Letter Z and Zinnia

Letter Z and Zinnia are part of a watercolor and ink study in letter styles and object styles beginning with that letter. Each study will focus on one letter and one object beginning with that letter in order to collect and practice various artistic styles and alphabets.

We’ve reached the last letter, letter Z, and the end of the alphabet study (unless I decide to do it again at a later point with lowercase letters). What a time of learning and exploring letters, watercolor, and ink! I’ve enjoyed it, and I hope you have too.

Letter Z proved itself as another terrible letter to use for watercolor and ink. And I refuse to use zebra, in an effort to stay away from the usual Z.

The end of the alphabet is filled with difficult letters. Letters X, Y, and Z all together. When the study is finished, I’m sure I’ll see options for letter Z all over the place. While in the midst of it, though, they all disappear, show up in the middle of words or make me want to Zzzzz.

Despite the word difficulties, I think letter Z was always going to be zinnia. They are some of my favorite summer flowers, sporting such color and style variations.

Every year, I can’t resist planting them along my garden. By the end of July, they throw yellows, oranges, reds, whites, and pinks everywhere. I love to bring in a bouquet of them mixed with sunflowers, calendulas, and coneflowers to set on my table. It improves the feel of the whole room. Bright cheery color invasion.

So here is what I learned from Letter Z and Zinnia:

Dip Pen Letter Z Styles

• Some letters surprise me with their options and some letters confound me. Letter Z is full of surprises. Look at the variety of styles!
• Some of these styles could double as number two or even number three. Do you see their trickery?
• Favorite styles: 6, 7, 17, 18.
• Least favorite styles: 5 and 15.

Watercolor and Ink Letter Z Styles

• The love for letter Z continues. Those points!
• The mermaid style has a snake-like look to it this time.
• That bold style has changed and improved over the course of the study. I may have to go back and redo some of the letters to keep them consistent.
• Can I pick a favorite? As soon as I say, “That bold one catches my eye,” then, I see the mermaid style Z and the turquoise letter, the cool simpleness of the shadowed style, the whimsy top left letter and the curling whip of the top right. I guess I can’t choose.

Watercolor and Ink Zinnia Styles

• Can you see my longing for spring in these paintings? Color and warmer weather. Come soon. It’s time.
• Sometimes, I can picture these prints on wrapping paper. The whole right column would work.
• I love the dip pen accents on the bottom left bouquet.
• Favorites: the right top and middle.
• I don’t have a least favorite. They were a joy to paint, and I want to keep looking at them.

Next up, we’ll start a season of giving ourselves permission, revolving around creativity, lettering, watercolor and ink, of course.

If you missed the rest of the alphabet, you can find links to the posts here.

Until next time, I wish spring upon you (unless you have spring. Then, please send some my way!)!

Happy creating!