Stalled work

Unfinished paintings...we all have some of these hanging around. I don't know how interest wanes in one painting vs. another..but this one just never saw completion...it's still in the studio and maybe, just maybe I'll unearth it and with renewed vigor send this one over the finish line!

Gazers

As I write this I realize it's been a while since I've sketched in any of my journals...well the New Year is around the corner (unbelievable!) and I can make a resolution to amp it up a bit on the daily sketching/painting front! Hope you all had a great week...thanks for the continued comments!

Workshops 2011

Here's "Big Tom" a turkey I had the privilege of photographing this summer...I don't know his fate for next week, but I've immortalized him in pigment and sent a card to my mailing list wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving....I'm taking next week off from blogging...so you all enjoy your holiday...I've posted my 2011 workshops..here's the link...I'll post more as they become available...The link is also on the sidebar of my blog.

Winter Birds

I just made some "Winter Birds" card sets that contain 2 each of these 4 images for a total of 8 cards for $21.95 plus $3.05 S/H...I've put a buy it now button at the end of this post...so let me know if you'd like a pack of these cards just in time for the Holidays! They are 5"x7" blank cards with a photographic image of my paintings on the front, packaged in a clear plastic box.

Cherry time

Who knew there were tons and tons of cherry trees around Flathead Lake in Montana? Well I didn't and I was so surprised...we were there a bit early for the harvest...but the red clusters in the trees were just gorgeous. Funny enough the ones I sketched were cherries bought from a farm stand harvested in Washington State!

rain fuzz

Day two it was rainy...so here is the same view, but somewhat like a photo that's out of focus...compare it to yesterday's post. I did this with a watersoluble pen and washed some plain water over the drawing at the end for that fuzzy effect.

pens, pens

I love pens and markers...but my current favorite is the Faber sketch pen..they come in black, grey, sepia and sanguine...display after display of pens is just an invitation to stick around the store and test them all! This was Coeur d'Alene lake in Idaho.

color swatches

Whenever I need to fill a journal page and inspiration is lacking...I put squares or whatever shapes of colors that appear in the surrounding area. Here is my color palette of the Columbia River Valley along the Oregon/Washington State border...done in the car, but not while driving :)

Foliage

Here are some fall trees in full color I did a while ago...the shadows under the trees are a bit stiff and could have been more lively. It was an exercise in seeing the forest through the trees...or however that saying goes!

multi view

This is from my sketchbook...a multi image of a friend's german shepherd...actually the dog thought he was a retriever...could not get enough of you throwing pine cones for him to run and get! I try these multi views either with the figure or whatever else, but find it's hard to superimpose one over the other...there are some artists out there who do this beautifully!

draw with color

I thought I'd take you back to a couple posts ago when I was talking about drawing with your brush and colors instead of with a pencil. This was from Mel's workshop and was my underdrawing. Here you can see that you vary the colors of your lines and aim to have them show through in the finished work. Different, but fun to try.

Cabin fever

One more Montana post today...This was the house our friends rented..the little cabin from a couple posts ago is another building on the property where we stayed...all snug, in amongst the trees. I buy multi-media sketchbooks, but sometimes cover the outside with handmade papers or a map of the area etc.. It makes the journal less generic and more personal.

Campfire

I guess I'm on a sketchbook kick...this was of the same Montana trip of a campfire looking at Flathead Lake. Now that Lake is cold...hence I did not go in it except for a few toes! I rather enjoyed painting it and looking at it. It's time to revive my kitchen journal and start some ambitious paintings in the studio...stay tuned!

Leaves are falling

Yahoo...the political ads are over! A sense of calm will descend over the airwaves again...well until the news channels start picking apart every winning candidate again...this tree sketch from the summer gives a peaceful feeling. The leaves are almost all off the trees here and the raking begins!

Iris, too

Another quick iris sketch from the beginning of summer. Putting the garden to bed is always so bittersweet. But the leaves are falling and the ground is getting frosty...so it's time. Time to develop pictures I took this summer when everything was blooming for winter studio inspiration!

Cabin by the lake

You must be full of Halloween candy by now and buzzing around the world wide web! Trick or treat.. this little cabin was by Flathead Lake in Montana..gave me a chance to get out the brown pigments on my palette! It was presketched using a sepia colored Faber felt tipped pen.