Sketching Update, Pastel Plein Air and Photos

I have sketched a bit for the last Scavenger Hunt and this one, Scavenger Hunt 362.

For the previous Hunt I did a quick sketch on my iPad with Brushes and my fingers.  I try to sketch with as few "Undo" clicks as possible.

Scavenger Hunt 361, Number 1, lamp - Gene's little clip on lamp on his chair.  Number 2, brick - the wall of the house/porch.

For Hunt 362, which I am hosting, I decided to substitute for Number 1.  On Monday, I went out plein air painting with my pastels.  Several artists here in Bastrop got together over by Specs/Lowes to paint.  There is an old barn, some goats and this windmill.  We painted for about 2 hours.  It was cloudy when we started. It had been misting a bit.  Then the sun came out so I was in the direct sun.  I think my color choices would have been lighter in value if I had been in the shade.  For the most part I am happy with it.  The clouds look more like mountain clouds.  The heavy moisture here seems to make the tops rounder and puffier.  I will watch that next time.  The background is trees and not mountains.

Number 1, fire hydrant - there aren't many out in the country where we live so I substituted this windmill for the hydrant.

Yesterday and today, I sketched in my big sketchbook with a Prismacolor Premier 03.  The ink in this fine line marker pen has really lasted well.  I think I started using this one and a few more in the summer of 2011.  Previously I used Micron pens and after using these, I would definitely buy them again.  I sketch freehand as quickly as possible, trying to look and then put down the lines.

Number 2, Art supply - a 3 inch or so lavender pastel in a little box that was a gift.  It is broken now so maybe I will actually use it!

Number 3, phone - Gene's phone

Number 4, stool and Number 5, something with teeth.  The stool is the one I use when I sketch on the porch and the spatula is the one Gene uses when cooking on the grill.  I'm not sure what he is supposed to stab with the longer teeth and there are short ones, more like a knife.  Hmmmm.  It is about 30 inches long I think, heavy duty and nice to use outside.

In fact Gene used it on Saturday.  The Bastrop Fire Department had training again at our lake.  The last time they trained (post here http://jocastilloartblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/thanks-award-and-notes.html) we gave them coffee, hot chocolate and cookies.  We told them then that we would have brisket for them the next time.  Gene cooked brisket and we served it with baked potatoes, corn on the cobb, salad, tortillas and carrot cake for desert.  They had enough left over from Saturday night to help with lunch on Sunday.   Joanna, Jennie and Larry came and helped us.  Larry took some great photos.  You can see them on his website at http://www.larrycastillophotography.com/

I took a few snapshots so I would have something for this blog post:

The good guys and gals that we all need to thank.  Volunteers that take care of us.

Training using the lake water.

The sunset on May 31.  We have actually had a spring in Bastrop this year.  We have really enjoyed sitting on the porch in the mornings and evenings.  We do appreciate our home.