Poe's Raven

The photo that inspired this image was taken at Abbott's Lagoon on the Point Reyes National Seashore. I was testing out a new wildlife lens. This crow was sitting on a fence post squawking up a storm. I took poetic license with the colors and used masa paper as my surface.

Masculine Quandry

I am continuing to explore my sketches done during a performance by Ballet Austin. I love sketching during any event. I have even gotten good at sketching in the dark. I like the line quality you get when you really can't see much of what you are drawing. Masa paper with gesso was my surface of preference because of the irregularities in the paper. It makes one want to explore and get close.

Exit Wounds Inspired

A few weeks ago I went to see "Exit Wounds" a production put on by Ballet Austin. I sketched the dancers when I had enough light. This image was inspired by one of those sketches. I found some Masa paper that I had treated with gesso. The underlying image was done with ink applied with a bamboo nib. I later added watercolor and gouache. I tried to maintain the same line integrity that I was able to achieve in the initial sketch.

Swim Hole

This painting was done on my second outing on a very hot day last week. We spent the morning in the botanical gardens and the afternoon at McKinney Falls State Park. I didn't include the swimmers and sunbathers. The surface I worked on was Masa covered with gesso. I will do a painting with the swimmers. That will be a fun series.

Sunflower Guardians

During my last trip up to commerce I passed this field (or what appeared to be) of sunflowers. I pulled over and took a few photos and continued on my journey. This is an interpretation of what I saw. I worked on guessoed masa paper. I like the surface texture.

Since this photo has lots of information, I painting it in squared off sections. I did go home for Independence day and the flowers were leaning forward because they were heavy with seeds. An office mate told me that farmers plant sunflowers around tender crops to protect them from the winds.

The watercolor version of "Really Wild".

Insect Bites

I broke a cardinal plein air painting rule on my most recent painting session at the Austin Botanical Garden. I didn't apply insect repellant. I did a preliminary sketch in my toned tan sketchbook in gouache (below). I then did another version on gesso coated Masa paper. That version is posted above.