Re: Solutions (resolutions), Sketch

I haven't waded through all the posts with resolutions and plans from everyone. Some are inspiring, some are daunting (Where do people get so much energy and time?), some make you smile .... I just haven't had the time to work on my plan for this year. Last year I just wrote down what I had accomplished in 2006 and that made me feel good. I like what Richard McKinley said on the Pastel Pointers blog. His first resolution is to keep to a painting schedule. I did have a schedule when I had the studio away from home and it helps. So, if I make a schedule that should take care of all the other numbers 2 through whatever. :) What do you think?


I have been working on a couple of pastel paintings and am not ready to post those. So here is a sketch I did while watching TV the other day. Done with a Micron 005 pen in an old generic sketchbook. (Saving the other one for the Scavenger Hunts) The ellipses and lines are a little crooked, but you know I do these free hand and very quickly to practice looking and drawing. I'm still not sure if I improve in drawing, but I have improved my speed and enjoy it more .....sometimes. You can click on the sketching category when you scroll down past my posts or search above for sketches and read more about the how and why of my sketching.

Water Canyon - New End/Final

Note: See what I mean? I am posting this again as I changed it again. It was nicely pointed out to me (thanks Regina) that there was a "3 bear" syndrome (Bob Rohm's term) on the right hand side in the upper mountains. Three peaks in a row and about the same size. Once I see something like that it really bothers me. I looked at my reference and it was close to the way it is in real life, but not great for a painting. So I changed it one more time. It is much improved. This should be the final change. I hope you agree with me on the change.

Below is what I posted previously and you have read and commented on. Thanks.

I should never say, "This is the final photo," until the painting is in the frame. Well, that doesn't even work as I have been known to have Gene take something out of the frame to change it. I had this painting in my bedroom and this morning I woke up and decided to add a little more 'pop' to it. See what you think.

This is the 'old' Water Canyon,
Soft Pastel, 10 x 16 inches

Here is a link to the post about the painting.

This is the "final" Water Canyon
Soft Pastel, 10 x 16 inches (click to see larger)

This is a detail from the painting (click to make it bigger), you can see the roughness of the board. It is a piece of masonite finished with Colourfix Medium. It is nice to have the added texture in a landscape.

By the way, this post means I have been painting today. I worked on my painting for the Austin Pastel Society Corridor of Art Juried Show as well. About time! Photos and entries are due January 11. Whew!

Happy New Year

Happy 2008!

Check out Dilbert's comic strip for today. I hope you have a great start to this new year. Best wishes!

Also, go have a look at Rick Lee's froggy photos for the morning. So beautimous.

House in the Woods Sketch

Today I have been planning on finishing a painting I started before Christmas. I was looking through reference photos for a background for the painting. I think I found it and will work on it starting January 1. While I was thinking I sketched, looking out my studio window.



This sketch took about 20 minutes with a Micron 005 pen in a generic sketchbook that is about 7 x 10 inches. I did not do a preliminary sketch in pencil, just looked and sketched. To be truthful, in a landscape I can fudge a little. You don't know the exact look of the house or trees, do you?

I have been thinking about 2008 and what I want to do with my art. At the moment I am not too ambitious. I have a cold though and that may have something to do with me having the doldrums. So, stay tuned and you will hear of a plan, one way or another.