Taos Sketchbook 1

I am carrying this one to the LavenderSage Retreat in Taos NM.

But when I get home I am planning on adding the dream catcher to the spine. It is just too delicate to carry around and paint in without damaging the feathers.

Taos Prep - Carry On Bag

Here is my little carry on bag. It will serve as my travel purse. Hopefully one outfit will fit in it after I add all of my electronics, necessary back up paper work, sketchbook, and watercolor travel kit. Of course, I am checking a bag with the retreat art supplies, toiletries, and clothes. But could live out of this bag if something delayed the arrival of my main suitcase.

Taos Palette

This is the first posting from my trip sketchbook. I may take a second one just in case. I have been using my scanner and it just isn't giving me good images. So I may just take photos from now on. The pages in this book are Zerkell Frankefurt 120 gm. They have a warm tone. I worked the palette out in my everyday journal which has bright white paper. But interestingly this paper takes the watercolor better. It is more intense. I was concerned about how it would work but thought the warm color would be good in the Southwest. The extra squares of color are additional pans I am carrying. You can never have too much paint?

Trip prep - pedicure

I have turned into a girly girl. Had to get my toes done before the trip even though I don't plan on packing sandals. I have been doing my pre sketches in my present daily sketchbook. Although I have transferred some nfo to the sketchbook I will be taking.

Taos trip preparations - Packing list

The hardest part of travel for me is packing. Which clothes to take, what all the pieces go with and the accessories. So I decided to try  Liz Steel's method of sketching out my clothes. Plus it is a fun way to do a task.

Book Binding

I have been busy making sketchbooks. The three in the top image are for my trip to Taos. I used my Gelli Plate prints for the covers and included the rest in the text blocks. I will be taking the one with the dream catcher (detached) with me and one other, probably not all three on my retreat trip to Taos NM. The bottom image shows the 4th book I made. It is a gutted and filled $1 library book. I spray painted the outside and add silk book cloth to the spine. I used purple print old scrapbooking paper for the end pages.

I AM IN!

Deer Friends II

Summer Joy

Both of my entries for the 2016 Sumi-e Society of America's Annual show were accepted. I have gotten one painting in but never both both. I am thrilled. Although painted in my usual traditional landscape style they are both different. The show this year will be on the internet around 30 September. I will post the link when they are up.