Oil Tree study

I have been doing a fair amount of drawing studies of trees, so I decided to do an oil painting study.  It is a completely different issue and much harder.  Painting is a series of attempts, some are failures, some succeed, and some are amazing but the point is to keep doing the work.  It is the only way to improve.  Failures and near misses are as important as the easy successes.

North Woods Moose sketch

So I did not feel like painting tonight so I picked up the pencil.  This is not an original sketch but it is a sketch for practice.  It was done with a dark lead pencil and is more of a silhouette study.

Jefferson Memorial Dawn with Cherry Blossoms

I finally had enough time off from work to actually do a little painting.  I worked on the Jefferson Memorial Dawn with Cherry Blossoms.  I tweaked the sky a little and I worked on adding details of the Memorial and I added the basics of the backlight Cherry Blossoms.

Snow Geese

Sort of a difficult week at work, I did this card for my son-in-law Spencer earlier in the week.  He enjoys the Water Fowl, both watching and hunting.  The Snow Geese are aa attractive large bird who visit the flyways of the Rockies and East Coast.  They may fly else where but I have not seen them there.

Pine Forest sketch

This is not an design.  I enjoy a fun sketch, which is good calm fun way to close out a Monday.  This is a pencil sketch for practice.

Tidal Basin Dawn - block-in

I started blocking in this scene of the Tidal Basin at dawn.  The Tidal basin has great views of the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument.  After I get the sky totally to my liking I will add the Cherry Blossoms which come from the top left into the middle of the picture.

Washington Monument Nocturne - close to finishing up

I worked this today along with some other things.  I adjusted the transition of the sky.  I changed the light side of the monument (left side) and finally I added more detail to the foliage of the Cherry trees, to include branches.  To finish this up, I want to add a moon crescent in the sky, add highlights to the branches, and make sure I am happy with the foliage edges and details.  Then it will be done.