India Ink Painting / Drawing

My second time ever using ink in any paint brush type context. From observation of a small clay statue brought in by my drawing teacher. Large, at least 2x3 ft., roughly 3 hours under studio conditions. Included is a detail shot showing all the layers and washes I applied to get the variation in value. (And no, the statue was not remotely anatomically correct -- not my mistake)

Environmental Drawing Works

The ultimate joy I get from art is when I can travel out into the world, natural or otherwise, and capture a scene as I see it. The one and only way to learn the intricacies of the reality that surrounds us is to observe from it. How to understand light, color, value is apparent all around us in the universe -- these are some of the only semi truths we can know, they apply to us. So to get better we must study nature, that is what the drawings below you are; snapshots of reality through an artistic license, the privilege to take from real-life and interpret, either adding or subtracting, twisting facets of the observed to support an inherent beauty that lies within the natural world.

A mix of charcoal and graphite, fairly large and all from observation. Of particular interest are those from the center for wooden boats on south Lake Union in Seattle. Enjoy!

My First (real) Plein Air Landscape Painting

I intend to get more involved in Plein Air landscape painting in the future - this being my first foray into the wide world of painting from real life. Part of this painting was finished in my "studio" (bedroom) but hey, I think it's a good start. Enjoy.