Hard Start

 Mom passed when I painted the last entry in 2022. I’ve always wondered how that experience might feel. So many emotional adjustments were happening in the lead up - a fall, illness, fragility and the like. The process isn’t easy or fun but we made the most of those days. Family are closer than ever now, and I feel fortunate for that. Drawing hasn’t been regular enough, and I’ve been preoccupied with other things. Some of my current laziness is just deep winter onset.

This sketch of what I could see from the porch happened just because of a rare sunny interval.

Looking at work by Thomas Schaller and others, I’ve decided to work out “stories” in three values for possibly painting later.  I love how Clippie the cat appears at the right

These two quick studies were done by toronto urban uh sketchers Andres Shmatnik (Kensington Firehall) and Hagen Maturne (Distillery). I met them At Origin Coffee where Urban Sketchers Toronto had an exhibit opening. These have the dramatic shadow and light effect I’m after (look at those puddles!)

Begun onsite while waiting outside in the car, this sketch of my Mother in Law’s house was completed at home. The value sketch shows white shapes aligned left to right and the sun barely sneaking past the hospital on the opposite side of the street. I have a Blackwing pencil to try, and some really nice Reeves Pencils in various hardness.

This quick painting was made in the I Deal Cafe after a brisk walk with my daughter.