I've been enjoying this course and learning so much about water color(you have to let it dry, try a paler color than you think at first and just enjoy the process).  I haven't been outside to try and paint a landscape but looking forward to trying that.

Working on adding color and using references, this one still needs more layering but getting there.

First watercolor sketch in the field. I highly recommend a thermos of tea for chilly days! I wish I’d remembered to bring a paper towel or rag, but otherwise I was happy with my kit. I enjoyed the process immensely. Working in color, I see things I wouldn’t notice if I were just drawing or writing, like how much moss was on the gnarled oak that is the focal point. And it’s fun mixing colors, though I quickly ran out of palette space. If I had it to do over again, I think I would use dry-on-dry for a lot of that tree, different layers of different colors. I have a lot to learn before I can get sketches out of the ugly duckling stage in less than an hour, but looking at it now I realize how much the sketch brings back: not just the tree but the feeling of sitting right next to the creek in the damp air and hearing all the birds around me. This little creek is a tiny ribbon of woodland in ag fields and the birds, well, flock to it.

I was going to go out today and sketch but the windy 18 degree F weather sent me back inside.  My paint would have frozen faster than it dried.  Outdoor nature journaling is a challenge in New Hampshire this time of year.

First I painted the chiminea, then I came back and added the foreground and background.  I haven't had time do a landscape  at my favorite spots yet.  But I'm looking forward to increasing my skills.  I'm having a lot of fun especially mixing the colors.  I'm looking forward to adding color to my journal.

A comparison study with color added.

After having gone back to the same area many times to practice gesture drawing I decided to compose a journal page with a few of the birds and squirrels that I had watched and drew. What struck me was all of the different journal pages that I would enjoy doing just at this one location. One of the things that is always a struggle for me is depicting the horizon in a realistic manner.

I had a fun time painting this experience at Big Sur, California. I love going by the coast, and I particularly like it when it's overcast and the water transitions into a darker color than its usual blue/green color. I'm excited to practice in different environments and experiment with all the colors in my palette. 

Two drawings from the same sit spot. I am finding these exercises are helping me loosen up and work faster, not paying so much attention to detail, but rather focusing on composition, shape, and gesture. Just getting used to juggling my materials in the field.

Mixing the colors was fun. I’ve been to the zoo a couple of times, doing some sketching there, and also taking pictures for later. I need more practice with negative space; yellow frog came out a bit crumpled. In a backpack I carry little bottles of water around as well as my paint set and brush and paper towel. Also a little stool. Sketching and painting from a photo is way different than real life—I was trying for a buffalo outside, but it started to snow, and my wet sketchbook would accept neither pen nor pencil.

Learning to draw and using watercolors for the first time has been a fun experience. Here is my first crack at watercolor (from a postcard I received from Germany) and I'm mostly happy with it. I need to make a bigger effort to set aside time everyday to practice drawing and mixing colors!

i maybe cheated a little, i painted this from my window, so i was able to have all my supplies out on the table. i need to come up with a way to have a clean water cup while out in the field. my paint tin is fairly small, so it's easy to carry around. i really love using color to capture shadows, more so than just with pencil.  

Over all I'm pretty happy with this with this first try. I do think the edges of black on the wings and tail feathers could have softer edges and the body outline could be better. I see that practice is still needed!

I see the value of planning the page layout, yet I do enjoy just letting it happen!

This is my first water color effort. The loon was pictured in a calendar. The class has been a joy especially in the chilly Minnesota fall. I have a lot of questions about going forward, but look forward to discovering the answers. 

This is my backyard, It is so green Because Its the rainy season. The leaves are big and the color is amazingly bright.

Practice painting from a photo: maintaining fine white lines on the edges of the tail feathers was a challenge. Maybe with lots of practice this will become easier :)

It was a bit complicated to have all my materials in the field. The best is to get the water tank brushes! I took a folding chair with me, it also helped. Constructing a complete journal has been a challenge for me, because I never remember to take complete notes, If I draw and colour, I forget to take notes. If I take notes and draw, i do not have the time to add colours.  I imagine that skills come with time and lots of practice. Before I share my journal, I will try to make my journal page more accurate and including the subjects learned in the course.

This was based on a reference photo, and inspired by my first guided bird walk, hosted by the local Audubon Society.   The kingfisher who was perched over a pond, took my breath away.  I feel that the colors were OK, but I have a lot to learn about how to capture the pose and demeanor of the bird.