New Intex Challenger K1 Inflatable Kayak

 My New Kayak is Awesome!

Today I took my new Intex Challenger K1 inflatable kayak out for the first time.  It didn't take long to blow up (maybe 10 minutes), and the included pump worked great for the actual kayak, but it did not fit the seat piece or the little corner piece that fits inside. I have asthma and was able to blow up the seat piece OK, but the little corner piece was hard.

I went to Mark's Bay and it was my first time seeing Mark's Bay from this perspective; I'm usually on the shore, looking out 

It was a gorgeous late afternoon/early evening. I went for a swim first, for about an hour, then put the kayak together while I was nice and cool from the lake. It was my first time swimming at Mark's Bay; I usually go to Pointe Des Chenes to swim, but that beach is far from the parking lot, and Mark's Bay is nice and close. 

I had got to the beach at around 4:30, quarter to five, and stayed until almost about 9.

The kayak was comfy but my feet rubbed right up against the edge. I'm only 5'4" and I don't think this would suit anyone taller. 

It was nice and stable and very comfy, and surprisingly fast. 

I haven't kayaked in years, and have only actually tried it a few times in my life.  I am more used to rowboats and canoes. I really love kayaking though.

Mark's Bay is perfect because it is a sandy beach, and pretty shallow. The water was calm and I made it around the bay quickly. 

I saw a cool bird with a big wing span, but it was too far away to make out what type of bird it was.  I didn't have my good camera with the zoom lens, just my phone (which took these pics).

I met a nice lady named Debbie while I was out there and we swam together. She waited for me while I kayaked, which was nice of her. There she is on the shore (below).

I kayaked until the sun dropped below the tree line, and then I figured I should stop as I wasn't sure how long it would take to dry off, let the air out, and pack up.

The sunset was gorgeous. 

The kayak was very hard to get out of and I ended up just rolling out into the water, lol.  I got some water in the kayak getting out so I'll have to learn how to get out better. It was hard to get the air out because I had screwed on the lids too tightly and couldn't get them open. Thankfully a young man came and helped me out.  I didn't bother deflating it all the way; I just waited for the air to come out enough to fold it in half and shove it in my back seat. I plan to go back out again tomorrow.

All in all, I am very glad I got this during Amazon Prime days for half price. It was totally worth the $89.00 I paid.

July is World Watercolor Month, here is Week 1, completed (watercolor, gouache, painting)

 World Watercolor Month

Himi Gouache

So this first one was done a week before #worldwatercolormonth. I'd just purchased a new set of Miya Himi Jelly Gouache and wanted to try them out.  I really like it. I followed a tutorial by Ruth Wilshaw.

Maimeriblu Venezia paint on dollarama paper, lol; 19 year old paint!

This second one was my first time trying out my 19 year old Maimeriblu Venezia paints, to see if they still worked. They were fine!  I just used Dollarama watercolor paper because I had no idea what I was doing, and the paper curled. I followed a tutorial by the Frugal Crafter.

Nancy's Kayak, Himi Gouache on Dollarama Paper.

I still didn't know that World Watercolor Month was a thing, or that the prompt for the day was 
"sunlit",  but I just happened to paint this, based on a photo my friend Nancy took while out kayaking.  It was Canada Day, July 1st and I wanted to paint a Canadian scene (this is Lake Superior).

First time trying Plein Air painting, Belleview Park, the wind turned the page and made a mess, lol

Redoing the scene from Belleview Park at home, with a photo I took while out trying to plein air paint.  

On July 2nd, I went out to our local park to get photos of the sunset,but more importantly, to wait for the moon rise. It was the night of the Buck Moon, and it also would have been my Uncle Buck's 92nd birthday (he passed away in late June).  On  a whim, I took along my mini (palm sized) sketchbook and my Winsor and Newton Cotman field kit. I forgot to bring a pencil or a clip for my book, and sat down to try to paint. The sun set AND the wind turned the page, leaving me with a mess, but I still had fun. When I got home I tried again in my sketchbook, using a photo I'd taken at the park. I started it but it was very late so I finished it on the 3rd. I was very happy with my first "original" artwork in watercolor.

The next day July 3rd, I discovered World Watercolor month was a thing, and that the prompt of the day was "raspberry". When I started my sketchbook, I'd left the first page, front and back blank as I didn' want to ruin it, lol and started my first painting on the second page (see above).  I finished it and decided to use the back of the first page for the raspberry. I followed a tutorial by Julie Lis Art Tutorials for the berry.

"burst" 

July 4h, the prompt was burst. Since July 4th is Independence day in the US, I did some fireworks in watercolor with a crayon resist.

"startle"

July 5th was Startle so I did owls, as they always seem startled. I made one much fatter and he broke the branch, but the snapped branch doesn't really show, lol. I put the wrong date in my sketchbook. 

My second try at plein air, Cotmans in tiny sketchbook, Whitefish Island

On July 6 I took my little sketchbag on my walk to Whitefish Island.  I sketched this quickly while sitting on the boardwalk over the beaver pond.  I remembered my pencil, and a clip to keep my pages from closing this time. I also brought a pen. I was much happier with this experience.

"flavor", watercolors

I did an extra painting on July 6 because the prompt was "flavor" and I wanted to try out my Mozart Komorebi Watercolors 

"Lemon" Miya Himi 

Day 7, July 7, the prompt was "lemon", so I painted these lemons using my Miya Himi Gouache, from a reference photo.  I was really happy with this one and discovered I prefer gouache to watercolor for painting more detail.  I have more control with gouache; but not as much as I do with acrylics (which I still prefer).  The gouache is fun and I am learning a lot. I do love the watercolors; I just need more practice.   Which I will get if I keep going, painting every day.  It's an excellent challenge and a fun way to learn, but a LOT of work, lol.

Well, that's it for week 1. See you at the end of week 2.