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Hi! I’m Sarah Liuson Ongsun from Manila, Philippines. As a homeschooling mom of 3, I don’t really have hours to spare painting, so I love watercolor because it is easy to set-up and clean. Sometimes, I just splash paint around for 10 minutes while my daughter is writing on her worksheets and on occasions it even turns out nicer than something I work on for an hour. I love bold splashes of color and both the predictability and unpredictability of the water and the paint.
I try to read the Bible first before painting. I find that starting the day with the Lord sets the tone for the rest of my day. I started journaling last month to keep a record of my paintings and my thoughts on what the Lord has been teaching me. I also post my sketchbook pages and paintings on my Instagram.
I discovered watercolor last April 2015. I was looking for a summer class for my 9-year-old nephew and it’s funny because I enrolled in the class instead of him. Here is my first ever watercolor.
Not very impressive, but I was fascinated with the way colors moved on the paper and I did this over and over again because it was the only thing I knew to paint at the time! I was intimidated to paint from life or even from pictures because I didn’t know how to draw.
On the second class, we had some chrysanthemums on a glass vase and I had absolutely no idea where to begin. My teacher just encouraged me to just paint what I see and not what I think I see. I found it quite challenging but rewarding as well. Since then, I’ve really enjoyed painting from life because there is something about the experience that you bring home with you with every swish of the brush.
When I see the postcards I made at the beach, I remember the smell of the sea, the sticky humid air, the glaring sunshine, and the peaceful lapping of the waves. The whole time I was painting was recorded in my memory like a 4D movie.
There was a time things got really busy at work and I stopped painting for 8 months. I saw the posts for July’s World Watercolor Month in one of my Facebook groups and was encouraged to start painting again. I was really rusty so I just started painting color swatches. Eventually I joined in on the daily painting activities and now I try to paint something everyday no matter what. I try to paint a variety of subjects: landscapes, animals, flowers, food, and portraits. It is a challenge to go out of your comfort zone but sometimes you will surprise yourself. I’ve recently stopped working following the birth of my baby last month. (Yay! More painting time!)
Process for painting loose florals
Before I begin painting, I study the composition of the flower: how its petals are formed and the shape of the leaves. I don’t draw in pencil but I usually start with a very light wash of color (usually new gamboge or quinacridone gold) to sketch things in their place, leaving spots of white paper in dry places. While it is still wet, I squint to see where the dark shadow areas are and immediately add a thicker color in the dry spots, sometimes touching the wet areas to have the “lost and found” edges.
I also like to drop in different colors like new gamboge on red petals or crimson on the green leaves to make it look more interesting. I love watching the colors dance on paper. Finally, I add very dark and thick paint on top to add contrast. Usually I finish a loose floral painting in 30 minutes or less depending on the size.
Sometimes, I don’t like how the whole painting turns out so I crop it and slice it into smaller cards.
Tools
I’m currently using Strathmore Mixed Media 500 Series Journal 5.5 in x 8.5 in and for bigger paintings, Arches cold pressed 300gsm. My favorite tools include an Isabey Travel Mop Brush which I use almost exclusively for my sketchbook paintings, a #10 Princeton Neptune brush for painting larger sizes, a waterbrush for portability, a Lamy Safari for writing notes, and a White Water-based Sharpie for emergency purposes when I want to have white highlights or sign against a dark background.
My favorite colors to use for are Daniel Smith’s Hansa Yellow Medium, New Gamboge, Quinacridone Rose, Pyrrol Crimson, Green Gold, Transparent Red Oxide, Raw Sienna, French Ultramarine, and Indigo. I also like Winsor and Newton’s Violet and Quinacridone Red.
Favorite Artists
When I was a complete newbie, I chanced upon the blog and instructional videos of Angela Fehr and immediately fell in love with her style. It is very loose and fluid and she didn’t draw before painting which is good for me since I didn’t draw too! Then I discovered Yao Cheng’s class in Creative Bug where she demonstrates how she paints with intentional brush strokes and not just “coloring in” the picture.
Recently I’ve just finished Shari Blaukopf’s class in Craftsy where I appreciated her use of juicy colors and how she builds up a scene and creates textures for landscapes and cityscapes. I especially enjoyed the part about painting different kinds of clouds! I’m currently enrolled in Liz Steels’s Sketching Now Buildings class because sketching buildings is the most intimidating subject for me.
Thank you Charlie for this awesome opportunity to share my passion. I started painting with the goal of using art to inspire and encourage others so I am really over the moon to be featured in this blog. Try something new and do something you’ve always wanted to do. Don’t let age or life’s business get in the way.
I believe that everyone is blessed with creativity and all kinds of talents. Some people are truly born with a brush in their hand, but painting is also a skill that you can learn. All you need is a passion to learn and put in the hours to practice.
Sarah Liuson Ongsun
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Lovely Sarah! Very inspiring! Thanks for sharing, Charlie.
I’m glad you are inspired! ☺️
What progress in such a little time. Keep up the great work!
Hi Dottie! Thank you! I admit I’m a watercolor addict! Practice really makes better! ☺️
Wow Sarah! I can’t believe how far you have come in just a year of painting in watercolor–truly amazing! I love the freshness of your style. Maybe I will try going straight to paint and see how I like it. I appreciate your faith references as I am an artist of faith also. Have you read, “The Creative Call: An Artist’s Response to the Way of the Spirit” by Janice Elsheimer? I would love to stay in touch with you. You can contact me here: annieglacken.com.
Annie, thanks for noticing! I really aim for fresh paintings. I go straight to watercolor because I didn’t know how to draw.. I just see in colors and shapes and paint that. But I’m working on drawing skills now because it really is the foundation to make the painting look believable! I’ll check that book out and your site as well! ☺️
You have a lovely feeling for color, Sarah, and you’ve come a long way in a very short time. I love the idea of chopping up a painting that hasn’t turned out as well as expected! I do admit Charlie’s guest posts are a big success, and his watercolor month has inspired a lot of people – including me! – into painting every day. 💕
Hi! Thanks for kind words! Yes i have Charlie and all the members of worldwatercolorgroup to thank for bringing me back to watercolor! Careful with chopping paintings though I recently cropped one the wrong way because I was in a hurry 😅
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I love your work! I have been impressed with your paintings in the Watercolor Group and I am now even more impressed after hearing your start as an artist! Thank you for sharing your inspiring story!
Aww 😊 I’ve always been hesistant to call myself an artist because I see myself still as an addicted beginner. Thanks for encouraging me and am glad to have inspired you as well!
beautiful work!!
Thank you! Appreciate your taking time to comment! ☺️
I enjoy your Instagram feed. Thank you for sharing the story behind it!
Oh thanks for the follow! Whats your instagram account? would like to learn from your works as well! ☺️
Beautiful spontaneous paintings!
Thank you! As my 5-yr-old always says, “Jesus gave me the idea!” 😁
Beautiful drawing
Thank you for dropping by! Appreciate the kind words! ☺️
Your watercolors are gorgeous, Sarah! Love your style and color choices!
Thank you Anya! Your comment made me smile! ☺️
beautiful paintings
Thank you!!! 😁😁😁
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Loved reading your inspirational post Sarah . I love your spontaneous bold watercolors . Nice work , way to go !
Wow! Happy to read your comment! I get inspiration from your bold use of colors as well! Hope to be able to graduate from simple subjects to urban sketching! ☺️
Lovely! And such a great improvement in such a short time. I have never done watercolor sketching because I know how to draw. I have always been intimidated by it but you encourage me and I will try it too.
I also like that you quote your inspirations with bible quotes as you draw. It gives back talent and glory to God the creator.
Hi Elizabeth, wow I envy people who know how to draw! Painting regularly has improved my observational skills but still working on improving sketching in pencil or ink. Let me know how you find watercolor sketching! ☺️ God is so creative and He loves us so much He made a lot of beautiful things just for us to enjoy. Isn’t that awesome?!
Beautiful Sarah! Love how you include a Bible verse with your art in your journal – especially the one of your daughter! 💕💖😍
Hi Jill! I left the first page of my sketchbook blank and actually found a theme in the verses I write on the succeeding pages! So I wrote this on the first page: “He made us and we are His. The Lord takes pleasure in all He has made! The Lord is good. His faithfulness continues to all generations” which is an excerpt from the passage i wrote on the page with my newborn and some others. ☺️ Just realized i have paintings of my 2ndaughters in the sketchbook but none of my son! Have to get one in im almost out of pages. 😳
Good idea! 😊 I wrote Psalm 25: 4-5 on a page I did in my sketchbook this summer. 💕🌈
I’m particularly fond of your new baby…beautiful and lovely. 🙂
Aww thank you! She is almost 2 months old now. Growing chubbier and prettier everyday. She is a blessing and hasnt given me a hard time. ☺️
Beautiful work. You truly do make colors dance! 😊
Hi Michelle, thank you very much for the encouragement! You are too sweet 😍
A lovely artwork, Sarah. I like your colour mixture. Thank you.