The Sketchers meet once a week, always
in beautiful places that are not far from our homes.
When I resumed going, over a month ago,
drawing felt new all over again.
I had the tendency to try to record too much.
After all, so I was seeing so many wonderful details!
This on location sketch got re-worked as I realized my eye
had not seen certain things correctly.
It would have been an ideal oil painting.
Sometimes, with watercolor, I miss being able
to make lots of revisions.
The top sketch was a 2nd version,
using the original sketch, plus a photo.
I like both for different reasons.
I'm finally coming around to making quick value studies
before jumping into color. How seductive color is though!
Lucy Willis' book, Light: How to See It, How to Paint It
has had a big influence on me recently.
I used to own it, but gave it away.
Apparently I wasn't ready at the time.
We had an excursion to our local,
rather historic cemetery. Some challenges in perspective here.
On another excursion I stood on the end of a long wharf
at a harbor of a neighboring town.
As I sketched, the tide moved in.
Light, shadows & reflections grew more pronounced.
A lobster boat or 2 came in to shore. The slow rhythm
& unhurried atmosphere calmed me.
No matter what the art lessons or technical challenges,
I Iove the peace I experience while sketching outdoors.
