Duck, Duck, Goose

A couple of value sketches of the white duck and gray goose at the inn.

White Duck

Last week we went to a winery and then stayed over night at a B&B. We had a great time. The inn had 3 small ponds where a duck couple and a gray goose lived. This duck was not particularly fond of me. She chased me twice. I guess I invaded her personal space while photographing her and her friends.

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.

Tree Removal

Our house sits next to a county tree reserve. In order for our HOA to cut down dead trees it takes a lot of paperwork. It has taken about 2 months to get this dead tree approved for removal. The problem is the tree is so tall that when it falls it could possibly take out part of our deck or our neighbor's house depending on the way it would fall. So when I returned home this morning after walking Jake I grabbed a sketch pad and went to work. The paper is classified as mix media but I think ink, pencil, or colored pencil is about the only media that would work well. Maybe a light watercolor wash with very little water. But it was fun quick sketch.

Ladder to the Sky

I think I finished this one today. Changed the left side quite a bit but think it works. Not as excited as I was at the end of the first stage. The longer I fiddle with a painting the less I like the end result. Now to decide whether to work on the other 3 that I have sketched out compositions or move on to something else.

Ladder to the Sky (stage 1)

This is the first in my Taos series. I am working in acrylic and playing with blocks of color. I have 3 more sketched out. It is roughed at this stage but I think it is going the way I want to go. Don't know if I have the courage to leave the colors so bright and unblended but at this time that's the way I want to go.

Ladder to the Sky 12"x12" acrylic on canvas

River (unmounted)

I have been working on a new oriental brush painting, River. It is probably finished, waiting to be mounted, sitting in a drawer. Will mount it when I get at least 3 paintings finished. It is a pain to drag out the large mounting boards.