Artist inspiration, acrylic inks and watercolour painting.

In this video , I show you some of my finished paintings and talk about the inspiration behind them. I love painting both watercolour and acrylic works on paper. We chat about acrylic inks and I do a few demonstrations on how I like to incorporate them into my work.
We pull a card from my "Art Poetry" for insights and inspiration oracle deck, and also from my 2024 Fodder collage calendar. I share a book, "How to Be More Tree", and I read a page for insights. I also paint an intuitive abstract watercolour background, but it remains unfinished. I plan to go back to it with mark making once it's dry.
When I do my swatches, I like to clean my brush in the shape of my brush stroke on a 98 lb watercolour piece of paper. I love using this paper once it has dried for new paintings/projects.
Stoneground Paint Co, gouache and watercolours.
theoceanpaper.com ("Around the World Palette).
Mozart Komorebi Paint palette:
Amazon (Canada)
Mozart Premium Japanese Watercolor Paint Set 40 Rich Water Color Include Solid, Metallic & Neon Water Colors Artist QualityWatercolor Paint Perfect Travel Watercolor Set for Adults, Students
Acrylic inks by Liquetex (Cadmium Yellow Light , Carbon black, )or Dr. Ph Martin Bombay India Ink
90 to 98lb Canson XL watercolour or mixed media paper (to clean brush for later collage paper)
140lb Canson XL watercolour or mixed media paper
12 Round Princeton watercolour brush
Mentions:
Artist: Betty Krause Art "Fields of Flowers",
www.bettyfrank...
Alena Hennessey
Book: "How to Be More Tree", Illustrated by Annie Davidson.
Oracle deck: "Art Poetry" for insights and inspiration, by Allison Dawrant
www.allisondaw...
The 2024 Artist Almanac calendar, A collage fodder resource, purchased through artist , Christine Karpiak. (SOLD out).

[@suzeca-22]

I came to your channel by way of Denise Love… she does videos everyday and gives skill share classes. She bought some of your cards and was showing them on her channel. I immediately thought.. those are beautiful who did those? Right away I had to come looking for you.

[@allisondawrant]

Oh thank you. Denise is wonderful 🥰

[@chrisjohnson7609]

Allison you are always inspirational. You share so much content for free that many other creatives would sell as an art course. It's testament to your generous spirit. Thankyou

[@allisondawrant]

You are so welcome! thanks for saying that. xx

[@BB-nz5sk]

Lovely and very true comment!!! ❤

[@13mainstreet18]

I so love the cow. I was doing reductionist work for the first time today, then came to your channel. Cow gone wrong would be a good title.

[@allisondawrant]

That is awesome!

[@JoJoTarz]

hi Allison- great video- I would love to see you do a video on how you deal with cleanup and disposal of acrylic paints since they contain micro-plastics and all. I have held back on getting into any acrylic medium because of the plastic components and also the smell of them.....watercolor seems so much easier to deal with in cleaning up and disposing of so I primarily use that for now. thanks!!

[@allisondawrant]

yes- i find it quite stressful as I am aware of the toxicity and environmental impact.

[@JoJoTarz]

@@allisondawrant me too! I actually tried some Holbein acryla gouache recently, because I have been so curious, and when I got to the clean up part I didn't know what to do, so I looked around KZbin to find some tips- I have been so used to get in get out with watercolor, that the time it took for me to get the paint out of the brushes etc, I was like, wow this takes a lot of effort! I do love the way that acrylic looks, the bright color and matte finish tho! maybe regular gouache would be better for me to get those effects without the stress- who knows!

[@BB-nz5sk]

Try painting with a palette knife. At least it wouldn’t go into the water that way. ❤

[@biancathomas7934]

I love watching your videos. Sometimes, I leave them playing while I'm home alone, so your voice is company whilst my husband and daughter are at work and school, respectively. Other times, I browse and dip into the artwork. Other times, I'll watch everything, rewinding anything I miss and make mental notes on how you achieve your beautiful paintings. Yesterday, I was having a go at painting in acrylics for the very first time and left your previous videos running in the background. The thing I like about the length and unedited nature of your videos is seeing how things develop. I used to be a very logical and organised individual before my brain injury and find my mind is now a bit like it's own butterfly, flitting from subject to subject, so seeing how you approach art in this nature makes me feel better about my new normal. 😊 I love the book "how to be more tree" I've popped one in my basket to purchase for my mums birthday and I'm going to get myself one, also. I'm currently accumulating books on nature. One I purchased the other day was "The book of the Tree,Trees in Art", featuring various artists 🎨. I've asked my husband to purchase one of your oracle decks for my birthday, so fingers crossed 🤞 this time😅. It's nice to have positive reminders to pull on throughout the day.🌟

[@allisondawrant]

wow. thankyou for such a beautiful note and encouragement . Much appreciated! made my day.

[@KS-wr4vv]

Great video Allison. I think I must like unedited videos . They feel more like lives.It’s been awhile since I’ve tried the negative painting. This makes me want to revisit it. I’ll have to check out the bio diversity image bank. Also I love how you drew the eyes off of the cow . I’ve never seen that before. The lashes are too cute!

[@allisondawrant]

thankyou so much

[@angelakapler2997]

I really enjoy your videos. You are easy to get along with from this side of things. I can relate to your varied thought processes and multiple different projects. I find I also like to try different things to change things up. I really like that you show us so many things that you have done or are in the process of doing. You are always interesting and enjoyable. Just be you. That works wonderfully!

[@monicas7615]

Completely agree!

[@allisondawrant]

Thank you so much!

[@jbelhard]

I just bought your O. Deck & know it will inspire me. I too love the little calendar. Hope artists initial their work next yr

[@allisondawrant]

I hope so too!

[@Seeleeart]

😊 thank you for this. It’s relaxing and relable😊 I do the same with my artwork when I have leftover paint, I do the same thing you do. the thought of wasting is wasteful and making abstract work is the best way to get more out of your watercolors. Your work is beautiful

[@allisondawrant]

thankyou

[@taffy-sophiashahbozian7327]

I love your teaching style You’re so much like me ( your art style ) we’d have so much fun together. I’m binging on your videos I’m in Austin Texas❤Love

[@allisondawrant]

Aw, thanks Taffy-Sophia. I love that you love my videos and can relate to my style. I appreciate you watching and commenting!

[@kathyb5740]

I love your beautiful art and appreciate your videos... thank you for taking time to teach us.❤

[@allisondawrant]

My pleasure 😊

[@dianecharest8365]

Those pages are beautiful in that calender.

[@allisondawrant]

yes- very inspirational

[@KS-wr4vv]

I’m so excited for this one today! Love the thumbnail . This is gonna be good!

[@allisondawrant]

Hope so!! I’m still struggling with good thumbnails. haha

[@jbelhard]

Recently found you on line. Love your work. Thx for sharing. Jill, San Diego

[@allisondawrant]

Thanks so much Jill,

[@annehebert6959]

I so enjoy your videos. I always learn something. I am a lot like you in that I get bored sometimes with the style or medium and look for something new to try. I love art so much. I art everyday. Some I sell, some I give away and some I keep. Thank you for sharing your beautiful talent and knowledge.

[@allisondawrant]

thanks Anne

[@MarieJS535]

Allison, thank you for sharing your work. Beautiful, inspiring, thought provoking pieces. Love them all!

[@allisondawrant]

Thank you so much!

[@CC-jy3el]

Hi Allison! I really enjoy your videos, I find them so calming. :) And the anecdotes about your son are so sweet. I just wanted to pop in and say - the orange Dr. Ph. Martin's ink isn't an acrylic ink, it's an India ink. The binder is shellac instead of acrylic. Most of them work great, but I've found that for some reason their brown colors tend to separate over time in the bottle. They are really nice for ink washes and for dip pens. Edited to add - I just checked the Dr. Ph. Martin site and they DO make liquid acrylics called "Spectralite" but the "Bombay" line that you have is their India ink!

[@allisondawrant]

this is so helpful! thanks for your research and taking the time to let me know😁 I appreciate you.

[@user-um1mc4rn8x]

Это гениально!❤

[@allisondawrant]

Thankyou

[@cathydawe5944]

Always inspiring to watch and listen to you Allison! I really appreciate the insights!

[@allisondawrant]

I appreciate that! Been thinking of you!

[@eveking6356]

Thanks so much for sharing your talent ❤

[@allisondawrant]

My pleasure 😊

[@jessicalynne420]

Hello my friend. I just am on replay. Hope all is well. Keep being awesome!

[@allisondawrant]

on replay? like, replaying my video?? awesomeness. Thanks Jessica!

[@ritarikelle2278]

What beautiful pictures 😍

[@madelynsmith8281]

I love your technique! Love the moon too! Your paintings are so beautiful.

[@allisondawrant]

Thank you so much!

[@terriponcelet2169]

That was great Allison, I love your spontaneity ❤

[@allisondawrant]

Thank you so much!!

[@monicas7615]

Thank you for sharing your beautiful art and processes! I love your work and your videos so much!!❤

[@allisondawrant]

thankyou Monica

[@joannecormier6767]

I love your videos Allison! Thank you for sharing your art and your wisdom 😍

[@allisondawrant]

Thank you so much!

[@dianecharest8365]

Have you tried the liquitex fluorescent colors yet? They are beautiful. The pink, orand andbreds are what i use. Try them. Youll love them.

[@allisondawrant]

Thanks for the tip!

[@sharonalkenbrack2871]

Just lovely advice and fun.

[@lucieleduc7520]

Hi Allison where can I purchase your deck of poetry .I’m from Quebec Canada and I discovered you’re work not very long ago and I’m in love thank you so much for sharing your time and you’re art.xx

[@allisondawrant]

Hi! I am restocking this Sept on my website. Its www.allisondawrant.com Hello from Alberta!

[@carrma57]

I love watching your videos. I have always painted acrylic abstracts and recently started using watercolours. I have been buying pigmented inks to use with my watercolours. I’ve collected every colour of Liquitex acrylic inks, they are fun to use. Ph Martin’s India ink isn’t acrylic based. It is a pigmented ink with a shellac base. I like using them as a watercolour. 🫶

[@allisondawrant]

Thanks - Oh, how interesting about the Dr.Ph Martin inks. I appreciate your sharing on here.:)

[@carrma57]

@@allisondawrant you’re welcome. The India ink makes awesome dendrites. I do Sumi art and the inks for that are similar. They are fantastic to use. Have a wonderful day 🫶

[@loripalladino4964]

Love your videos!

[@allisondawrant]

Glad you like them!

[@alysonhovanec6314]

I have a birthday coming up (shh the big 50) and so I think I need to buy your deck! Love it so much!

[@allisondawrant]

🎉do you have a March bday? mine is the 25 th. turning 45. I see we share the same name just different spelling.

[@KS-wr4vv]

I just turned 50! lol and I bought her beautiful deck! I didn’t even consider it as a birthday present. The cards are beautiful and they feel smooth and cool in your hands. You will love the gold leaf like accents and of course her beautiful art. Treat yourself you won’t be disappointed.i was fearing my 50th but so far it’s been great. Happy birthday 🎉

[@alysonhovanec6314]

@@allisondawrant lol, I do! Mine is the 24th!

[@pgrace2555]

Great style

[@allisondawrant]

thanks

[@libbygreenberg4764]

Is there a video where you show doigng a watercolor painting on canvas and prepping the canvas?

[@allisondawrant]

my instagram account has some videos of this somewhere! But I tend to not film the prepping of the canvas... it's quite messy and not to mention, a bit toxic. I often do it outside or in a well ventilated space .... I'm still learning how to do this well (watercolour/fluid art on canvas)...

[@TracyHurley]

Hi, I love playing with artist inks as well. Looking at the orange/yellow Dr PH Martin’s, I think it’s an India ink. I’m not sure what they are using as a binder, but I thought it wasn’t acrylic. I believe when I’ve tried to use them and liquitex acrylic ink in the same piece while wet, they reacted to each other strangely. Not sure if it helps but just wanted to share in case it does. Love your video!

[@allisondawrant]

this is super helpful Tracy,. Thanks for sharing.

[@DarcysMixedMedia]

❤

[@allisondawrant]

thankyou Darcy

[@dianecharest8365]

Make it a habit to always screw the cover on you inks. I learned from that. Picked up the bottle and the cover was unscrewed. Knock the whole thing over.

[@allisondawrant]

that is great advice!!! thanks for the reminder .

[@jrose9378]

I’m curious why you’re using tea instead of water. I think I missed the explanation somewhere along the way

[@allisondawrant]

Ha! It was quite random. I was trying to experiment with it as a “neutral” colour next to my brights, and used it when i demonstrated painting with water prior to dropping the acrylic inks in… that way it would show up on video🙃 But i could have just used my paint water!

[@dianad6314]

There is a common denominator with a lot of artists presently.

[@allisondawrant]

yes, artists inspire artists!