This is a blog about what I've been doing since I finished a big commission. I tried to write this on iPad, and found that does not work - the screen is too small and commands don't show.  So, I am publishing this later than I intended.

March was wintry - cold and windy. I really enjoy sketching outdoors and was itching to do that. I know I need to loosen up because I just finished that complex commission. Sketching will help. Paint from the car? A possibility, but should I put all that exhaust into the air for an hour or more? What about setting up indoors? I decided to use only what I would have in my plein air kit. I got a tray and set up on a small table. Subject? This view out the front doors of the apartment building where I live fascinates me. In summer it's a building site with rough fill and scrubby spruces. Snow transforms it.

 

 

The View from the Front Doors. 5 x 8 inches on Canson Montval watercolour paper.

I took some photos and painted from my iPad. This is a bit of a cheat, but I attempted to paint quickly and to pretend I was outdoors. I rarely paint snow. This is the second attempt. I am fairly satisfied. Another time I would break up the shadows on the hill a bit more. I want to experiment with ways of painting spruce trees. The sky would better if a bit darker at the top.

 

Spring came at last. I kept  my set up and painted from the south-facing window of our apartment. I used a paper that is new to me. Experiments showed that the paint stays more on the surface. I knew it would force me to be more direct and paint quickly.

 

Long Lake in Spring from Nine Floors Up. 6 x 12 inches on Fluid watercolour paper.

 

I find this view from the south-facing window in our bedroom fascinating. The hill in the foreground was cleared fairly recently, perhaps when the nearby highway interchange was enlarged. It's grown in with birches and maples. Now evergreens are starting to peek through.The hills in the background were logged many years ago. This was more like painting outside. I sketched very roughly in pencil and painted quickly, trying to catch the colours. Next time I will try to get the horizon of the ocean on the left straight, I  hope!

 

Spring Colours. 4 x 8 inches on Fluid watercolour paper.

 

This is a very quick sketch out the same window. I attempted to paint the varied colours of the birches and maples contrasted to the scraggly spruces. The "X" shaped composition just happened by itself. I wasn't happy with it until I looked at it the next day. Then I thought I had captured the view OK.  This is often so.

 

Over the summer I will continue sketching. My husband, Murray, is sailing out of Halifax and Lunenburg, so I will take my supplies and paint while he is out on the water. I also  have a painting of small boat racing ready to go on my drafting table. And there's a 2 week trip to Vermont (sailboat racing) and Montreal beginning August first. I'll send another letter when I can.

 

I'm happy to have your comments. Have a good summer!