Day 3 – Time

I painted the first thing that came to mind when I grabbed the paintbrush

. Time is not linear. Time also takes you one a journey…

Quick sketch, therefore forgive the sloppiness…

Day 2 – Passion

Putting colour on a blank surface and nature, that´s what I love. So here are both combined in this prompt for World Watercolor Month.

World Watercolor Month – Day 1 – Train

Happy weekend everyone! I am definitely late to the party. June came and left and I barely noticed that July had started. As I have been in a creative/ non drawing hole lately I thought I take up the challenge and jump in on World Watercolour Month. It might be a good way to develop a illustration routine again beside work.

I´ll follow the prompt list and focus on lose spontaneous watercolour illustrations to get back into a creative spirit. The goal is to try something new and maybe I will discover a new style along the way.

Who else is participating?

Prey of the Pelican II

Although not being considered dangerous, pelicans are quite big and you wouldn´t want to mess with them!

The diet of pelicans usually consists of fish, but occasionally amphibians, turtles, crustaceans, insects, birds, and mammals are also eaten. The size of the preferred prey fish varies depending on pelican species and location. Apparently pelicans have even been observed eating smaller birds, sometimes scooping up water in order to drown them before swallowing.

Pelican eats pigeon_Melanie Franz

Pelican and their Fish

An adult pelican may eat up to 1.8 kilograms of fish per day!

The brown pelican is a keen-eyed predator that can spot a fish swimming under the ocean’s surface even while flying almost 20 m above.

Its bigger cousin, the Peruvian pelican, also has great vision. Once a target has been spotted from above, the pelicans plunge into the sea bill-first at high speeds—and often from great height. When they collide with the prey, the impact force usually stuns the victim and it is then scooped up in the pouch.

Pelican eats fish_Melanie Franz

Prey of the Pelican

This one just caught his dinner.

The diet of pelicans usually consists of fish. The size of the preferred prey fish varies depending on pelican species and location.

But did you know that occasionally they also eat amphibians, turtles, crustaceans, insects, birds, and mammals?

20_06-pelican-fish_Melanie Franz Watercolour

Plight of the Pelican

I am currently doing a study of pelicans for an image making course I am taking. After months of absence from drawing I am getting into it again. That means you can expect more pelicans.

This pelican is hungry.

20_06 Pelican purple_Melanie Franz

Flight of the Pelican

The last couple of months just flew by. As they say, time flies when you are having fun and things are all over the place.

After spending the last 4 months enjoying life in Greece and Switzerland due to multiple flight cancellations, I am finally back on the island. As drawing came rather short the last months I am eager to take it up again.

One of the fondest memories of recent years is when we were watching pelicans surfing the waves of the Pacific Ocean in Guatemala. It looked like they where having a blast!

World Watercolor Month Wrap-Up

Finished later than planned but eventually did it. My 31 prompts for World Watercolour Month of 2019. In addition to following the prompt list I also tried to incorporate a traveller theme.

I had a lot of fun with this one. I feel that I got a lot faster at sketching, and proportions and people come easier to me now after a month (and a half) of almost consistent daily drawing. I will definitely keep going. Time to look for another challenge… Any suggestions?

Which one is your favourite?

I think mine are the pooping monkeys (#22) and me relaxing in the hammock (#16).

Day 31 – Favourite Colours #WorldWatercolorMonth

Made it to the last prompt of World Watercolor Month – Favorite Colors! I was at a total loss of what to draw, so I took my favourite photo of me and the boyfriend from our fabulous Crete trip in April as inspiration, and just went with it. It is basically us monkeying around in a beautiful forest.

Have a great weekend everyone!

190731 Favorite Colors_WorldWatercolorMonth_Melanie Franz

 

Day 30 – Wild Things #WorldWatercolorMonth

Almost there, almost a month late! Too many things & lovely visitors happened in between to keep up the daily routine. Oh well…  It’s almost weekend again.

Not sure I´ll be partying like one of those wild things… The inspiration for this prompt was spring break… I witnessed it once last year in Mexico by accident, and hope I will never again!

190730 Wild Things_WorldWatercolorMonth_Melanie Franz

Day 29 – Glorious Green #WorldWatercolorMonth

Took me while what green to focus on. So I took a forest / jungle walk. Tranquillity and colours of the forest. Just loving it!

Do you like to get lost in a forest?

190729 Glorious Green_WorldWatercolorMonth_Melanie Franz

Day 27 – Fruits #WorldWatercolorMonth

Fruits anyone? Whenever I am travelling, I love to go to the local markets and try new things. Or just get my dose of tasty fruits which are almost impossible to find in Iceland.

This drawing turned out rather cartoonish. Trying out different things with the remaining prompts.

190727 Fruits_WorldWatercolorMonth_Melanie Franz

Day 26 – Natural Wonders #WorldWatercolorMonth

So July ended and I am 5 drawings short for #WorldWatercolorMonth.

My excuse is that we had a long weekend coming up here in Iceland and I went on a road trip around the East Fjords of Iceland. It was marvellous but I am also glad to be back home and not to sleep in a tent any more in 10 degrees Celsius.

Prompt for day 26 – Natural Wonders. For a long time I wanted to draw these two Instagram models that I took a photo of at the Grand Cenote near Tulum, Mexico last year. They spend about an hour taking selfies without ever looking at any of the natural wonders around them.  Then they left, with their makeup and hair still perfectly intact. They were quite a source of amusement for the people that were actually having fun swimming in the cold clear waters.

190726 Natural Wonders _WorldWatercolorMonth_Melanie Franz

Day 25 – Shades of Pink #WorldWatercolorMonth

Day 25 of #WorldWatercolorMonth – Shades of Pink. I am behind because we are having a long weekend here in Iceland and I am actually camping! This only happens once a year. I do not like to be out in the cold…

Ever entered a hotel and where like WTF or OMG when did they last renovate this place? This pink setting is not the worst I can imagine though. With a pink cocktail it might actually be quite pleasant. Somehow I have Welcome to the Hotel California stuck in my head.

190725 Shades of Pink_WorldWatercolorMonth_Melanie Franz