I don't care! That's what I love about it.

So hurrah July is World Watercolor Month and I am going to try to do a watercolor painting a day.....not sure I will manage it but I will give it a jolly good go.

Many moons ago I worked in oils but I just can't cope with them. I am too impatient. I can't wait for all those layers to dry and things would just turn all beige and grey. With watercolor it dries very fast, well it does here anyway as it is boiling hot.

Do you love watercolor as much as I do? Do join in on the Facebook page.

Happy Friday everyone!

Linking up to Brilliant Blog Posts, S-A(R)T-urday Art Linkup and PaintPartyFriday.

Guinea Pig on his Holibobs

It's been a busy week rustling up pet portrait commissions including this handsome little corgi.

If you're wondering where guinea pig has gone he is now a sunburnt sausage in ‪#‎SoCal
‬You can vote for him at Bored Panda. I know he'd appreciate it immensely: http://www.boredpanda.com/guinea-pig-around-the-world/

The guinea pig series is also available as greetings cards.

Guinea Pig in Venice: http://www.redbubble.com/people/studiokaufmann/works/21426156-guinea-pig-in-venice?p=greeting-card

Guinea Pig in Paris: http://www.redbubble.com/people/studiokaufmann/works/21367406-a-guinea-pig-in-paris?p=greeting-card

Guinea Pig in London: http://www.redbubble.com/people/studiokaufmann/works/21390912-guinea-pig-in-london?p=greeting-card

Guinea Pig in Southern California: http://www.redbubble.com/people/studiokaufmann/works/21694864-guinea-pig-in-southern-california?p=greeting-card

Where are you planning to go on your holibobs? I am not going anywhere or rather we are moving out the house because we are having renovations but we are not leaving the country. My daughter is going on an exchange to Germany in the summer which will be fun for her. I will be roasting like guinea pig in the boiling hot summers of Baltimore.

Linking to Brilliant Blog Posts and Paint Party Friday.



childrens paintings for sale

Guinea Pig Around the World

Guinea Pig in London

I have started a series of artworks called Guinea Pig around the World in which an unbearably cute guinea pig finds himself travelling the globe and ending up having some fun adventures like tea with the Queen, and wandering the moonlit streets of Paris to buy a freshly baked baguette.

Guinea Pig in Paris

Guinea Pig in Venice

He has also been to Venice, steering a gondola down the canals

I think he will definitely be wearing a kilt in Scotland, and I fancy he will take a ride in a kangaroos pouch in Australia. And I know he is going to be riding the Orient Express at some point and a camel in Egypt is definitely on the cards.

Do let me know where you think guinea pig should go next ..... Also please vote for my little guinea pig HERE on Bored Panda.

Woo hoo! Excited to be part of the Animalism exhibition at the Escape Gallery here in Baltimore. If you are in Baltimore do go check it out. The exhibition runs until 10 April. Profits to the Maryland SPCA.

Art by Emma Kaufmann at the Animalism Exhibtion

Giraffe Baby by Emma Kaufmann

Prints of these Guinea Pig images can be bought here as Greeting Cards, Tshirts, prints etc.

Linking up with Paint Party Friday and Brilliant Blog Posts :

Pup Pop Art

Here's my latest portrait commission. I call it pup pop art. I used the Sumi-E Japanese watercolors again and was so impressed by the brightness of the hues.

I am running around like a headless chicken trying to get ready for Christmas. I tend to be sick of turkey after Thanksgiving so I am very pleased that an Italian friend is inviting me for Christmas Eve for the Feast of the Seven Fishes. It should be fun and fishy!

Do you celebrate on Christmas Eve like the Europeans or on Christmas Day? What do you like to eat? 

Linking up to Paint Party Friday!

dog paintings for sale

Black Cats and Japanese Watercolors

I was a bit stumped when I thought of creating this portrait of my friend Claire's adorable cats Pumpkin and Pieface. It is difficult to make black fur look as lustrous and lovely as it is in real life.

But then inspiration hit! The time was right to take a virgin flight with my Sumi-E Japanese watercolors. I am always looking for bright, vivid watercolors and I was so excited to find these! What is Sumi-E? I found out that "Sumi" means "black ink" and "e" means both "path" and "painting."

I also used a Japanese watercolor paper that is specifically for Sumi–e painting. This very absorbent paper is ideal for "freestyle" brush painting, a simple yet highly aesthetic drawing made of powerful, mostly chasing and rapidly executed lines.


One day I may well try Japanese painting although you need special brushes. In the meantime I just used a regular brush and put a bright background where the highlights of the cats' fur was and then when it was dry overlaid it with opaque black. My friend was delighted with it!


Have you ever tried Japanese watercolors and how did you like them? I was very pleased with their intense colors.

Linking up with Pet Parade and Paint Party Friday

Stay warm and do check out my new Fine Art America store!!