I've been experimenting painting on birch panels rather than my usual bristol paper and I am enjoying the change. There's something about drawing on a raw, natural surface that compliments my compositions. Below is a blind contour drawing of eucalyptus in ink with gouache and pen color layered on top.
Redwoods Roadtrip Sketches
Mid-June I spent a week in a van with my brother and sister travelling from Seattle to the Redwoods in Northern California and back. I sketched along the way with a Sharpie and travel watercolor set. Here are a few of my favorites:
Coquille, OR
Crescent City, CA
Yachats, OR
Snapdragons
It took three months after my most recent move to start painting again. My space finally feels like home and the studio area inspires productivity.
Plastic
I captured these photos within one week of each other. On both occasions, I was returning to my car from a hike. Feeling refreshed with clean air and in a renewed, meditative state, these plastic items caught my eye. Stuck to the landscape, blowing in the wind.
Process and Habit
I am a creature of habit. I tend to do things in a calculated manner. I like to have the flowers I draw in the same jar, I sit on the floor with my drawing board, I must be alone, it must be silent, and taping the paper down is a slow ritual. I can also be adventurous, imaginative, and spontaneous at times, but once I find a process I like, I repeat it until I discover another habit I like even better. Having a specific ritual allows me to focus all of my energy on line and shape.
