Seaside sketch

Tonight is a seaside sketch.  I did a little painting today, but it is not ready for the blog.  So enjoy this little one for now.

Mountain Farm sketch

I worked on sketching skills today.  This is a building block for painting skills.  Being able to see and understand your darks and lights is part of the key to getting your paintings better.

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas!!  These are images of some of the previous Christmas Cards I have doen over the years.  I hope every one had a great holiday and a great year.

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas to everyone and Happy Holidays!  This is this year's christmas card.  It was drawn with pencil and marker on watercolor paper.  I hope everyone is having a great day and are enjoying themselves.

Snowy River Block-in

After a long Holiday commute, I did manage to get this start block-in started on this sketch of a snowy river out west.  I need to add a tree to the foreground, detail to the grass blobs, and detail in the middle ground pine trees.  The river will need reflection and current movement.  All things to be added tomorrow.

Back to painting

I worked on the block-in of this small sketch of a winter scene with a tree in the foreground.  It will need some work but its just the start.

Landscape Sketch

Another landscape pencil sketch for practice.  I did start a small oil sketch, but it is not ready for the blog, so maybe tomorrow.

Landscape Sketch

Well Christmas shopping is done.  No painting done this weekend but I did get some sketches in to help to develop the eye for pre-planning paintings.

Thistle Sketch

My Mother-in-Law's Birthday was at the beginning of the month.  I have not seen here yet, but I will see her tomorrow.  This is a colored pencil sketch of the Thistle flower.  No painting today, too many errands and family time.

A sheet of little Sketches

This is the finish of the practice sheet of small sketches.  This is a way of looking at different shadows, angles, and compositions.  I am going to try and do some painting tomorrow, after the weekend errands.

Building sketches for composition and persceptive

Late night, so just some small sketches to work on composition and perspective, i.e the angles which one views things as they go into the distance.  These are some small sketches from an instruction book I am working through to get my skills down.

Elm Tree Sketch

Another pencil sketch for tonight's post.  I like this style of using more of the white of the page.  I think I know how to translate this to oil paintings, but it will have to wait till this weekend for the attempt with oil.

Birch Tree Sketch

A lot of artists get the compliment a lot of how talented they are.  Most artists don't really don't like this as it ignores the hard work and practice each artist works with and struggles with daily.  I think this is part of the purpose of this blog, along with the fact life is short and you should do stuff while you still can.  I always wanted to be a better artist and this blog is a documentation of the journey.

This is a practice sketch of Birch trees as I work on improving my eye and drawing skills.

Oak Tree Sketch study

I worked on this Oak tree sketch with pencil.  It is not an original design but it is part of the practice I am working on to improve my skills.

The River Valley in January

This is a small snow study, not an original design but it definitely reminded me of time I spent in Upstate New York freezing my tail off and it reminded me of my high school time in Colorado also freezing my tail off.  This is the block-i and it will need improvement on the details of the ice, the river, and the icy butte on the right.

Paratroopers Twilight Jump

 I added the Paratroopers and their parachutes.  They have their rucksacks hanging from the lowering lines as they are ready to execute their Parachute landings.  I use to do this and I had my night jumps and twilight jumps.

Get Well Card Giraffe

My co-worker had her ankle operated on so this is her Get Well Card, a giraffe with a cast.  This is a pencil sketch on a blank card.

New Tree sketch practice - the Pines

I found a new source of practice sketches for my tree work.  I like the use of white areas mixed with the dars so it makes for a better sketch.

Alaska Fjord Waterfall painting the plan and the block-in

This is another painting from my Alaska trip.  I have included the planning sketch and the initial block-in of the oil painting.  This is a little bit of a switch for me as the background is so dark and the foreground trees are lighter, so I will have to work this one a lot to get it where I want it to be.