Three Tutorials now uploaded on my New YouTube Channel

I have been making accordion sketchbooks since around 2000. Up to now they have been for personal use and as gifts for friends and family.

New Tutorial Added Today

As my weekly watercolor classes and workshops are winding up for the fall, I look forward to joining my fellow urban sketchers on location.

I've been looking for something to do at home as well during the long hiatus until classes resume in late January. Recently, I've also been making junk journals in the craft side of my studio as gifts for friends and family members.

I am finishing up an international junk journal challenge and will soon have a fun, new project video to add! Subscribe to MicheleCooperCrafts to see that one when it's up!

What is a Junk Journal and What Do You Do With It?
A junk journal is a handmade book made up of recycled items such as papers from magazines, brochures, patterned paper, music sheets, envelopes, packaging, brown paper bags, maps, greeting cards, post cards, doilies, to name a few.  The book covers can be made from cereal boxes, old book covers or any hard card boards.  The list is endless, especially when your creative imagination is sparked!

This is the cover of a Junk Journal I made recently for my teenage granddaughter. She can sketch and write in it. The faux leather cover is made from dyed and distressed baking paper and two manila envelopes.I will upload a tour of this on my new channel soon.

Creating and making a junk journal is like keeping a diary but with more graphics, memorabilia and keepsake items. It is to record and document your thoughts, memories, an occasion or an event that has touched you. It tells a story and it does not necessarily have to be a daily journal.

My original YouTube Channel, MichelesNWStudio has numerous watercolor tutorials that I have uploaded for many years as an educational aid for my students and subscribers. Now I think it's time to separate the fine art side of the studio from the craft side of the studio, on YouTube at least. I will be uploading some new projects on both channels in the next few days and weeks. I hope you will visit, subscribe and comment.

New YouTube Watercolor Tutorial

I was inspired by all the cherry trees in our neighborhood. They are just barely past their full bloom and the recent downpour of rain, hail and windy weather has already caused some of the blossoms to come sprinkling down

Naturally, I realized the emergency and got busy filming a video tutorial on how to paint a tree full of cherry blossoms in watercolor. I used the vibrant colors in the Prima Tropicals set. It's just freshly uploaded and you can see it right here!

Update: Uh oh, Saturday I tried using a feature on YouTube and now it deleted all but 5 minutes of my 14 minute video. Working on it! Sunday----Okay, Fixed!

How, you may ask did I come by all the lovely cherry blossoms in the video?

Since we haven't got a cherry tree of our own, I snipped a few branches off our star magnolia, also in bloom, and hustled over to offer our neighbors a trade!

I traded some branches of our star magnolia (r) for some of our neighbor's cherry blossoms!

Although I have this list in the description on the video, here are the (unsponsored) products I used:

Brushes
Silver Black Velvet Voyager Travel Brush #6 round--squirrel and synthetic blend feels like sable
Richeson Grey Matters synthetic #12 round--made for plein air, non reflective ferrule

Paper
Fabriano Studio 140# CP, cut into 4x6" postcard size

Watercolors
Prima Tropicals Set
Two additional colors: Cobalt Blue, Manganese Blue (both Daniel Smith)

Day 2 of World Watercolor Month - 2nd Free Watercolor Video

Just for World Watercolor Month, I have made 5 short YouTube video tutorials on easy how to watercolor techniques and will post them here each day. That way you can learn how watercolor works as you do your daily practice. Follow this link to today's free short video tutorial.

Today is Day 2 so let's stay with something easy. What can you make in 7 minutes?

a. Frosting

b. A 12 color watercolor wheel (say THAT five times fast!)

Watercolor Color Wheel Limited primary palette=Make 12 colors from three colors. You will need:

1. Fabriano Studio 140# watercolor paper 
2. Pentel waterbrush
3. water in small plastic cup
4. 3 small tubes of artist's quality watercolor (squeeze a bit out onto a saucer or make a DIY tiny travel palette and use the lid for mixing.
5. Colors: Azo Yellow, Quinacridone Rose, Phthalo Blue (green shade)

How to Remove Rust from Altoids Travel Palette, A quick, easy and nontoxic solution

I have a new YouTube tutorial for travel sketchers! Here are my top tips on keeping your Altoids Mini travel palette virtually rust free. No worries about using toxic chemicals. The ingredients are right from your kitchen pantry! Follow this link to watch the tutorial on YouTube now!

In the spirit of sketching versus formal painting, don't be too obsessive about every tiny dot of rust. Conscientious daily maintenance prevents most rust problems and this easy method lets you save your energy for sketching on location.