Still Snowy

In the days since my last watercolor sketch we've had continued frigid temperatures, even a couple of days with highs below twenty degrees F. And there a couple of moderate snowfalls of maybe 3-4 inches each time. All of this means that as of this writing we're still blanketed in white, birds are at the feeders, and the creek is frozen clear through to the bottom. There was one day with high temperatures briefly above 40 but these last few days have had temps plunging back into frigid winter.

"Opposite Bank," watercolor on paper

This watercolor is from a week ago, about 7x5 on a piece of cold-press paper. I like the rather coarse surface and moderate absorbency of this particular surface. I started with a graphite sketch, then developed the painting in full color, paying attention to juxtapositions of complements. Unlike others I've done lately no ink lines seemed necessary.  

One of the great things about doing these small pictures is the record they provide. Old sketchbooks make great comparators. Last year about this time we had no snow. I actually sketched outdoors in a sunny, protected spot at Gray's Lake, not far from my home studio. 

Frozen

My previous post was a watercolor sketch of the view from my home studio of Druid Hill Creek. To end November and usher in December we had a big, early snowfall of nearly a foot on the 29th, followed by a deep freeze that has lasted until the day of this writing (Dec 4). This morning was brutally cold, below zero, but sunny and bright after days of clouds and low ceilings. 

"Deep Freeze," watercolor on paper, 7.5x5

I used a small piece of cold press watercolor paper to sketch the same scene I posted last time, but tried to indicate the kind of deep, blue cold we were experiencing. This particular sketch was done using a very fine-pointed watercolor brush rather than a water brush. My outdoor kit typically features water brushes to save on weight and size, since they provide their own water containers. At the studio I can use higher quality materials. The fine points let me make very fine lines, as you can see.  

Big Snow

Today's post is a sketch of Druid Hill Creek from my home studio window. We had nearly a foot of snow over last Friday and Saturday, followed by a deep freeze for the last several days. The snow stuck to everything and hasn't melted much at all. 

"After the Big Storm," wc/ink on paper

This began in my standard way with a rough graphite sketch. I laid in color with a fairly large but pointed brush that let me draw very fine dark lines. There isn't much color in a winter landscape, so I pushed it a bit here and there then added ink lines in some places for emphasis.

The sun had returned by the time the painting was done but the colors remain considerably muted. The contrast with my post from last Tuesday (less than ten days ago), is pretty stark. The grass was still green, trees were too, and autumn color clung to trees here and there. It is like a sweeping cinematic scene change.  
 

A Last Hurrah

"Along the Street," wc/ink on paper, 

This watercolor is based on references and personal observation, but wasn't done on-site. The spot is less than a block away from my studio, along the street that fronts our creek. This was done just before a massive snowstorm, so it's the last hurrah for warmer weather. 

As I usually do, I sketched this in graphite then painted watercolors in several different layers, adding deeper darks in the evergreens and making certain to faithfully record the greens that were still showing despite the advanced autumn. 
 

Rose Garden

"Pavilion," oil on panel, 9x12

My sketch group meets in the parking lot of the Mills Rose Garden, which occupies a portion of Greenwood Park, where the Art Center is located. Many Saturdays we use the gardens as sketch material because it has color, attractive pavilions, and a great deal of original art. 

This painting shows one of the pavilions of the garden, fronted by a plinth topped by a bronze turtle. The limestone pillars and pavilion make an interesting counterpoint to the trees and foliage of the park, in the distance. Just finished, this one will be listed on my website in the near future. 
 

River Rocks

Over the years I've made a number of paintings with casein. Casein is actually an emulsion of milk protein and linseed oil as the vehicle wiith pigment added for the color. It dries like lightning and is relatively impervious to water or solvents afterward. (Remember how hard it is to get dried milk out of a cup.)

"River Rocks," casein on panel, 11x14

This casein is on a medium-size panel, done from various watercolor studies and a photo reference or two. The setting is the Raccoon River as it meanders through Waterworks Park here in the city. I laid it out as a rough drawing, then built up color and texture in layers. 

Except its rapid drying, casein handles remarkably well and often feels like oil paint as you apply it. Fast drying mean quicker application of layers, but you have to remember that it's more opaque than oils.  

 

Sunup

"Sunup," oil sketch on panel, 8x6

This oil is on a snall gesso panel. A few years back I did daily small studies to work on draftsmanship and color. This cup of coffee was one of my early morning subjects with the pink morning light streaming in. 

Never intended for sale, it's simply a little bit of mental exercise that started my day. I toned the panel with a wash of burnt sienna, which also served as a mid-tone, then painted lights and darks over it.