Excercise with Values

 Old master Jean-Francois Millet wrote that "If a sketch seen in the dim half light at the end of the day has the requisite balance-ponderation-it is a picture: if not, no clever arrangement of color, no skill in drawing our elaborate finish, can ever make our a picture." 

another exercise in getting messy with values

Outside My Window

Smudged graphite is my favorite technique to indicate a black & white foggy morning.

graphite stick

black & white, outside my window

Farm Drawings

Worked on a series of farm drawings this Spring. It was an exercise to try out different drawing techniques. The drawings could gather dust in my closet or I can take the trouble to frame & show them. I love it when I can connect the dots. La Basse  Cour is a lovely farm store that features local artisans & farm goods.

SKETCHING A HORSE WITH GRAPHITE

This started out as a quick sketch. Sometimes, a drawing can just suck me in. 

Tools of the trade: I start with a general shape of the horse; tissue to rub in the graphite; kneaded eraser takes out the white & just perfect for highlights.

Then it's back & forth with 8B graphite to define the features & shadows!

NEW CHRISTMAS DESIGN

Added some greens to something I found at the antique store, a quick sketch. With the help of a little photoshop magic, VIOLA… I have a new christmas design.

KITTY WATERCOLOR

The pure joy of a quick watercolor. Balancing the looseness of the watercolor with a few fine lines of the brush.

FOR DAD

This is the initial sketch for my recent design for Father's Day. Getting away from painting flowers & focusing more on fishing & sports for a male audience...

THE WOODS

There are a few signs of spring deep in  our mountain. The view from my desk is still very brown. But the brief sunset can turn my western view totally magical. From bleak to sensational!

OWL SKETCH

Why an owl? I've painted a lot of different subjects, an owl is one thing I've never try. This started out as an exercise in  bird shapes. An hour later, it's a whimsical owl. I just have to add the glasses!

SUMMER MORNING

ephemeral quality of light and shadow... everything is in front of me!