Sketching for Hunt 400, APS Note and Spring Photos

I sketched at my computer desk for Scavenger Hunt 400.  I usually hunt for list items that are handy.  I challenge myself a bit, even though I am sometimes a lazy sketcher.  I don't always choose those items that appear to be the easiest to sketch.  Today it is about fifty-fifty.  See what you think.  I sketched quickly with a Micron 05 across the top of the page in the large letter paper size sketchbook.

Number 3, two of something - pens
Number 4, thumb
Number 5, top of something - camera

Art note:

I did not enter the Austin Pastel annual show this year.  The timing on shows in Austin is hard with our travel and schedules.  It is a great show, though, and I am sure you would enjoy seeing the beautiful pastels.

The Austin Pastel Society 2015 Juried Member Exhibition is open weekdays during business hours in the Corridor of Art at 700 Lavaca Street, Lower Level, in downtown Austin, through Friday, May 1st. You can see the selected paintings on the homepage of the APS.  The paintings in person are soooo much finer.

Don't miss seeing this exciting show, juried by Mike Beeman  http://mikebeeman.com/  of Cheyenne, WY. There are 60 paintings exhibited, along with one of Mike's famous bird miniatures.

Don't miss our Artists' Reception and Awards Presentation at the Corridor on Thursday, April 23 from 4pm to 6pm. Parking is free, with validation, in the garage at 801 Guadalupe during the event. Mike Beeman awarded 17 prizes. It's important to see the winners and to support our pastelists. You'll also have a chance to win one of our door prizes and to vote for the People's Choice award.

Photos:

This morning Gene and I took a walk around the lakes out back.  Actually you go between them and around the more westerly lake.  It is about a 25 minute walk with no dallying and walking a normal speed which for me is a bit slower than Gene would like to go.  The wildflowers are starting to show more.  There are very few bluebonnets here, especially under the pine trees.

 The easterly lake from the trail.  It has more water than the last time I took photos for my blog.

Not much farther down the trail the westerly lake.  You can see where the trail is mowed.

Mixture of small wildflowers.  I love the fushia wine cups but it was cloudy and they were not very open and there were not many in this area.

The primroses are really beautiful at the moment.

There are quite a few of these off white thistles.  We hadn't noticked them much before.  Last year there were many of the purple thistles.

Here is some of the spiderwort that I sketched the other day.  I found western and giant in the online photos, which it is I do not know. 

Getting back to the house.  I had stopped to take the last photo. 

It has been a very nice day, although overcast all the time.  I think it is near 80 degrees out.