One of my resolutions for this year was to learn to draw and paint. I’ve made a lot of progress since I started, but I’m still a learner and beginner. In January this year I completed one of Becky Cao’s classes, and I’ve learnt a lot from her YouTube videos and Instagram posts.
Her practice of capturing daily life and objects through her watercolour journals is so inspiring.
At the moment, my favourite mediums are drawing with ink and using watercolour – I love the way line drawings come to life with washes of colour. I’m not quite sure where this will take me, but for now I find a lot of joy in drawing and painting when I make time for it.
We went to Paris for a few days in late January and early February to celebrate 9 years of marriage (and 22 years together!) and I took a lot of photos of interesting architecture and shopfronts.
In particular I saw this bookshop in a little side street when we were making our way back to the hotel – The San Francisco Book Co – and really wanted to capture it in my sketchbook – although this happened some months later! I squashed the dimensions a little bit and couldn’t get the door quite right but it was a good challenge.
The sketchbook is A5 size and I used Sakura Pigma Micron pens and a set of Mei Liang watercolours (I love the smoothness and vibrancy of this set but also use Winsor and Newton). I still have a lot to learn about watercolour, painting, and drawing, but I can also see my progress even though I haven’t done as much as I would like yet. Hopefully this month will bring some opportunities to draw and paint!
Cats and Chocolate 
I love the actual bookstore, and you did a great job of replicating it! It’s lovely and must have taken so much patience.
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The painting looks so good! It’s really difficult to get the detailing of each book. You definitely have incredible level of patience. Please do share more 🤩
Also such a beautiful, quaint book store❤️
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I totally ADORE this painting. It’s beautiful. I am a sucker for this type of watercolour work. I too love the way line drawings come to life with the addition of watercolour.
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I love book shops, and this one in real life looks interesting. You’ve done a super job in bringing it to the page with your painting/sketch. 🙂
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First of all, cute drawing 🙂 I’ve been wanting to buy a sketchbook but I never do.I have so many on my plate that I know I won’t be able to work on it. For transparency, though, I am not that good at drawing. But that’s also why I want a sketchbook.
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Love the painting! So well done!
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Your painting is even more beautiful than the photo! I love this so much 😊
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Such a great painting!
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