Sketchbooks: Pencil and Watercolor

Pencil sketch looking west heading south from Logan

North end of Franklin, Idaho

Farm along Mink Creek (Water color)

Graineries near Logan

Set of Three,   W.C. on Cold Press

Revisiting Black's Fork

Sunny Meadow on Black's Fork  w.c. on cold press

From the sketchbook -

We took the "road less traveled" last weekend.  Marvelous scenery and buildings you just don't see anymore.  That area is one of the better kept secrets in the region; full of dairy farms, big barns, and enticing snippets of family history. 
Update:   Below is what we thought was the Ovid school, but I researched a little and found it was the church - dedicated about 1896.  The steeple has been pared down to the shape we saw this weekend - but it had been tall with a bell tower type look at the beginning.

Ovid, Idaho Church, (graphite over a watercolor wash)

Mink Creek School, (colored pencil over watercolor wash)

Watercolors

Bear Lake Pioneer Home with "detached" porch - watercolor

 Thought this was interesting because a mud porch or front door had been taken off the north side of the home, but the outline remained because the wood inside the porch had been protected from the elements. Construction would be typical of the homes built after the first small one story log cabins had served their purpose. 

Randolph/Woodruff area brick home, watercolor

This stately brick home stands abandoned - trees overgrown, some dead.  Another mute testimony to better days in the ranching communities of northern Utah.

Bedroom Window  (Watercolor)

Tried the old window in a 20" x 14" size.  It's getting there, but I'd still adjust the brick color, though I do like the texture of the bricks.    Leaves are coming.  I blew the top ones - need to apply the resist better.  Live and Learn...

New Watercolor

Bedroom Window #1  (Water Color on Cold Press, 5 in by 7in)

Had a great adventure associated with this lovely old brick home.  If you'd like to read more, check out our Kennington family blog spot site.

I happened on to the south side of the house just at the right time on a hot afternoon.  Shadows were lovely, brick color and texture were great!

The bricks need some adjustment - and the bright red one needs toned down.  Next time I'll paint the rose bushes in the foreground and then mask them off to try and preserve the definition - same with the cottonwood leaves in the upper left.  The shadows need some toning down too - they should all be the same depth of blue, maybe wash the brick with yellow.

But for a starting point I was pretty pleased.

Watercolor Studies

 Northern Utah farm ground

Watercolor on Cold Press

Echo Canyon #1

Watercolor on Cold Press

Garden wall

Adobe Wall
Watercolor on cold press

The path ran along this adobe wall which had  a wonderful garden on the other side - dropped down about 3 feet to a large patio - yes, I did take a peek - too beautiful to pass up.  

I was impressed with the very structured wall and ironwork in contrast to the wild greens of the thick foliage rising up behind it.  This would be wonderful retreat on a hot afternoon.

New Scenery = New Creativity

       Small building from back side      

Watercolor on Strathmore

I liked the large tree throwing shade on an absolutely bare section of ground. 

The small building meshed together - crumbling bricks on the left joined to old adobe which is also merged with newer finished adobe in the one section with the roof covered with palm fronds
gave a history of construction. 

Such construction different sensibilities in a hot climate.

Pacific Ocean       

Watercolor on Cold Press

Scene looks deceptively small without a point of reference.  

The dunes on the front right are about 2 stories high. 

Peach colored sand made the water appear silvery blue most days and in most light.

Abandoned building 

Colored pencil on Charcoal paper

From the shady side of the building, the view through 
to the sunny vegetation out beyond was striking. 

I also liked the grand entrance opposed to the crumbling adobe on the back wall. 

Reminds me of some people - lots of show up front, but not much on the interior. 

We had the opportunity to see some new country in January.  It was an enlightening experience and we are grateful for the opportunity.  I took 3 sketchbooks (almost my whole carry on) and couldn't wait to get sketching each day.  Amazing to me how travel and new sights stir up the creative juices.

Watercolors

Cottonwood Lake Road
- a great little side trip.
The scanner decided to crop an inch all the way around, but the road is the important thing.

Cottonwood Lake
There was a platform over the water in the '30's used for dances, and I believe a sawmill too.
I'm working at getting contrasts. This is a combination of watercolor and w.c. pencils - I feel a real need to control where the color goes. I guess it's the residual effects of years of pen and ink.

By the way - the art show in Cheyenne worked out really well.
Many pieces are now happy in new homes. The majority of the acrylic and colored pencil sold.
I am smiling even though the profits about covered matting and framing costs.
There's just something about knowing people out there will actually buy your work.
I wonder about adding a serious gallery to this blog. Hmmmmmm.

Quaken Aspens

Quaken Aspens #1
Watercolor
I always go back to my old favorites - quaken aspen trees.

Paris

Paris Park
Watercolor

Another little ditty playing with the Hot Press Paper and water color pencils. I could help the folks unbend a little - anyway, a memory along the Seine River.

Field in Winter #2

Field in Winter #2
Water color on Hot Press

A scene from central Utah.
Haven't used Hot Press paper for years until a good friend gave me a few sheets
and I have been experimenting all summer.