Virtual Sketch Date

This is from the photograph for the Virtual Sketchdate for this month. It's a rhododendron bud. We don't grow many of those here where I live and its a good thing. Right now it's snowing and has been all day. Temperatures dropped to several degrees below freezing, and anything that has budded is in mortal jeopardy. It's been a long, cold winter and this photograph is my only ray of hope.

Watercolor in Moleskine watercolor book

You can see all the other wonderful renditions of this photo here Virtual Sketch Date

Photograph by Jeanette Jobson

VSD March 2009

This is the photo for VSD, an excellent photo taken by Stacy Rowan. When I first saw the photo, I thought Irecognized these birds as Pine Grosbeaks who breed in northern Alberta, and occasionally can be seen at backyard feeders in the winter and early spring. However, my backyard in Calgary is a very long way from Stacy's backyard. I checked in the bird identification book "Birds of Alberta" and it really looks like Pine Grosbeaks. Some birds have been known to fly long distances. There is a fabulous documentary called "Winged Migration". The film crew used planes, gliders, and balloons for four years to follow migrating flocks on their long journeys. Some flew for thousands of miles to reach their breeding grounds. There is very little narration in this film, just the sounds of the birds, and natural sounds set to classical music. It's a spectacular undertaking.

Click here for Virtual Sketch Date

Click here for Winged Migration

(Watercolor paint in Moleskine watercolor sketchbook 5x7)

VSD for February

This is my entry for the February portion of Virtual Sketch Date. Landscapes are a challenge for me, but this photo was just stunning. It's of Lake Louise which is practically in my backyard so I felt compelled to try. Most of my problem with landscapes is how to simplify the level of detail. This photo was really good for that as it had strong shapes and blocks of color

Lake Louise is a glacier fed lake rich in minerals which give it that gorgeous turquoise color. It's always cold in the summer and freezes solid enought to skate on in the winter. It is also the place where they hold world-class ice sculpture competitions. It's such a beautiful place, truly ones of the jewels of Western Canada.

Watercolor 5x8"

Photo by Debbie Later

VSD - December

This is from the photo for Virtual Sketch Date this month. I hesitated over doing this one because I don't do landscapes well. I want to do them well, but I don't. I decided to go ahead because if I never practice landscapes I will never do them well. And I did miss the mark on this one, as I never achieved that dreary wintery look of the photo. This sketch is entirely too bright and cheerful. From a previous class I took, I learned not to make trees all the same height. i said to myself "make the trees different heights, make the trees different heights" over and over. And look at the trees - all the same height...sigh. Even still, I think it's better than my last attempt. The lesson learned from this is practice and repeat and practice, and don't make the trees all the same height!

The original photo is here http://virtualsketchdate.blogspot.com/

Trio of Pears

This is the sketch I did of the photo for October's Virtual Sketch date. It was taken by Belinda Lindhardt. I missed the deadline for the actual sketchdate, so I was unsure of whether I could post it or not. But I enjoyed doing this so much that I wanted to share it. The photo was so stunning that it inspired me. Those of you who have read this blog before know how fruits and vegetables make my artistic soul sing, and I knew I had to do it. I enjoyed every minute of this process. This is why I paint!

Belinda's lovely blog is here.

Watercolor in Moleskine watercolor journal 5x7"