flashbacks

There is a rare beauty that wildflowers have. We were fortunate in our travels to see such a proliferation of wild flowers blooming. From the shores of Lake Superior to the shores of the Pacific ocean they bloomed. It amazes me the way that in the most hostile areas if there is a small amount of soil the beautiful fragile flower blooms forth. As a painter I attempt to capture but in vain the beauty of natures most delicate visions. The painting on the left was done neat International Falls Minnesota. I'm not a great plein aire painter but I gave it my best shot. I don't remember exactly where the photo was taken.

I think some classes in outdoor painting are in order. I have been seriously looking at creation of art lately. I get the biggest kick out of sketching and recently I have begun to design my sketchbook pages. Perhaps that's because I have always loved books. Pages of word and images can take you away. Sometimes into your own world.

reflections on the recent past

It was a grand view, a picture of the battle of the elements. Water versus soil and rock and wind and so on. The shoreline of Lake Superior near the mouth of the Temperence River. We had pitched our tent in the Great north woods with easy access to the lake shore and the river. We were surprised with the lack of flying vermin. Minnesota is famous for its mosquitoes. There was lots of stuff to paint. I couldn't do it justice.

dissa and data

This is just one of the sketches from the vocation sketchbook. We covered 23 states in 54 days and spent most of it camping with a tent. I was able to persue some artistec endeavours along the way. I made quite a few sketches as you see and example of to the left. i was also able to some small paintings: mostly small watercolors but with some acrylic pieces as well. I managed to take over 500 photographs. I think about 50 qualify as good photos based on my criteria. Many I took just for reference photos for paintings.

I'll post more work later.

Whew!

I have just finished camping across the USA. 54 days and 23 states. Most of the nights were spent in a tent.

sunday afternoon and then some...

I'm still trying different things. this time i used acrylic and charcoal on paper and was just playing with materials. i started with a little pencil sketch them charcoal and them smearing or blending to tell it proper. I didn't have an art education so I just call it the way I see it. So...I smeared the charcoal. I fixed it with hair spray (White Rain) love that smell. I added color. and it was valueless or rather monovalued. But adding white helped.

I am going on a "plein aire" adventure. I taking my paints on vacation. Previously I have only carried a small watercolor block and a sketchbook but his time I'm carrying my acrylic paints and easel and canvases. We're going to the west coast and back.