Sketchbook Pages

Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008

The sketch on the left is from "Desert View Overlook" on Hwy 158 up in the Mt. Charleston area. It's looking across the valley into the Sheep Mountain Range. Bill and I parked and walked out to the point along the trail (there is a railing there because of the drop-off.) There was about a foot of snow and on the trail it was packed to slippery ice. I sketched the view and began the color wash but after a few minutes I noticed a lot of chunks of ice in my brush tip and on my pocket palette. Apparently it was so cold that the water was freezing as I was squeezing it out of my Niji brush! Since it was too cold to paint we decided to head back to the car. We did see a beautiful red-tailed hawk from this area as well as the distant view. The sketch on the right is from a high point along Harris Ranch Road on Hwy 157. We parked the car, ate our lunch and sketched. Bill decided to take a short walk while I painted so he started to put his boots on. His boots that had been sitting in the garage for a couple of years unused. He then found a mouse nest in one of the Sorrels made from fluff pulled from the inner liner. There were also strips of computer paper, leaves, string and one gold wrapper from a chocolate coin! We found it quite amusing. Good thing you can get replacement liners for boots.

8" x 11"

Original Watercolor

Not for sale

I have started making my own sketchbooks (after reading Cathy Johnson's book "Creating Nature In Watercolor" in which she mentions doing this.) This little painting was one of the first I painted in this new sketchbook I made from 90 lb Fabriano Artistico. I was able to find this lighter weight paper in the Jerry's Artarama catalogue and it is a nice weight for watercolor sketchbooks. It's a nice change to be able to sit down with one of these sketchbooks in my lap and finish a painting in one sitting. I am so used to working on studio paintings for a week at a time.

Sketchbook Pages

Sketchbook Pages

Sketchbook Pages

"Canyon Walls and Cottonwoods"

$120.00

Original Watercolor

I finished this little 8" x 7" watercolor this morning. It is a scene at the entrance to the Narrows Trail in Zion called Temple of Sinawava. I could paint there everyday and not get enough of it. There is a section of 3 foot waterfalls across the Virgin River here, and the cottonwoods are in fall colors. There is a pair of blue herons that live in the narrows and they are often at this section of the river.

Sketchbook Pages

Sketchbook Pages

Sketchbook Pages

Sketchbook Pages

Sketchbook Pages

"Green Into Gold"

This is a 7" x 10" watercolor of the Virgin River in Zion. We were there the last week in October when the cottonwood trees are turning color. It's world class hiking there in the fall with all the color and dozens of different mountain peaks to choose from. Please email me for purchasing information.

Original watercolor

$130.00

This is a 10" x 7" watercolor also painted from the edge of the Virgin River in Zion. I like the cloud shadows across the mountain and the willows at the water's edge really had that delicate blue-green hue to them. It is called "Touching the Clouds." Please email me for purchasing information.

Original watercolor

$130.00

I was trying out a little texture medium with this 7" x 10" watercolor. After finishing the drawing I put the medium on the area that would become the mountains and some parts of the trees. I liked the affect but next time I will dilute it 1 part medium to 5 parts water because I think it inhibits the granulation affects a bit. This is called "Two Patriarchs" and was done at the Court of the Patriarchs in Zion. Please email me for purchasing information.

Original watercolor

$130.00

"Rain Droplets"

I was having fun painting a diffused background here with the crisp edges of the subject. This is from Willow Springs in April, Red Rock Canyon. A sudden rain came up and drenched all the cactus. Just as suddenly the sun came back out and all the flowers were sparkling with raindrops. This 7" x 10" watercolor is actually about 1 value lighter. I don't always get the digital photos just right. Please email me for purchasing information.

Original watercolor

$130.00

"Bridalvale Falls With Golden Meadow"

Image size: 6"x8"

Price Framed: $200

A quick little painting I did during one of our fall trips to Yosemite National Park. It is framed with archival off-white matt board in an "Antique Broken Leaf Gold" panel frame. Very traditional look if I do say so. Please email me for purchasing information. 

Cactus Series

"Jackrabbit Salad"
Original Watercolor
Image size: 10"x 10"

Sold

Every now and then, while hiking in the desert with my family, we will come across cactus flowers that have big bites taken out of them. There are a lot of critters in the desert and it's entertaining to come across these signs of their presence and activites. The mystery is how they manage to avoid the spines on the cactus pads. This blossom was such a good example of the foraging of desert wildlife that I couldn't resist painting it. Please email me for purchasing information. 

"Luminous Bloom"

Image: 10"x10"

Paper: 19"x15"

Original Watercolor

Price: $240

I paint many different types of cactus flowers and enjoy painting them all but this variety was made for painters because the plant is a gorgeous purple while the flowers are yellow-the compliment of purple on the color wheel. What could be a more perfect subject for a colorist? Please email me for purchasing information. 

Blog Currently Under Construction =)