I was impressed by how Happy Hooligans produced their home made watercolours by recycling old used markers! It was something I finally did 2 months ago and now enjoy the colours of my labours! To know the details, check on Happy Hooligan’s link above. I asked my girl to sort out the colours and added water. I left them to soak for 2 weeks as I didn’t have time to attend to them.
Then I did the more tedious process of cutting and tugged out the inserts with a safety pin. I was glad I did this part as the inserts still had significant ink concentrate.
After all the hard work, I poured them into mineral water bottles that I had kept (I didn’t want to buy glass jars just to store them)
The below was a lazy Weekend where papa brought the boys out and I’m left with lil E. In a spur of moment, I asked if she’d like to paint and I decided to do mirror reflection set up for her. She requested for a doll and chose a tiny baby to paint and I gathered a few other items to inspire. It’s like an invitation to paint.
The wooden pieces were hand sawn by us and I sandpapered them to smooth the edges before applying a thin layer of gloss varnish. I placed a piece of white paper underneath the set up to provide a clean and white background for a focused observation.
I like how the flat glass beads gave this mother and child set up a soft and lyrical space.
The centre red is supposed to be the mother doll while the red figure on the right is the baby in red. E managed to express one of the blue glass bead with the detailed lines. I like the brown legs that she captured of the doll and the baby. Again, I am delighted that she actually took pains to observe the whole setting and gave her own interpretation of what she saw and felt like painting. Guess what? I was so drawn by this whole magical set up and atmosphere, I couldn’t resist painting it myself! (And this is really rare because I usually would rather read a book or maybe use the internet? as shared over here.)
I think it’s a combination of many factors. Quiet atmosphere without the guys, alluring set up of whimsical toys and the mirror reflections, and perhaps, subconsciously, I favoured the really Sweet Mother doll and adorable little red riding baby! This is really such a happy accidental set up! : )
The above was done using the handmade water colours from markers and I touched up with colour pencils for the details.
The Baby (George Macdonald)
Where did you come from, baby dear? Out of the everywhere into the here.
Where did you get your eyes so blue? Out of the sky as I came through
What makes the light in them sparkle and spin? Some of the starry spikes left in.
Where did you get that little tear? I found it waiting when I got here.
What makes your forehead so smooth and high? A soft hand stroked it as I went by.
What makes your cheek like a warm white rose? Something better than anyone knows.
Whence that three-cornered smile of bliss? Three angels gave me at once a kiss.
Where did you get that pearly ear? God spoke, and it came out to hear.
Where did you get those arms and hands? Love made itself into hooks and bands.
Feet, whence did you come, you darling things? From the same box as the cherubs’ wings.
How did they all just come to be you? God thought about me, and so I grew.
But how did you come to us, you dear? God thought of you, and so I am here.
Growing HeARTS 123 
Beautiful! We like to make our own watercolors from markers too – but I just love the artistic work area and how you got to do this together!
Thank You Emma! This is not my usual practice to paint with them as I want to encourage their original efforts (instead of copying or comparing with mine) and distract them from their personal observation. : ) So I did this painting after she was done with hers. : ) Nice to have you drop by! : )
[…] For this reason, I try my best to cultivate the skill of first hand observation through drawing with my kids. e.g. outdoor mirror reflections , Nature art, Basketball art, fishpond art , S.E.A aquarium art, Doll set up Painting. […]