Neocolor Neophyte

Nupastel, pastel and charcoal are drawing mediums I've always loved working with. Unfortunately their big drawback is their dusty nature. So that's one added plus (among many) for using watercolor. Considering how much I enjoy both I thought I'd try Caran d'Ache Neocolor II Artists' Crayons. Apply water to dilute and soften marks into transparent washes. Worked dry, one can make marks both bold and sensitive. And they're soft enough to smudge and blend with your fingers. Just what I like about nupastels. Pack a few sticks, some waterbrushes and a sketchbook, and you're set for anywhere-sketching.

Here are a few of my experiments...

Painting Jennifer

My images from our Monday evening figure session at studio 106. As always, it's a pleasure to study the human form with paint. Jennifer was our wonderfully elegant model. On one level very inspiring, on another intimidating. A fun challenge. The first image I feel I overworked. Too many colors makes for mud. The second image isn't finished. Our session ended before I had a chance to do so. But I'm posting it because it shows some of the process, and I like aspects of it. So it sits as is.

Déjà vu at Ott and Murphy Wines

Another great performance at Ott and Murphy Wines by David Gregor and David Ossman. But this evening Eleanor Fye joined in, rounding out the duo with her lovely voice and tribute to Etta James. What a treat! The intimate space of Ott and Murphy is the perfect venue for their performances. Everyone, owners, performers and patrons, are always warm and friendly. And they have tasty wines too!

David Gregor on guitar. Playing his own music as well.

David Ossman recites poetry. His own included

A couple enjoying the performance and ambiance.

And of course a glass of Double Bluff Red.

Painting Anne

Here's a few spontaneous paintings I did of Anne Belov, an island resident and artist who's work is known nationally. She was kind enough to take the time to model for us at Studio 106 in Langley. You can see her beautiful work here... http://nothingoverlooked.wordpress.com

I'm posting these in reverse order of completion. Last first because it's the destination I liked ending up at. The series somewhat represents my process of a warm up to unleashing rather than tightening up. It's always my intent to give myself freedom to explore and have fun when drawing and painting on-location. Most importantly, to have fun. And fun I do. But freedom is a little harder to come by. Lately, though, it's been easier. I've given license for every drawing to fail. In fact I want them to fail. To have no preconceptions, no pretty washes, pile on the paint, make messes, work fast and drippy. I consider placement for a moment, then plunge. It takes practice to get there, and it's fleeting. But happening more, so on that level feel I've been successful. So here's to a 2012 full of picture-making failures!

Happy New Year!

Nosh and Sketch

nosh |nä sh | informalnounfood : filling the freezer with all kinds of nosh we bought at the Star Store.• a small item of food : "We have plenty of noshes and nibbles" said the waiter.• a light meal; a snack : in between noshes we sketched people at Prima Bistro and Mo's.verb [ intrans. ]eat food enthusiastically or greedily : there are several restaurants in Langley, so you can nosh to your heart's content | [ trans. ] there I sat, noshing my favorite food as I splashed paint on the table cloth.• eat between meals : today's grazing is different from what we used to call noshing or snacking. But noshing sounds better.ORIGIN early 20th cent. (denoting a snack bar): Yiddish.

First stop, Prima Bistro.

A local fixture at Prima

Then a portrait of Kelly at Mo's.

A pre-med student also studying spanish.

A profile at Mo's

Low Tide Stripes

Here's a super quick sketch of Cultus Bay at low tide. Very quick because it was so cold. I'm always intrigued by the graphic shapes of sand that appear. And the lighting was interesting. Cool and crisp. This was another one of those "what the heck color is that" moments. A wonderful winter moment.

Beat and Jive at OM

Had a great evening sketching at Ott and Murphy in Langley.  David Ossman performed poetry readings of Ginsburg and Kerouac while David Gregor accompanied on guitar. I was truly inspired and can't wait for another performance!

Mr. Bennett bathed in mood lighting. 

David Gregor playing guitar, though it's hidden.

Digital Dog 2

This image was a quick sketch using "Brushes," a drawing and painting app for iPad. Though this program is simple, there's an almost unlimited number of brushes and the ability to apply surface textures. And of course a full palette of colors. It also records your process. This digital stuff is fun, but it can't hold a candle to the unpredictable nature of watercolor, the qualities of pen and ink, and the textures of paper.

Digital Dog

Luxuriating....

Wifire Apparitions

My first ghost sighting at Whidbey Telecom's WiFire Coffee Shop... 

Happy Halloween!

Coupeville Coffee

An unsuspecting gentleman reading the paper at Coupeville Coffee and Bistro. Not too long ago this coffee shop was called Miriam's. It's well loved and back on the list of sketching haunts!

Sherman Farm

I christened my new sketchbook with this drawing of a tractor and pumpkins at Sherman Farm. Wow, have they got a lot of pumpkins! And old rusty machinery that makes for good subject matter. It's a delightful setting to draw and paint, and what a gorgeous day to be doing it.

 

The Dancer Sketching

Here's a sketch I did sometime ago. I'm posting it because it has some qualities I'm interested in pursuing. Lately I've been playing with gouache which, for me, is very frustrating to work with. It's easy to make mud pies. But I find the opacity of gouache in contrast to the transparency of watercolor very appealing. I just haven't found my groove with it. Though this sketch has no gouache incorporated, it touches upon the kinds of paint marks and opacity that drives me to keep experimenting. A simple, transparent wash is lovely to apply and look at but I want to achieve more expression

Michelle is a great model.

Quick Sketch

A few morning gestures...

Maybe a deer? Nope.

Sniffing the breeze

Morning Overcast

Another woodland scene, but this was sketched on a cloudy morning. Again I perceived a lot of colors and enhanced them. A much cooler palette, and a much cooler morning!