jewels of the earth

Spent a WONDERFUL day at a watercolour workshop using ground and pulverised minerals that speak of their earth bound origins.

These are the Daniel Smith tubes of very special colours, a Seattle based company where our teacher Debi Riley was originally from.
What a a fantastic teacher and all about why watercolour does NOT have to be scary and does NOT have to be tricky and IS very versatile....and she is really well organised which is always a bonus.
The names on the tubes are magical; Amethyst, Black Tourmaline, Russian Emerald, Jadeite, Lapis, Mayan Blue, Rhodonite and Sleeping Beauty Turquoise...oh and Tigers Eye.
Somewhere in the shed is big lump of Namibian Tigers Eye, maybe I should get out the mortar and pestle!!

I also learned that for the travelling would be quick sketch journaller, the three colours required (yes only three) are Cobalt, Permanent Rose and Windsor Lemon.
All inspired...time to travel :)