Doodling at Work

I should do more of this. . .doodling. . .but not only at work.

 

Washington Monument

I was just in Washington, DC for work but unfortunately was too late for the cherry blossoms, something I have always wanted to experience first hand (maybe next year). I was only there one night, it was getting late and I was not feeling great so I did not feel like going outside to paint.  But I had a nice view from my hotel room.  I had to work quickly in order to make it to dinner on time. 

I definitely like the feel of this one.  I used washes of mostly burnt sienna and cerulean blue (a little alizarin crimson to make the dome pop), something I have seen another artist do to perfection.  The buildings are a little simplistic, but that is okay.  I achieved the composition I was looking for.

                                           Watercolor on paper 9x7

Crossing the Ford

My field notebook has alternating pages of 140 lbs watercolor paper and regular drawing paper.  Thus far I have only used the watercolor paper.  I decided to work fast on the other sheets.  Just a rough sketch; focusing more on the energy of the riders plunging across the river.  I used pastel to connote the spray of water.

                                    Watercolor on drawing paper 10x7

The Simple Farmstead

I did not have a firm idea of what I wanted to do with this one, other than I wanted to show a field of yellow flowers.  I could have used the masque pen to keep areas clean for the yellow water color, but instead I chose to paint the field green and use pastels to add the flowers.  I blotted the pastel with watercolor to give it a more blended look.

It is simple, but I think it works.

                               Pastel over Watercolor on 120lbs paper 9x12 

Spring is here. . .Finally!!

Spring is here. . .Finally.  Was it just me or did it feel like Spring was never going to arrive?  It was not a particularly bad Winter but even I, who does enjoy cold weather, was done-al la-done-done with the cold.  It is time to be outside wearing shorts and sandals.

                                       Watercolor on 120lbs paper 9x12

I woke up this morning feeling inspired.  The entire house is clean, like we just moved in clean, that is how clean it is.  The art room looks amazing and was calling to me.  It is so wonderful to be surrounded by paints and pastels and racks of paper and art board and pads and all the supplies I have been gathering for the last decade.

I am very satisfied with the wet-on-wet technique used on the field.  I even held up the painting so the water and color could just flow where it wanted. It makes an interesting effect.

And let me say, it took everything I had to go all Bob Ross on this painting and add the dark tree in the foreground.  The painting needed something interesting up close, but it was very hard for me to paint over what I would normally call a finished painting. I think this means I am growing.

Sky Study

Watercolor and pastels. . .I have seen it done and have always wanted to do it but I have never been able to pull the trigger.  I get to the point in a watercolor painting where I want to add pastels, really add pastels and I cannot.

                                     Pastel over Watercolor on 140lbs paper 6x4

I did this quick sky study with the express intent of going crazy with pastel over the top of the watercolor.  This was a liberating experience.  I rather liked it.