Sketchers Go Downeast

 

Sketchers went Downeast, to Stonington. Field Trip!!

Sketchbook Wandering!

 

 I got to ride in the back seat...

Quick impressions on the road to Deer Isle. 

Last chance to enjoy tree branches as buds are sprouting.

I got car sick from all the curves & hills, but it was worth it!

 

Glimpses drawn from imagination & memory.

In the sketchbook, not on watercolor paper...

Low tide.

If I could sum the voyage up in word, it would be: BLUE!

Blue & breezes & springtime sun, 

replacing frozen grays of winter.

On the way home we stopped on top of Caterpillar Hill,

and looked out across the Bay! So often I have looked out to 

Caterpillar Hill from my home on the mainland! Amazing!

The Mouton Studies

Mouton came to me during a time of intense bad-luck stress. 

The bad-luck stress left, but Mouton decided to stay. 

He is a "Sigikid" and comes from Germany.

Recently I did a quick sketch of him in my daily journal.

He liked it. "Do more, Rita, do more!" 

"Andrew Wyeth did many studies of his favorite models, Rita. 

So please, study ME!"

He often sits next to my pen cup. He knows how to get

my attention. (He's onto my fountain pen obsession.)

 He did not realize how how much work went into me trying to illustrate, 

verses my private sketching! 

After all these years of loving & sharing picture books with children,

I know even more what tremendous work goes into 

creating animated, consistent images!

Picture book authors & illustrators are Mouton's & my heroes!

(Mouton's favorite picture book at the moment is 

I Lost My Bear by Jules Feiffer.)

He may still prefer it when I sketch him loosely in my sketchbooks, 

but he's glad I challenged myself to try something new.

Mouton's been speaking to me in French lately.

(We like listening to a French radio show while we work.)

Even though his name has French origins, 

he pronounces it MOO' tawn. Accent on the MOO.

(Il aime faire le clown-pronounced "clune.")

 

Now, take a break from modeling, dear Mouton.

Repose-toi bien.