I felt like working a little with pen & ink and watercolor. I had a beautiful photo from last year that I liked, but did not want to include the pond in my sketch, just the building this time. I didn't like the composition enough to actually do a larger canvas with acrylic paint, but I did enjoy doing the little sketch (9 X 12).
I used Higgins black India ink to start and a dip pen. I usually use the Micron disposable or similar pens for pen & ink work, but I wanted to try something different. I did get one big blob of ink in one spot, but since this was only a little sketch, I wasn't worried about it. I used Photoshop to get rid of the blob in the top photo. I may just use this sketch to make a couple of cards for my next local craft show. This was on Strathmore 140 Lb Cold Press paper (on a block). I also used some Derwent Inktense pencils in a few places. These are water soluble ink pencils. You can wet the paper a little, then sand down the tip of a pencil so that the particles fall into the wet area. This helps give a little texture.
This is an acrylic painting I started in the spring, then put away because I was not happy with it. I finally pulled it out and finished it, changing the color in certain places. This is also Dorrs Pond in the fall. It is a small acrylic painting (6 X 12) on a panel. The texture of the panel is different than working on a canvas. I don't think I would do a bigger piece with this type of panel. I didn't really enjoy painting on that type of surface. I have one more 11 X 14 panel in stock and I am procrastinating on painting on it. I started another 16" X 20" canvas and that is more interesting (a mountain scene). I will work on that over the weekend. I'm also trying to finish up another small painting (desert/rocks) I started in the spring and it is almost done. I will post that one next week.
