Peacock

I belong to two local art groups, one for my oriental brush painting and a general art group, the Loudoun Sketch Club. The LSC has paint outs during the warmer months of the year. Unfortunately I haven't taken much advantage of going out with them this year. But yesterday I did go after being encouraged to do so by a fellow member. It was one of the few hot days we have experience this fall but it was great to get out and paint with other artists. Since it was my first time in ages to attempt plein air painting I decided to start with my sketchbook, pen & ink, and watercolor. I also took a complete watercolor set up just in case I got ambitious. I did not. Sketching and bag lunch was about all I was up for. But they always go to the same location two weeks in a row. That way you can complete a painting with the same lighting. So I may go over my photos and see it I want to plan a painting from one of them and return. There were chickens, pig, piglets, turkeys, and goats. Plus a lovely brick home, barns, out buildings, corn fields, and pastures. Hopefully I will be better at taking advantage of these outings next year.

I have been sketching. I have been taking Liz Steel's Sketching Now - Buildings class on-line. It is a good class and I think my buildings are improving. But the main thing that will improve my sketching is just practicing sketching more and more buildings on location.

I have also being working out compositions for my Taos acrylic paintings series. I have to get on them before the excitement fades.