Donna

Some samples from our walk today. Working on observing and recording when I don’t have my notebook.  Fall tree nuts are interesting and we found some branches of oaks too.  Brought them home with us to draw and some from memory too.  Using some texture and shading new skills and trying to get the proportions better represented.  I like the challenging exercises.

I never attempted this before, an interesting exercise, my newt was pretty good in some parts, not so much in others, but the general body shape is there.

A friend found this insect in the grass of the field that we were in today, we held and looked at if for a few minutes before it flew away. I documented it in my nature journal when I got home, since I did not have it with me in this field today.

I am working on slowing down and not rushing to get things done.  This is one of my favorite views, our maple tree in the yard.  I was letting the dogs in and out for their afternoon turnout and was standing at the door outside looking at the tree.  I drew it in my sketchbook before I wrote my observations, this was my third drawing, since I did the first two really fast and badly.  Standing there for so long helped me to notice the absence of birds this afternoon and that there is quite a bit of lichen on this tree.  My view was from about 30 feet away from the tree.  

This is a little more practice with lights and darks, it was done at dusk with over cast clouds so no highlights.  I wanted to capture the folding of the leaf and some of the grass around it.  I have never really intentionally gone outside to draw, so this is really new learning for me.  I finished the drawing inside since it got dark pretty quick tonight.

Nice work Elisabeth!  I haven't taken out the colors yet, but will soon.  Here is some of my greyscale and my little squash from our garden.  Lighting for the photo isn't the best.

I live in New Hampshire and have hiked extensively in the White Mountains and in my own town that has many woods trails and natural areas.  I want to get away from the snap and move on culture of just taking photos and begin to spend more time observing the world outside.  I spent a week each of the past two summers on Appledore  Island, ME and loved watching the Herring Gulls and the great Black-Backed Gulls, I really want to spend time drawing and painting them.  I did do one watercolor of a sunrise there but from a photo, not from sitting out at the time. I am not sure which type of journaling I will settle with, I may try more than one technique then find my own way.  I will let you know if I find something different than those shown that works for me.