Life Drawing from the Sketch Book

 I would like to get time with each little grandchild while they are engaged with something else so I could observe and try drawing them from life.  Here Reagan was absorbed with a puzzle and paid very little attention to me.

From the Sketchbook

Turnerville and Grover Park sketches from photos

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...

From the sketchbook this month

Colored Pencil

Watercolor from photographs

Colored Pencil

I guess I'm dreaming of warmer days... But I love being forced to work in the studio and really try to get things down on paper - like snuggling up to a book on a dreary winter day.  The hours fly by.

Lost Creek from below the Hardman,  2012 Colored Pencil

The Bedford place had such lovely scenery - any direction was a visual treat.  This scene was done on textured mat board with Prismacolor colored pencils which are fantastic  for the range of colors possible. 

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.

From the Sketchbook

Francis Peak

Francis Peak at Sunrise

We lost a beloved daughter-in-law in March.  These are scenes from her kitchen window.  I spent a lot of quiet time looking out that window.  The top scene seems to reflect my initial mindset to get everything right - frustration at not being in control of the situation.  A few days later I sketched the second.  It seems to mirror my acceptance of what had happened and a desire (subconscious) to hope for a better day coming - the promise of sunrise.  There are always brighter tomorrows.