Not crazy!

I'm sure my sketchbook makes me look like I'm a little crazy. I assure you, I am no crazier today than I was last week.

I was looking for sketching subjects when I noticed the light on the water. At first I thought, "the sun looks like an hourglass on the water." I sketched that shape. Once, twice. Six times. The water was moving as the tide pulled and the current shifted it. The dark shape in the middle kept changing. Deep water that pulled and pushed. I kept sketching. More than an hour. Observing. Sketching. Again and again. I'm not sure what I'll do with them, but something that pulled me to notice and sketch it will probably end up in a painting. We'll see.

All day yesterday I wondered about the seals. Where were they? Usually the area near Eagle Island is filled with the sounds of their snorting, their curious dark eyes on me as they paddle around the boat, the early morning splashing and frolicking. When I looked to the island this morning, I saw what looked like logs on the beach.

Not logs! Seals! Must have been nap time. Except for this guy. I think he was waving to me!

Sketches on a rainy day

Dozing

Some days there was nothing to do but sit by Dad's bedside. Here's one of the sketches I did during those first days of his illness. His health has improved and he is out of the hospital, but life continues to provide challenges and surprises.

Landscape values abbreviated

I did these graphite sketches while boating today. I'm trying to simplify what I see and group things into value shapes. The skies were dramatic with dark clouds and the land looked very dark today. Next step is paint from these notan sketches.