Sketchbook/Art catch-up

Just some Jessica-inspired art and some random sketches from my toned gray book.

Plein Air

I recently purchased a travel pochade box (thank you Ben for creating a custom smaller version for me!) so I can dive into plein air painting. Plein air painting is an old form of painting where the artist travels outside of the studio and creates a piece outdoors, while in front of their subject. Monet was a very big proponent of this style, often time painting 10 or 12 pieces in a row as the light changed! Most of the time the artist will create the piece, alla prima, which means 'first attempt' or all in one sitting. My plan was to use this as a hiking kit, travel to a location, create a painting, and then hike out. It took a few tries to get the pack situation figured out, what tools and snacks to bring in order to be truly portable. Below you can see the setup and a few paintings I have attempted with this new piece of hardware. 

started on site, but had to leave in a hurry--finished in studio

maiden voyage! canandaigua lake vista

started a cool sketch of the boathouses and then a truck blocked my view! 

a paint outing with canandaigua's finest artists

My lovely girlfriend giving it a whirl!

Pennsyltucky

We attempted (long-story) to have a peaceful weekend away in a lakeside cabin. We got some sketching and photography done, but not as much as we wanted. Bummer. 

Here are some of the efforts.

[Uni Pin pens, D+S watercolors in a S+B Epsilon Series sketchbook]

Photographer in the making

My lovely girlfriend recently got some iPhone lenses from PhotoJoJo and she has been on a  mission taking pictures of nature. We recently went on a mini-hike here in Canandaigua--she took pictures, and I sketched. It was a lovely afternoon that ended with iced tea and french fries--YUM.

Sketch Meetup (Schoen Place)

This summer has been nutty, so the sketching group has been nonexistent. We scheduled a meetup (finally) at Schoen Place and met at the new-ish brewery there: Lock 32 Brewing. We had primo seats facing the ducks and our public models. It was a relaxing afternoon and we definitely need to re-visit! 

[Uni Pin pens, D+S watercolors in a S+B Epsilon Series sketchbook]

Waterfalls

My lovely girlfriend and I have been hiking a lot of waterfalls this summer--thank you Keen. At the base of one of the falls there wasn't a person in sight so she laid on a rock to nap and I attempted to sketch running water. It wasn't a bad attempt considering I haven't done it before and there is no white watercolor. I have a hard time leaving whites, so I had to pencil them in so I wouldn't blaze over them! 

[Uni Pin pens, D+S watercolors in a Sennelier sketchbook]

Quick sketch outing

My sketching buddy Genine and I met up to catch-up, trade art geek secrets, and to sketch this past weekend. 

As usual, the unsuspecting patron at the coffee shop. 

We ventured to a near-by church where I attempted to butcher the architecture. 

And lastly, what was labeled "Rosa Park's Bus". But what would that piece of history be doing parked under an oak tree behind a house of Main St. Rochester? Wouldn't the Smithsonian want this?

[uni-pin pens, namiki falcon with DeArtementis Document ink, D+S watercolors in a Sennelier sketchbook]