Rivervale Watercolor and Art

This week I am experimenting with using a multi-photo locket as a primary palette! The locket pendant was a lucky find, I don't see too many with multiple compartments like this. I loaded the four spaces with my primary trip of Phthalo Blue, Quinacridone Magenta and Benzimida Yellow, and Burnt Sienna, which is my favorite earth color to compliment a primary palette. As you can see from the small color mixing exercise I did, those four colors are all you really need for an amazing palette! I also have a smaller locket I have filled with Violet Hematite and Black Graphite, two of my favorite sketching colors. Both have fantastic value ranges and work nicely in monochrome sketches. There are ups and downs to watercolor jewelry, on the upside, a pendant is even smaller than a palette and can easily go with you anywhere no matter how light you're traveling. If you put them on lobster clips they become extremely easy to access and use quickly, I can hold mine in place at the bottom of my notebook with my thumb. On the downside though, you have to wait for the paint to dry before you close the locket, and of course you can't wear it in the rain! Mine has not leaked yet during use, but I do not wear it with very nice clothing just in case! I haven't found an inexpensive enough source yet for the multi-photo lockets, but if I can I'd like to offer some in my shop, I love mine! . For anyone who has been watching my shop for a restock, I have pans of Benzimida Yellow curing that I expect to be ready later this week, and I am currently making more azurite and malachite pans, so those will be restocked in the near future as well. We've had some humidity that is slowing the dry time, sorry for the wait! . . https://www.etsy.com/shop/RivervaleWatercolor . . #watercolor #handmadepaint #rivervalewatercolor #rivervaleart #paintjewelry #watercolorjewelry #globalwatercolormakers #jewelry #necklace #travelpainting #travelpalette #artonthego #primarypalette #cmypalette #locket #travelart #portablepaint #portablepalette #pendant #artpendant #travellingartist #travellight #cyanyellowmagenta #burntsienna #wearableart #artwear #watercolorlove

I have the pleasure of featuring some colors and a lovely card from a fellow maker today! I just received some beautiful sample dots in trade from Stoneworks Mill, including several gorgeous hand ground colors and of course I had to try them out right away. I did a quick sketch of some succulent garden plants to see what I could do with them, although I'm afraid I was not at my best and the sketch doesn't really do the colors justice. I am especially in love with Ancient Red Ochre and Colonial Brick, both are unique hand ground pigments with a wonderful granulation. I also played around with color trios, I tried a combination of Stoneworks Mill Venetian Red and Yellow Ochre, with Larkspur as the blue in one trip and Cerulean in the other. If you haven't tried any of her paints yet I can highly recommend them! . https://www.etsy.com/shop/StoneworksMill . In other news, my first batch of rose gold experiments is very nearly dry and will be in my shop soon, and I have finally restocked Perylene Maroon. I am sorry it has taken me so long to get that particular color stocked again! . #stoneworksmill #etsyshop #handmadewatercolors #watercolorpaint #smallshop #paintsamples #sistermaker #trade #handcraftedartsupply #succulents #watercolorsketsh #watercolorart #dotcard

I have just restocked my shop with nearly all of my half pans and sets, a few colors are still curing but they will follow shortly. It feels so good to have a full shop again! . I have a special pigment to showcase this evening, Attila Gazo of Master Pigments very kindly gave me an opportunity to try some of his incredible Fra Angelico Blue lapis lazuli with my last order. I am very grateful to have this chance, it the very finest grade of lapis lazuli pigment available, and very valuable. The process to make this pigment is an arduous one, even with the help of a mill. The powdered stone is combined with a mixture of waxes and resins into a dough which holds the majority of the pigment while the heaviest particles are kneaded out by hand. Even the highest quality lapis stones yield only a small percentage of their weight as this purest blue pigment in the first wash. Master Pigments has released some very interesting videos of this process, for anyone curious to see how it's done: . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cahwbEHrZ3c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBzEAt_ynvc . One of the photos here shows a comparison of several grades of lapis lazuli pigment compared to man-made ultramarine blue. The first two swatches are the colors I currently carry, the first is Lapis Lazuli Ash, which is one of the lesser grades obtained after the best grades are kneaded from the crushed stone, it is paler and less intense in color, but more affordable. The second is my Lapis Lazuli, a high quality grade that is obtained in the next wash immediately after the very finest has been extracted. The third is Fra Angelico Blue, and as you can see, it is nearly as bright as the ultramarine in the fourth swatch! It really does have a wonderful glow to it not found in the synthetic ultramarine, with delicate shimmer visible. I can't offer this finest grade in my shop due to the cost, but I highly suggest visiting Master Pigments online if you make paint and are looking for historical pigments. All of his that I have tried are top quality and well worth their price, you can tell a lot of care goes into choosing only the best. . http://www.masterpigments.com

The Rivervale Watercolor Summer Sale has begun! This sale will continue from Saturday, May 19th to Saturday, May 26th. Most pans, samples and sets in the shop are either 10% or 20% percent off! This sale excludes custom and reserved orders, and most of the gemstone line. https://www.etsy.com/shop/RivervaleWatercolor

I've just added a new celadonite color to the shop! It's a beautiful mossy green, cooler and deeper than the other green earths, and has a smoother texture than the celadonite paint I have previously carried. I'm differentiating the two by referring to the old celadonite as "Celadonite Warm", while this new variety will be called "Celadonite Cool" . My stock of this color is limited at the moment, but I do have more pigment on order. I also have some Celadonite Warm curing at the moment, so that will be in stock again soon as well. . https://www.instagram.com/rivervalewatercolor/ . #mossgreen #gemstone #minerals #paintingwithgems #paintingwithnature #naturalpigment #watercolor #rivervaleart #rivervalewatercolor #Handmadepaint #handmadewatercolorpaint #handmadewatercolors #green #rarepigments #historicalpigments #etsy #earthpaint #watercolour #watercolorart #earthcolors #art #painting #artoninstagram #naturalpaint #celadonite

Sharing something a bit different today! My good friend Virginia of makes custom tsumami kanzashi flowers and other accessories, as well as some truly beautiful washi paper bookmarks, and she has just moved from Etsy to her own website. If you are interested in tsumami kanzashi, her work is well worth checking out! . You can find her work here: . https://www.lilyashes.com/ . #tsumamikanzashi #kanzashi #hanakanzashi #tsumamizaiku #flowers #fabriccraft #hairaccesories #lilyashes #lilyashesemporium #kanzashiflowers #kisetsubana

This beautiful mountain scene was painted and very kindly shared with me by fellow artist Kdandj3 using Rivervale Watercolor Vivianite. I love the way you painted this landscape, thank you so much for sharing your gorgeous artwork! . . https://www.etsy.com/shop/RivervaleWatercolor . . #watercolor #watercolour #handmadewatercolor #rivervalewatercolor #rivervaleart #vivianite #mountains #talented #naturalblue #earthpaint #paintingfromnature

The New Year's 10% off sale continues tonight and all day tomorrow, don't forget to stop by and see if there's anything you want! Most items in my shop qualify excepting the gemstone line and custom/reserved orders. . . https://www.etsy.com/shop/RivervaleWatercolor . . #watercolor #watercolour #watercolors #watercolours #handmade #rivervalewatercolor #rivervaleart #paint #art #aquarelle #handmadewatercolors #happynewyear's #etsy #handmadewatercolor #watercolourpainting #watercolorpainting #sketchbook #artistsoninstagram #painting #newyear #handmadewatercolorpaint #travelpainting #naturalpaint #naturalwatercolor #naturalwatercolors #etsy #handmadepaint

Well, Murphy's Law struck over the weekend. I came down with a cold, didn't sleep for two days, and had the new Ruby Metallic color I JUST released begin to exhibit problems while I was painting some Christmas cards. I painted out some ornaments with it, and wouldn't you know? It dried with more of a copper hue then it should have, leading me to believe the pigment's color becomes unstable the longer it is bound in watercolor medium. It is especially annoying because when I first saw the color shift between the pan and painted out color, I was afraid of just something like this and so tested it nearly daily for my usual month long testing stage to watch for color changes. No problems then, and I thought I had tested it rigorously enough and was safe from any such issue. But nope! Showed up nearly the day after release. 😑 I am not quite sure of the reason for yhe change, I am going to continue testing it for several months to see if the color alters further. The other two metallic pigments have been tested and are still true to color and just fine, I have had samples of those two longer and I don't anticipate any problems with them. Everyone who purchased Ruby metallic has been sent a refund at this point, and I have pulled the color from my shop. I'm so sorry for the trouble, I feel very embarrassed to have sent out a defective color. I should have watched it Ionger for issues, that was my fault and I apologize. I do have some good news though! I've located a mica color that is a very close approximation of Ruby Metallic, and ought to be much more stable. You can see it in the photo here, Ruby Metallic to the left, and the ruby mica color to the right. It still has to be tested, but if it meets my quality requirements I may have some available near late January or early February. It isn't all bad! . . https://www.etsy.com/shop/RivervaleWatercolor . . #watercolor #watercolour #watercolors#watercolours #handmade#rivervalewatercolor #rivervaleart #aquarelle #Etsyseller#handmadewatercolorpaint #mica#handmadepaint #worldwatercolorgroup #shimmerwatercolor#metallicpaint #handmadepaint #paintmaking#paintmaker #etsy #metallic #shimmer #oops #cardmaking #makermishaps

Shop Update! The two new mica colors and 3 new metallic colors are now listed in the shop! I've updated the mica tin to include the two new mica colors, and the mica sample dot card sets to include all 5 new shimmer and metallic colors. I've also organized my shop sections a little better, so hopefully it will be easier to find the type of paints you are interested in quickly. . . The 3 metallics, (Champagne Gold Metallic, Rich Gold Metallic, and Ruby Metallic) all have a very fine particle size, ideal for calligraphy and sketching with a dip pen. Hand lettering is something I find myself amazed by, and I aspire to learn someday. I have practiced a little, but my results are too embarrasing to show yet. I'll keep at it though. :) . . https://www.etsy.com/shop/RivervaleWatercolor . . #watercolor #watercolour #watercolors #watercolours #handmade #rivervalewatercolor #rivervaleart #aquarelle #Etsyseller #handmadewatercolorpaint #mica #handmadepaint #gold #shimmerwatercolor #metallicpaint #handmadepaint #paintmaking #paintmaker #etsy #metallic #shimmer #cardmakers #cardmaking #calligraphy #worldwatercolorgroup #watercolorists #watercolorist #newpaint #ruby #handlettering

A comparison of the gold, bronze and copper micas and metallics. From left to right: Pale Gold Mica, Gold Mica, Champagne Gold Metallic, Rich Gold Metallic, Bronze Mica, and Copper Mica. The first pans of the new micas and metallic colors are very nearly ready, I'll be listing them very soon. :) . . https://www.etsy.com/shop/RivervaleWatercolor . . #watercolor #watercolour #watercolors#watercolours #handmade#rivervalewatercolor #rivervaleart #aquarelle #Etsyseller #mullingpaint #handmadewatercolorpaint #mica #handmadepaint #gold #shimmerwatercolor #metallicpaint #handmadepaint #paintmaking #paintmaker #etsy #metallic #shimmer #copper #bronze #watercolorists #watercolorist 

Mulling genuine turquoise. It's very, very light, even more so than Thulite, with no value range to speak of. It's pretty in it's own way, but more of a curiosity than a widely useful painting color I think, considering how expensive it is. I do want to try a finer grind of the pigment when possible. . . https://www.etsy.com/shop/RivervaleWatercolor . . #turquoise #naturalwatercolor #gemstone #minerals #paintingwithgems #paintingwithnature #naturalpigment #watercolor #Imlothmelui #Imlothwatercolor #Handmadepaint #handmadewatercolorpaint #handmadewatercolors #blue #rarepigments #historicalpigments #watercolours #watercolors #etsy #earthpaint #watercolorsketch #watercolour #watercolorart #Earthcolor #watercolorsketching #travelartist #art #painting #artoninstagram #naturalpaint

Several new metallic and shimmer colors in the works, four planned, one accidental! I made a mistake with my last pigment order, and instead of the rich gold mica I usually purchase, I ordered a pale gold instead! I had to place another order to fix my mistake, this one had already shipped so might as well use it! It's a lovely color though, so I'm not at all upset. . . Coming soon to the shop is a beautiful mica bronze color, warm but not as red as my copper mica. The accidental gold is also a mica color, it's paler and has a larger particle size that requires a little more binder than the finer mica colors. The gum arabic holds it well, but you must be cautious until it is dry, because it lifts easily when still damp, though It's quite permanent when completely dry. It's so reflective though! It absolutely shines when the light hits it. . . The other three colors are special! They aren't micas at all, but true metallic paints! They're made from treated copper and bronze powders, and have quite a different appearance on paper than the micas. They shine, but are finer in texture and so look much less glittery. The two gold colors (a pale gold and a very warm, glowing gold) are perfect for projects where a more traditional gilded look is desired. The red is a beautiful pomegranate red with copper undertones, and it's a lot of fun to paint with! It changes color from red to copper orange when wet, and remains copper-colored in the pan, but the red hue appears as the paint dries on the paper. . . The pans are still curing at the moment, but I'll post a shop update as soon as they are ready and listed. :) . . https://www.etsy.com/shop/RivervaleWatercolor . . #watercolor #watercolour #watercolors #watercolours #handmade #rivervalewatercolor #rivervaleart #aquarelle #Etsyseller #mullingpaint #handmadewatercolorpaint #mica #handmadepaint #gold #shimmerwatercolor #metallicpaint #handmadepaint #paintmaking #paintmaker #etsy #metallic #shimmer #copper #bronze #serendipity #happyaccident #worldwatercolorgroup #watercolorists #watercolorist #newpaint #ruby

I put together a small palette for a friend recently, and as always had some difficulty choosing the best colors. It doesn't matter how many spaces I have to use, I always want a few more! These earth colors have been favorites lately, and I always love how they look side by side! . . . https://www.etsy.com/shop/RivervaleWatercolor . . . #watercolor #handmadewatercolorpaint #handmadewatercolors #handmadewatercolour #Artisanwatercolors #earthpalette #earthcolors #naturalwatercolor #naturalpaint #watercolorpalette #watercolorset #rivervalewatercolor #rivervaleart #worldwatercolorgroup #travelwatercolors #travelwatercolor #imlothmelui #imlothwatercolor #artisanalwatercolors #artistsoninstagram #beautifulcolor #colorcrazy #colorcrushcreative #paintpalette #paintmaking #paintmakers

New colors listed in the shop today! This little pattern was done with Armenian Gold Ochre, (From the Kotayk province, a rich, slightly brownish earth yellow) Burgundy Hematite, (Another pigment from Armenia, it is similar in color to Armenian Rose Brown, but has the deep range of all hematite pigments) and Red Ochre Deep. (A cool iron red) . . I've been working so much on stock for the shop the last couple of weeks that I haven't actually had any time to sketch or paint lately, I've really been missing it! I'll have a bit of a break while I wait for my new order of pans to come in, I'm really looking forward to using my colors the next few days instead of making them. :) . . . https://www.etsy.com/shop/RivervaleWatercolor . . . #watercolor #watercolorist #watercolors #watercolorpalette #watercolorpainting #naturalwatercolor #handmadewatercolor #handmadewatercolors #watercolour #aquarelle #etsy #rivervaleart #rivervalewatercolor #artoninstagram #earthpigments #naturalpaint #naturalpigment #sketchbook #watercolorjournal #instaart #waterblog #paintmaking #paintmaker #Artisanwatercolors #artisanalwatercolors #globalwatercolormakers #worldwatercolorgroup #watercolorists #artsupplies

Working on some gold mica this evening. I'm going to have to build my stock back up after the sale, I'm low on a lot of colors at the moment! I want to thank everyone who visited or shopped with me, your support really means a lot! . . https://www.etsy.com/shop/RivervaleWatercolor . . #watercolor #watercolour #watercolors #watercolours #handmade #rivervalewatercolor #rivervaleart #aquarelle #Etsyseller #mullingpaint #handmadewatercolorpaint #mica #handmadepaint #gold #shimmerwatercolor

Only half a day left in the Rivervale Watercolor sale! And there's a very flash special offer this evening for latecomers! The entire gemstone line is 10% off, this evening only. Don't miss it if you're interested, because they won't be discounted again for a very long time! All tins and sets are still 20%, and most other shop items are 10% off. This offer ends tomorrow morning, so don't wait too long! . . https://www.etsy.com/shop/RivervaleWatercolor . . #rivervalewatercolor #naturalwatercolor #gemstone #minerals #paintingwithgems #paintingwithnature #naturalpigment #watercolor #rivervaleart #Imlothwatercolor #Handmadepaint #handmadewatercolorpaint #handmadewatercolors #historicalpigments #rarepigments #historicalpigments #watercolours #watercolors #etsy #earthpaint #watercolorsketch #watercolour #watercolorart #Earthcolor #watercolorsketching #travelartist #art #painting #artoninstagram #naturalpaint