Bolsa Chica Wild Life Reserve, California

Bolsa Chica Salt Marsh

Ink on paper

This was a beautiful California spring day with clear sky and a slight breeze.  I walked the path for about an hour, sketching about every 20 or 30 minuets.  This one is with the ocean behind me facing north/east.

Dana Point, California

This was a stolen day at the beach.  One weekend of strange weather.  It would rain like crazy and then the clouds would open up just enough to let the sun shine through and then raining like crazy and then moments of sunshine.....well you get the idea.  I was sitting on a rock by the shore in direct sum while it was raining in one spot and I could see the blue sky in another area and big dark gray clouds in another area.  The ocean was wild and frothy with foam and spray in the air.  I finally had to run for cover holding the painting as flat a possible because I thought the image might slide off the page

Muckenthaler Park

This is a sketch I did after a long walk early this morning.  The time has changed here and finally my body clock matches my cell phone time.  Another work day so I am off to support my art supply addiction.

Pears

Pears Harvest
Watercolor on paper 22 x 9

Shady Trail

A Shady Park Trail
Ink on watercolor paper

After a nice long walk in the shade of these wonderful trees I sat next to this weedy path and sketched while I enjoyed the sounds of horses, birds and a smooth breeze.

Edge Painting

I started a new sketch book yesterday and decided to start with an edge painting.




Muckenthaler Park, Fullerton
Edge Painting
Pat Reese, Watercolor

 


The closed book shows no image until the pages are flared.

  This kind of painting has been done for a long time and you can find information on this website http://foreedge.bpl.org/node/923 . I haven't tried it until, after a nice long walk this morning, I noticed that this sketch book would be a perfect opportunity to try.  It's fun to do.  Just bend the pages so that the pages are flared out and then clamp them till the painting is dry.  Use a dry brush method to keep the watercolor from bleeding.

Space Painting



Space Painting

Enamel Spray Paint on Paper

By Cody and Pat

I spent a few days painting with my grandson.  We collaborated on this painting.  He would spray and manipulate the paint while I assisted and then I would step in with a few ideas and then he would add to it until we came up with a composition that we both liked.  He found this style of painting  at spacepainting.com  and wanted to try it, so we did.  Very fun and fast moving.  Wear a mask, the fumes are strong.

Washington Naval Orange

Winter Orange
Watercolor/ink on paper

While working in my garden I often stop to rest and sketch.  These oranges caught my attention until I cooled down enough to want to prune more roses.  The winter oranges are so big and heavy this year they are falling off the tree early.  There hasn't been enough sun for the sugar to have developed in the fruit but they are still good and juicy.

Postcard from my walk

Brookdale Street, Fullerton California

Ink and Watercolor on Paper (5in x 7in)

I have been participating in a postcard exchange with my friends over at Sketchercise.  You can check out the blog at A Postcard from My Walk. This little painting was one that I did for the exchange but will not be sent because it has a ragged corner where the stamp goes and I was afraid it would continue to rip and not get to its destination. It took a while to get used to painting this small but now that I am carrying around just a stack of postcards instead of larger journals or papers I am getting lazy. Everything fits right into my pocket and is very light. Ivy (my greyhound) and I sometimes walk for hours and the lightness of the pack is important.

Winter Roses

Winter Roses

Watercolor on paper 16x11

Washington Winter

Washington Winter

Watercolor on paper 11x9

by Pat Reese

This is the painting I did while Lindsay and I painted the beautiful area near her home in Washington

Washington Winter

Washington Winter

Watercolor on paper 14x11

by Lindsay

This is another painting by Lindsay.  She and I painted together gathering our subject from the beautiful area around her home in Washington State.

SUNFLOWERS

Sunflowers

watercolor on paper 14x11

By Lindsay

Sunflowers

Watercolor on paper 11x9

by Pat Reese

Lindsay, my granddaughter, and I painted these sunflower paintings together.  She is quite talented as you can see.  We purchased these flowers at a local grocery store while I was visiting during Thanksgiving holiday.

A Postcard from my Walk



Introducing 'A Postcard from my Walk'



Postcard from my Walk
 Logo by Cathy Gatland

I have recently joined a group of international artists to participate in a new sketching challenge of exercizing and sketching through a postcard exchange. The “A Postcard from my Walk” blog is up and running and you can visit by going to http://walk-postcard.blogspot.com/.

More than a year ago I joined a group called Sketchercise founded by the renouned artist and 'blogmaster' Katherine Tyrrell.  Her blog is ranked in the top of blogs of the UK.  Making A Mark, Travels with a Sketchbook and The Art of Landscape, are the go to blogs for art information, education and resources. Katherine is now lending her expertise to the blog 'A Postcard from my Walk' where once a month I will send a postcard developed from my walks to one of the group till everyone has received a postcard from me and they will be doing the same.  Thank you's go out to Katherine, Ronell Van Wyk for orgainzing everything and Cahty Gatland for your wonderful logo. It is really exciting to know that I will be receiving a piece of real art from each one of these fantastic fellow artist that I have been blog visiting and seeing only virtual art up till now.

Fellow participants are:

• Albrecht Rissler – Germany

• Katherine Tyrrel- England

• Alison Staite - England

• Bridget Hunter - Scotland

• Cathy Gatland - South Africa

• Charlene Brown - Canada

• Desiree Dianne Habicht - USA

• Felicity Grace - Switzerland

• Liz Steel - Australia

• Martin Stankewitz - Germany

• Pat Reese - USA

• Robyn Sinclair - Italy

• Ronell van Wyk - France

• Vivien Blackburn - England

The first postcards get mailed out this week and should start appearing on the blog in February when they arrive at their destination.  We are posting our introductions now.  Go take a look.

Sleeping Sam

Sleeping Sam

Watercolor on paper 14"X11"

Winter Apple

Winter Apple

Watercolor on paper

In California, my garden has no idea it is winter.  The apple tree has new blooms, small apples, large apples, leaves that have changed color and are ready to drop off, leaves that are not going to drop off and brand new bright green leaves.  Today it over 80 degrees and tomorrow it will be warmer.  I worked on this far to long but it was fun and I enjoyed sitting under the shade of the apple tree just playing with the paint. 

Dana Point

Dana Point, California

watercolor on paper 14inx11in

Finally a day to be on the computer! I have only had access to the net through my phone for over a month now and finally have time to post and read everyone’s blogs. Can't wait!!

This painting was a welcome change to my drawings lately. I have been hiking in the hot, dry, dusty California hills lately. I have been trying to increase my walks to treks and then to actual hikes.  Yesterday I actually was able to sit and enjoy the waves breaking on the rocks just a few feet in front of me.

Medical Equipment

Medical Equipment

Ink on Paper

There have been many visits to doctors lately and I find myself with plenty of sketching time. Some of the things I am drawing have very little meaning to me because I don’t know there purpose. Something to do with medical procedures I’m sure but only line and form to me.

Still life with water bottles

Graphite on Paper

This sketch is a still life I set up while sitting in a waiting room. I like how the texture of the paper adds to the character of the graphite. I was attracted to the transparence of the plastic water bottles and how to describe with graphite reflected and refracted light.

Keys

Key Chain

Graphite on Paper

I am always trying to sketch something and today was my keys. I have found myself in a place where just sitting is not enough. Here is my keychain with just some of the keys that I need to carry with me everywhere. I made this key chain from a sterling silver spoon that I found in a yard sale. The handle was so beautiful but the spoon part had been destroyed by a garbage disposal.

Earrings

Earrings

Graphite on Paper

Boats in Harbor

Boats in Harbor

Ink on Paper

Foot Portrait

Foot Portrait

Graphite on Paper

Sometimes when I am nowhere in particular just waiting for the next thing to demand my time I sketch. You all know that by now, I sketch anything. Well when there are people (my unsuspecting models) they sometimes catch me staring and feel uncomfortable. Not if I draw something other than there head. So here it is. The foot portrait.

Dana Point Harbor Island

Dana Point Harbor Island

Ink on paper

Dana Point

Dana Point

Ink on paper

Hospital Emergency Room

Emergency Room

Ink on Paper

Feeding the ducks

Tri City Park

Ink on paper

I was sketching this location after walking around the lake a few times when this lady walked into my field of view and started pouring some grain from a large bag, for the ducks.  Of course shortly after that there were far too many ducks but I did manage to put the lady in at the last moment.

Wilshire Street, Fullerton

Wilshire Street, Fullerton

ink on paper

This is the street I sketched, that I forgot to post, that is next to the Rialto Café. My Bad!

Breakfast at the Rialto Cafe

Rialto Cafe

Ink on paper

This morning Ivy and I went for breakfast at the Rialto Café. It is next to the street drawing I did a few days ago when I was across the street having another cup of coffee. Rialto’s coffee is much better. Don’t tell the people across the street I said so!

Hiltcher Walking Trail

Hiltcher Walking Trail

Horse Stable

Ink on paper

This is a horse stable that I walk by on the Hiltcher Trail. There is a small structure for chickens and the stable with the corral attached holds two horses. Ivy is interested in the chickens but the horses just aren't interesting for her, well except for the time the black one got loose and ran down the trail with his owner walking behind him to eventually put the harness (that he was carrying) on to guide him back to the building. Ivy just looked longingly at the running horse wishing, I am sure, that she could run free, too. Ivy is a greyhound and loves to run fast, but at 45 miles an hour she could be a mile away in a minute and not know where she was or how to get back home. So she is never off leash unless she is in an enclosed yard.

 

Roses

Roses

Ink on paper

My yard has been neglected and now it is time to get serious about rescuing the roses and my poor vegetable garden. It is hard to garden in the extreme heat we have had. I planned on pruning (or cutting back anyway) the roses in August and here it is almost August. Where does the time go? I have to start by removing the weeds and that is a never ending task. This little sketch came after I had filled my compost piles and filled a few trash barrels full of unwanted stuff. Apples are falling to the ground and the tomatoes are so abundant right now. Plenty for drying and I have filled my freezer with applesauce and tomatoe sauce.  My neighbors have all they need, too.

Muckenthaler

Muckenthaler

Ink on paper

I have sketched this particular view several times and each drawing/painting is always different. I love the horizontal banding of the shade and sunlit grass.

Condiments

Table Top Condiments

Ink on paper

So often I sit somewhere like under a tree, or on a park bench or at a table waiting for my breakfast order to arrive and I pull out my ink pen and journal and get lost in a line drawing of anything. It’s so mesmerizing just to allow the form to materialize on the paper. No thought to thin and thick or light and dark or any other design rule. Just ink flowing out of the pen tracing a line of what I am looking at. Like an ant walking around the edges of what I see. To me it is the most calming thing I can do. Like a brain vacation. No vocabulary, no explanation, no critique just movement like a dance. It just feels good.

Walking Trail

Walking Trail

Ink on paper

I have continued to sketch and walk as an exercise program. The group I belong to, as I have mentioned before, is called Sketchercise. I tuck my journal in my backpack, then Ivy and I walk a few miles and then I sketch with ink, graphite and/or watercolor and walk home. This particular area is behind a hospital in Fullerton and at the end of a golf course. I love just walking with no goal in mind other than to explore and find something new to sketch.

Dana Point, Califronia

Dana Point, California

Ink on paper

I have been away for a month and really have so many sketches that I haven't posted so I will just put them in as I remember them. This one was done on a day that was over cast, with a dappled sky that let light through periodically. I remember that this was a great for just sitting and sketching.

POPPIES

POPPIES

Watercolor on paper