Plein Air Perfect Day!

 

 

It was sunny and 62 degrees today.  Probably about 15 degrees higher than the average March 15th temp here in the Northwoods.  So, we gotta forget the housework and GET OUT THERE on these days!!!  Although colors are a bit drab for early spring, there is plenty of accents of color in the tag alders, evergreens and sedges.  We visited a small creek that used to house a beaver dam, which was very pretty.  Now, below my view in the painting was a small dock and bench—probably used for fishing.

I used something I don’t usually bring out with me…my caran d’ache crayons and a watercolor sketchbook.  This along with a pencil and a couple of water brushes, and I was good to go!  I usually use these crayons for my art journals as they are fun play materials.  I didn’t realize how neat they were and easy to get something down on paper.  They also work very well on top of gessoed paper.  I would like to try it on different substrates to see how it will work.  Kraft paper, watercolor board will be on my “things to try” list. 

 

Hope everyone else can get out there and grab some sun shine!  Guess I’d better get the kitchen cleaned up now!    

Last Chance at Snow…

 

 

For Northeast Wisconsin, 40 degree days in early March is usually a dream.  We usually have snow through mid-April, but this year, our February has been very mild.  The chipmunks are already on the move, the raccoons are busy raiding bird feeders, and bears are not far behind.  We still have about 9 inches of snow on the ground, but some places have none.  I wanted to take advantage of  our first 50 degree day since last fall, and the beautiful sun shine.   I grabbed my watercolors, moleskine and went out and did a little watercolor of a horse trail on the ranch property.  Sure was nice getting out….being in the sun and not being very cold!   I used my Niji waterbrush, my Koi 24 color travel set on the large watercolor moleskine—which is almost completed!  Get ready for Spring!  It’s almost here! 

Organizing My Stuff….

Last weekend I got my art studio cleaned up, getting things ready for plein air season. I am also done with my accounting projects for year end, and it was due time to do some art. In fact, I HAD to do some art!

The photo above shows the various (and not all!) of my water color palettes I have collected through the years. They represent some palettes that instructors have suggested, smaller palettes to work outside, larger palettes for larger pieces, different palettes for different colors…etc, etc., etc.

My point in this is….USE YOUR ART SUPPLIES…do NOT save them until you are better, have more time, save the colors until you come across the perfect picture to use them in….what ever. In my past, I had to think about whether I could afford the latest Artist’s Magazine--I wonder if that has anything to do with it....hmmm. Anyway....

Use your supplies, for you will only get better if you DO art…not buy art supplies! I had to throw all these wonderful pens away too…for I didn’t use them. I hoarded them, treated them as precious jewels, waiting for that perfect art project in which to use them. Now, they are garbage.