Childhood Memories - Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

As a child some of my earliest memories, where family trips to a cabin in northern Colorado, to Red Feather Lakes.  I did a series of artwork to capture those times.  I gave this sketchbook to my Dad, Richard Brandt.  He raised me as his own and I a forever happy about that; and used it as an example in my own life.   He was a long time fisherman and trekker of the Rocky Mountains.  I will post the series of artwork and add some background.  Most of the artwork was done in marker, pencil, watercolor, ink and ink washes.

Rock Cliff study

This has been my meditation for the last couple of nights.  This is a pencil sketch of a rock cliff, these calm me down and help to make me forget the day.  Hopefully, it will do the same for you.

Prothonotary Warbler - Oriental style watercolor

This is a watercolor study I did to practice watercolor technique in the style of Oriental artists.  I also used my own  design of a "chop."  It is an intertwined Ss and a superimposed A, i.e. my initials.

Gerbil Sketch

I did this pencil sketch of my Grandmother's Gerbil many years back.  She use to allow it out of its cage and it would rome around on her large sewing table while she was cutting her fabric before sewing it in to clothing.  I think his name was "Bertie."  He was a sweet little thing which made her Grandma very happy.

Ein the Corgi

My oldest daughter has a Corgi named Ein which is short for Einstein.  I drew this pencil drawing of him for the Daughter's birthday card.  Happy Birthday, Kiddo.

Sun Damage

This is a piece of watercolor artwork I did when I was 11 years old.  It is an example of why you need to protect your artwork from  the effects of sunlight.  I gave this to my Grandmother as a present and she hung it on the wall in her bedroom.  I don't think it received a large amount of sunlight but when it was framed it had an oval matte to fix my compositional problems.  You can see the effects of 30 plus years hanging in her house exposed and then you can compare it to the parts of the picture which where covered by the matte.  Even the most light fast or resistant paint will fade in sunlight.  This is fairly standard on any artwork and is why you should spend the money for a quality frame and ultra-violet resistant glass, which was not available in 1977.  These will help along with hanging your Artwork in a protected area away from direct sunlight.

Brook Trout

It's late and I need to run off to bed.  I did this watercolor study of a Brook Trout for my Dad for Father's Day a few years back, so enjoy and sleep tight.