We have some beautiful open space with oaks and trails. The dappled light beneath the trees is always something to enjoy, more so when a bit of a breeze kicks up and the sunshine dances on the grasses and paths.
Ink and wash, Arches HP 140# paper, 9×12.
Late afternoon I met up with a friend at a nexus for a series of hiking trails to do some afternoon plein aire sketching. She brought a paper and pencil, I brought ink and watercolor. We walked about 30 yards down a flat trail and settled in what could appear to be an isolated area as the trail curved into an oak woodland at the lower edge of a hill. The later afternoon sun gave lovely shadows, areas of light and dark, and the oak trees were especially beautiful in that light.
This is my “warm up” sketch. I always like to play around with what I am working with to see how ink and watercolor and paper all interact. Most importantly is how the watercolor and paper work together. This sketchbook is designed for watercolor sketching, and it worked well. Here I started out with the ink and then worked with the paint. After all was dry, I went back in for some touch-up with the pen.
For this one, I painted the tree shapes with light washes. Then came the leaves. After that, some ink, back to paint, then finally ink.
The second painting is my “serious” one whereas the “play” painting was testing my tools. We spent two hours sitting in the woods, yakking and drawing, taking a few photos, chatting with passersby on bike and foot. At 5 pm the sun was going down, so pack it in, hike that long distance out, and say our good-byes.
Ink, watercolor, 5×7 on watercolor paper.
I love loquats! They are an odd fruit to most Americans, but they have a mild taste, beautiful seeds, and are borne on bushes or trees with glossy leaves. Over time, I have taken many photos of them and painted or drawn them.
I don’t remember where or when I took this photo, but it really shows the loquat in its full beauty. The fruits are pale yellow to a more deeper orangish color.
This is my most recent rendition of loquats, done in oil on a 12×12 canvas panel.
Above is one done in pen, ink, and watercolors.
And the above is done in gouache.
The round shapes against pointy, glossy leaves is always a pleasure for the eye.
Gouache, oils, watercolor, pen and ink on various surfaces.
It’s over 90 F / 32 C today, muggy, and to do more than move around, even with air conditioning (which is not on at present), requires more energy than I want to spend. So, sitting at my computer, I decided to find pictures of things to draw.
My choice was carbon ink in a fine nib pen with a flexible point and the tan, toned paper I have been using for gouache. I get to sit still, cruise for a subject, and then scribble on smooth paper with a responsive pen. If you use pen and ink, you will know the pleasure it provides!
Above are my sketches. One piece of paper, both sides. Tan toned paper by Strathmore. I really like this paper.
I don’t think there is more to say other than it has been a very pleasant afternoon scribbling away. Each sketch is done freehand, no pencil prelims under the ink. Shapes and shadows and direction were all attempted to be expressed simply through the ink, hatching, dots, lines, etc.
Strathmore multi-media tan paper, 11 x 14, Platinum Carbon Ink.
Trees always make me happy, and it makes me sad if I have to remove them for any reason. In particular, I like oak trees, and where I live, it is against the law to cut any oak tree down without permission. California is dotted with beautiful oak trees across the hills; from a distance, I always think that this is what a herd of buffaloes must have looked like in the 1800s as they grazed across the prairies. (Technically, the American buffalo is a bison.)
Mid-morning I headed out to a local park next to the botanical garden. The park is on a gentle slope upon which are several grand oaks. Many are supported by metal tubing as their branches can sprawl far from the trunk, often breaking and falling from the stress.
My goal this morning was to simply get out and sketch plein air. Rummaging through my stash of sketchbooks and paper, I found a 6×12 spiral-bound Pentalic watercolor journal, unused. Perfect for landscapes! And for the broad sprawl of the oak tree.
I think I did a decent job here!
Pen, waterproof ink, 6×12.
Ink, Yarn & Beer 