View from Darree Fields, in the rain

The Darree Fields park was nearly deserted on a recent rainy afternoon. We meandered around to the far end of the parking lots, and looked across a grassy lawn to see a few silos, partially obscured by a hill of gravel. At the time, I thought they must be those by the elevator at Kileville, but later figured out from the map that they are probably along Houchard Road. Heavy rain and hail began to pound the windshield a few minutes into the drawing, so couldn't see much depth or detail.

Monterey Park

Here, I tested a pack of Faber-Castell portrait pens. Later, I sketched the tennis courts in Monterey Park, using watercolor. The colors ended up harmonizing.

This park is a good perspective exercise, with:

• the court rectangle appearing as a parallelogram
• the closer row of bushes being warmer in hue than the far (bluer) trees
• the closer row of bushes seen in more detail than the distant trees

Part of Ballantrae Park treeline in late October

Illustrated journaling gives both permission and discipline to pay attention....

A little dry watercolor pencil over the grass.

"....all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12

Dancing Hares in August

Evening light, through clouds. The park is quiet, the second evening after school starts. Maybe the hares are glad to have it back.

From the southeast.

Dancing Hares

Sophie Ryder's Dancing Hares, across a field of dry August grass. The summer fountain crowds are already waning. One of these days I'm going to take a viewfinder along and get the proportions better.
From southeast.

Condos

Trying out an Escoda travel brush I've had for awhile.

Robins at dusk

Throwback Thursday

Dancing Hares

Sometimes it's fun to look back through your sketching history for signs of change or progress. This sketch was done early summer of 2014, probably near sunset, on a prepared page (painting the Yarka watercolor background at home first, not knowing what the subject would be).  I used a water-soluble Tombow marker-pen, probably adding shading with a water brush. Strathmore 500 series sketchbook.

Page notations: 2 German Shepherds, 6 ducklings; "color gets the credit--value does the work."

This is probably my first attempt to draw Sophie Ryder's sculpture. I think ths is the only time I moved the pond, to balance the path in the view of the Hares.

Dancing Hares in falling dusk

Cloudy evening. View of park, paper, and palette dimmed as I sketched. From southeast.

Rabbits on Easter Day

The rabbits are smaller than this in proportion to the hill, but was focused on their proportion to people here.  A little girl was hunting eggs; two young men were flying kites; adults were taking pictures of themselves with the rabbits.
 (From the northwest.)

Hares in February snow

The hares in this February sketch look heavy, thick--either with extra layers of clothing for cold weather, or with weight gained over the holidays. (From north west)

March Hares

In March, they welcome spring, dancing. (From south east)

Houses in February

More Caran D'Ache play.

Dancing hares in a warm December.

Rain in morning. From southeast.

Hares in Autumn Light

From northwest. Trying out Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen.

Dancing Hares,  Early November

From southeast.

Dancing Hares, July 2015

From southeast.

Dancing Hares, after rain

Preparing for Winter

Dancing Hares, from northwest.  Bales of straw, ready for sledding.

Dancing Hares, across the snow

Playing with Pentel pocket brush pen,

Ballantrae Park in Autumn

(Here I was wishing to try a Stillman & Birn sketchbook. Mattias Adolfsson Sketchbook Skool assignment: meta drawing.)