Yesterday's Accomplishments

Yesterday I was sitting looking out the window as the sun was shining and our temperatures reached the low 50s.  With all the storms that have passed over us, we've accumulated about 18 inches of snow.  We've been stuck up on this hill for four weeks with only a one day window where we were able to get down the quarter mile drive safely. 

Although it was warm yesterday and again today, it's going to take several days to melt this away.  And so far the drive up the hill is still treacherous due to a couple inch thick sheet of ice that was under the snow.  Even the slushy areas are slippery!  Terry's out now trying to break it up and lay salt down. 

Here's a watercolor sketch I did as I was looking out the window....

And before I worked the watercolor, I worked on this pen and ink sketch.  Perspective is not quite right, I don't think, but I enjoyed doing it just the same.

As I was working the sketch, I lost sight of sunlight and shadow.  When I first thought I was done, I sat there looking at the sketch and realized the values were all the same as if a cloudy day and yet I had included cast shadows on the ground.  Didn't look right by any means!  Here it was worked in pen and ink and I needed to fix the lighting.

So I grabbed my trusty white gel pen and covered some of the ink marks on the sunny side of the buildings and posts and took a Neutral Tint wash over what should be the shaded areas.

I think what also helped make it a little easier to cover the ink marks was the fact I used my Pilot Prera with the dry feed and Lexington Gray ink.  I struggled getting the ink to feed dark anyways.

Another Snow Scene

Worked in the Zeta sketchbook using Pilot Prera and Lexington Gray ink plus W&N watercolors.

If winter has to consist of gray skies and cold weather, we can at least enjoy a white, fresh, blanket of snow now and then to help brighten things up a bit.  :-)

Little Snow Scene

Although I wanted to sketch something on the 31st, I just couldn't seem to do anything right.  Not even a stick figure.  Maybe due to needing a little break after the several sketches worked on the 30th.....lol

Before and after pen and ink worked in the Zeta Handbook.  Used my Pilot Prera with Lexy Gray ink and W&N watercolors:  Cer Bl, Cob Bl, Winsor Bl, RS, BS, BU and a touch of Light Red and Aliz.  The Winsor Blue was used to mix my evergreen tree color.

Watercolor Exercise - Snow

My latest ........... Fabriano Artistico 140lb Cold Press and W&N watercolors.

I first tried this exercise in the Moleskine Watercolor sketchbook and the paper would not cooperate with me.  So I decided to use good paper for this to save on additional frustration.

Back to Watercolor Painting

November 24th.......I've been working in pen and ink so much that it feels funny working primarily in watercolor.  I feel a bit lost.

Miniature Snow Lady

Back in February of 2010, during a snow storm, I built a miniature snow lady from the snow collecting on our front porch table.  I was just messing around playing with the snow when I decided I wanted to really dress her up.  Went to my craft cabinet and found the accessories as you see in the illustrations.

Within a day or so after the snow storm, I decided to capture on paper using pen and ink and watercolor.

Here's the first I did a few years ago........being a bit creative adding the paper and the paint brush.

Tonight I decided I wanted to revisit and using a different photo shot, worked another sketch using pen and ink and inktense pencils - dry.  This was done in the Moleskine Sketchbook.  

I chose to not take water to the inktense as I liked the texture it created dry..........especially with the cloak made out of felt.  And I'm finding dry medium definitely works better in this sketchbook.

Painting Snow - Examples from the Past

Thought I would share some examples of my snow scenes I've done through the years.

Idea to post now is from a question I read from someone asking to be directed in how to paint snow.  One person's work I studied to help me was Suzie Short.  (Link takes you to a you-tube video example)  I've also picked up ideas from Susan Scheewe as well as Peter Saw, Gordon MacKenzie and Sterling Edwards.

Basically what I learned is that we don't paint snow..........we paint shadows to create contours of the landscape and cast shadows from surrounding elements.

I practiced laying down lines and curves of gray blues and lavendar untoned blues on paper and while still wet took a clean damp brush and softened the top edges of the paint mark to blend into the white surrounding area.

With snow still covering the ground outside, I really should try some more snow scenes.  They've always been my favorite!!!