Watercolor | Harmony Thoughts

Illustrating for Freya Pickard

by Elisa Choi Ang on February 22, 2022 with 1 Comment

Last year, author Freya Pickard and I had another collaboration. She wanted me to create a series of illustrations for her newsletter and Pure Haiku for 2022. The first one was a volcano for Pure Haiku. She wanted the left side to be grassy, with flowers blooming and a dormant volcano, while the right side is a dark sky and lava pouring from an erupted volcano. I lightly sketched the elements and created a dividing line. I used watercolor to … Read More

My Experience of Sketching with Noodler’s Ahab Fountain Pen

by Elisa Choi Ang on June 4, 2021 with No Comments

I have always wanted to sketch using a fountain pen. Searching for the best fountain pen is personal and unique to the users’ needs. I like the flexible nib since I can create thick and lines like using a calligraphy pen. In this video, I shared a review of the Noodler’s Ahab fountain pen, how to refill ink, what ink you can use, how long the ink dries depending on the type of paper you use, mark-making, sketching, and the … Read More

Making Lavender Prints and Cards

by Elisa Choi Ang on April 26, 2021 with No Comments

I got a bunch of fresh lavender flowers at the grocery store. They are my absolute favorite flowers. I’m not sure what to do with it except to savor the lovely scent and make some art. I enjoyed slow sketching and looking at the little details, done on a small handbound sketchbook made from watercolor paper. Then, of course, I had to do some printmaking. I decided to make some prints by drawing the lavender, transferring it on a … Read More

Slippery Chameleon

by Elisa Choi Ang on September 27, 2020 with 1 Comment

Author Freya Pickard is working on another story called Arturina. She wanted a picture to portray a space opera. Like the previous collaboration, she gave me free rein to draw whatever that inspires me from her collections of Pinterest images. I chose the chameleon because its skin looks interesting to paint! Freya said that the chameleon in her story is a slippery one because it changes its shape a lot and he cannot remember his original form! He is both … Read More

Grassland

by Elisa Choi Ang on July 12, 2020 with No Comments

Author Freya Pickard needs a picture to portray a character in her novel Hrukham. I’m excited for another collaboration with this creative writer. I checked her collection of inspiration over on her Pinterest board and decided on a sunset grassland image. Freya shared that the image depicts the grassland of the southern plains. They are verdant and filled with life, but, from beyond their borders, an evil threatens that kills and maims and poisons the land. I’m sharing my process … Read More

Lady Parsley Wigglinis

by Elisa Choi Ang on February 17, 2020 with No Comments

The author Freya Pickard and I had another collaboration. For her Dragonscale Clippings, she wanted me to illustrate Parsley who has long, reddish hair in ringlets, green eyes, and pale skin. She is looking annoyed with her hands on her hips. Writing down the specification helps organize my thoughts. I did some research and roughly sketched Parsley and a variation of her annoyed facial expressions. I transferred the ideas into watercolor paper. I enjoyed painting the different shades of greens … Read More

Dancing Goddess for Pure Haiku

by Elisa Choi Ang on February 3, 2020 with 1 Comment

The author, Freya Pickard wanted me to create an image for her Pure Haiku website (where she publishes her own + other peoples’ traditional haiku). She wanted a female character, possibly a goddess or angel. She is fire and water, ice and electricity. There will be lots of bright colors, energy and swirling lines. She is dancing and turning about. I began to write down the guidelines on a notebook. I checked Freya’s Pinterest board for inspiration and did additional … Read More

August 2018 Rekindle Memories Gallery

by Elisa Choi Ang on August 21, 2018 with 1 Comment

One artist shared that art is a wonderful way to express “stuff” that is so hard to put into words. Sometimes there’s no words to describe how we feel or express how beautiful something is. Making memories through art helps us to share the beauty of what we have savoured with others. Whether it’s sketching, painting, making collage, writing… I think art helps us process life in a profound way. This August, we have 17 artists participating in 11 countries … Read More