Thinking Spring

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Opaque watercolor and colored pencil

Opaque watercolor and colored pencil

I actually saw a robin in the yard today! Spring can’t be too far away. I think I am going to take a break from the daffodil’s now. I won’t see my own blooming for at least another 6 weeks, I will get back to them once I see them in my own yard. Trying to keep the tulips simple, just a little color and a little ink brush pen. Looking forward to filling up my flower only journal with nice variety. of flowers drawn from life.

Inktense and small brush pitt pen

Inktense and small brush pitt pen

We had snow this Easter Sunday! No accumulation, but some heavy snow squalls.

quick Easter bunny sketch: ink only journal

quick Easter bunny sketch: ink only journal

Happy Spring!

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Water-soluble pen and crayon

Water-soluble pen and crayon

It’s hard to believe that it’s the first day of spring. My walk this morning was kind of spring like…it was sunny and fairly warm, and you can hear the birds chirping away. But, there is a boat load of snow on the ground! And, we might even get some more snow tomorrow. Spring in Maine!

Here is my very first greeting card. I did this as a birthday card for my co-worker, seemed appropriate to “think spring”. We won’t be seeing any daffodil blooms in person for quite awhile. The first card I did didn’t turn out–it’s a little intimidating to do an original card–the paper seems so valuable! So, it’s good practice, just like the 75 days of ink only. I approached the card the same way, no guide lines, just drawn with ink and then colored in. I am looking forward to doing more cards and sending them out.

Think Spring!

Spring Time

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sketch for painting

sketch for painting

It’s funny, I keep thinking that I will get back to my snow shadows (I have several that need to be completed!), but the spring weather is pushing me to the flowers. Especially when they are growing in my own back yard. Inspiration everywhere. I really like the sketch above, I am going to work on a water color and a casein painting for this composition. I am still finishing up the Iris painting, but almost done.

I found a little stretched canvas at the Goodwill for 99 cents, so I am experimenting with that. I am trying a casein painting of a seagull sitting on a granite wall. The layers will be really thin in order to make it work on this substrate. So far, the ground is really fun, we will see where it all ends up. So different to work on from paper.

light layers of casein on canvas

light layers of casein on canvas

Graphite

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single spring crocus

single spring crocus

Less time for finished work lately. Sketching is quick and loose. Gives way to ideas for new finished work. My goal is to do at least one sketch a day, and then choose one to pursue finished work from. The graphite initially seemed limiting, but I think in fact it forces me to see more detail. Moving quickly allows me to have a fresh approach and make marks that are more intuitive.

crocus from above

crocus from above

This will be my next finished piece.

The bunny was just for a lark..but I might consider pursuing a more finished work with a bunny as the primary subject.

bunnysketch