SOMETIMES YOU GET THE BEAR...SOMETIMES THE BEAR GETS YOU!

YOU DON'T ALWAYS WIN!

​You’ve heard me say this and here’s an example.  (‘This has three tips’).  

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​Peonies are in season and they’re ephemeral.  They open quickly, progress through wilting and dying.  This is perfect to get you going to grab a sketch before they’re gone.   This peony is from a batch of peonies a few days ago.  ​

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​Below there are three sketches showing the progress of today’s sketch so you can see how I went at it.  (If you like this approach, let me know, and I’ll photograph progression in the future.)

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​First, the drawing, using a very heavy line on the outside to have a source of grey to pull away.  Add veridian green as the green-grey will make the rose color pop out.  Then do the background, including some leaves.  Then start the flower with thin washes of color (quinacridone red or alizarin with touches of cerulean blue).  I don’t like the result.  If I had time, I would do this over probably two more times to see if I can get it better.  The concept is good, the result makes me appreciate the one I did two days ago.
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Time

​ My lack of time is because we are going on a real vacation trip to Pinetop, Arizona (no teaching), and I plan to paint there so have to load tons of painting stuff (along with cooking stuff and clothing stuff which will wait to the end).  I’m actually taking oils, acrylics, gouache and watercolors plus pocket sketching poo.  What will get used?  We’ll see!
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Fugitive

​Remember I’ve mentioned the Pilot Razor Point pen is fugitive?  I have found no better pen to teach wash drawing, the precursor to watercolor.  It’s invaluable!  However, I want you to be aware.  For 7 years I have had a group of sketches framed in our dining area, which walls get sun every afternoon and light all day.  There also is a sketch of an Airedale terrier framed in an always dark hallway for the same amount of time.  Here they are for comparison with the scanned copies I made when they were new. 

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​What am I telling you?  Scan the good ones so you can always make copies.  Or keep the original in a file and frame a good copy.  Once scanned, you will never lose the intensity.  Note the watercolor doesn’t fade.  It probably fades in 100 years or so.  But your lovely washes?  When you get a good sketch, put it in your computer before you put it on the wall.

Upcoming Events

​We are going to and showing at Sketcherfest in Edmonds, Washington July 19 and 20. This is an event for and by sketchers put together by Gabi Campanario, the founder of Urban Sketchers which is a world-wide sketching movement.  Edmonds is north of Seattle, on the waterfront, home also to Rick Steves of travel fame.  Wonderful scenery, hiking, fishing, sketching, seafood and wine.  Here’s the link for the event.   If you go, I can suggest many places to see, as I have been up there many early summers.

Sketcherfest

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Also, we have a workshop at the Pacific Northwest Art Center in Coupeville, WA on Whidbey Island. I have taught there for years.  It is the only distant workshop I have planned.  Again, we love this area and can suggest many places for food, lodging, sightseeing, hiking, sauntering, etc.  

Coupeville Workshop

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You Asked

Tony Couch is still teaching.  I have said I’d teach as long as he does.  We will schedule a Basic workshop late in October in Tucson.  We may be filming PBS Season Five early in October, so that effects that month’s plans.  In November and December we may do a Teacher’s Workshop and a Refresher (one a month), if there is interest.  Let me know if you would like a reservation.

Contact FORM

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Happy Sketching!