Don't let ego get in the way

Just reading over my notes from the Kitty Wallis workshop last month. One thing that stands out in my mind today: don't feed the ego. Don't say, "ooh, that line is so beautiful" because that makes the line too important.

Say, instead, "this is just a road map" so that the ego keeps away.

It's plenty to think about.

White building with light on it

It may not look like much to you, but this building, made from wood and painted with layers of white paint, kept me busy for hours yesterday.

I thought about Andrew Wyeth and the many weathered buildings he painted in his long lifetime.

I thought about the person whose tender care caused the garden around the church to thrive.

I thought about the shadow on the white building. How dark? As dark as what?

A white building with light on it. It bears more thinking.

More sketches, plus today at Orcas Island!

I did the last two rows of sketches at Orcas Island and completed this page in my sketch book. I like seeing the page full of value sketches!

Eastsound on Orcas Island has the most beautiful church, the First Congregational Church. I think that artists and poets must feel their hearts beat hard in their chests when looking at the glory of bright light on the white painted surfaces. I spent a long time today looking at the church.

Life is good!

Sunset Plein air Lopez Island

Sunsets. Bending light and colors and the world becomes magic. I felt like the conductor of a symphony painted with wondrous yellows and pinks and orangey violets. At the end I could only go by feel and memory of how my pastels were arranged in my box and hope for the best.

This morning it was a a special treat to see the results of last night's painting.

Lopez Island plein air

I tried out a piece of Jack Richeson pastel paper today. Compared to the Kitty Wallis paper I usually work on, this toned paper had big bits of grit on a sometimes slick surface. It was difficult for me to work with and I found that the overall toned surface was a distraction.

But standing on the bow of the boat in Fisherman's Bay, looking out at the sunlight on the beach and cliffs ... a little bit of heaven.

Lopez Island ORCA!!

After sketching this morning with my Prismacolor markers at Hope Island, we made it through Deception Pass at slack tide. As we neared Lopez Island, we spotted orca! What a way to spend the day! Whale watching.

Life is good!

Notan on a windy day

We're anchored at Hope Island in 27 kt winds. Too windy to paint but not too busy to try more sketching with Prismacolor markers. I'm using 30% warm gray, 60% cool gray, and 90% warm gray. I only chose the cool gray because they didn't have 60% warm at the art supply store in Winslow.

When I sketch a lot, like on trips, I become very aware of line. The outlines of objects become my focus and the quality of the line my aim. When I get back to painting after so much time working on line, I struggle to again find shape and form and value patterns.

This time my sketches, by nature of the fat ends of these markers, are all about value and shape and getting the big parts right. I only hope that i will have an easier time with painting when I can get back to it.

Fingers crossed for less wind tomorrow!

Bainbridge Island plein air

Port Madison plein air
9 x 12

4 value Notan plan

my palette

set up on the bow

Morning quiet, except for the loon who insistently called for his mate.

Mirror-like water and bright light warming every surface, including me! I can see that I deviated from my original notan sketch (a simplified value sketch). I attempted to pay close attention to the mid tones and use temperature to create interest.

New book, new markers, new way to sketch

A nice stop today on Bainbridge Island at the public dock near Winslow. I walked into town a couple of times, first just to look around and get some exercise. Second with camera, sketchpad, pencil, and dollars in my pocket.

I stopped in at Oil and Water Art Supply and bought some books and markers. This book, "Value Sketching with Markers" by D. Anderson, is all about using markers for notan sketches. I bought three markers, too. You can see the sketch I did once we stopped at Port Madison at the north part of the Island.

It's a beautiful bay, surrounded by very expensive homes. I think that there's a lot of old Seattle money here. I can hear the call of the loon as the sun sets. Life is good.

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.