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.

Carleton Variety

 The photo is poor, really. Taken through the car windshield and wet snowfall at dusk, it has a certain atmospheric quality I want to mimic, somehow. The lights seem switched on to over-glow and the colours are grainy and warm. 

Winter paintings I admire use soft neutral colour to get the low light areas. John Kasyn, for example, who often shows the unflattering back  side of the house on an overcast day. A certain charm is there, in the airing of the dirty laundry and the daily mundane.

Preliminary Sketches

First Washes

Colour development

Walking West

 Daily walks during COVID-19 been a mainstay for my daughter and I to stay sane while social isolating. Walking west in the late afternoon to avoid the heat of the long August days we make friends with cats and neighbours. With the sun though in the sky the dappled sunlight on the road stretched towards us and I asked her to take this picture for me.

Recently I was at Harbour front with urban sketchers (2 others) and was inspired by David Chen and his approach to  watercolours. We talked about the struggle with overdrawing and the need for spontaneity. I’m looking for a method that will serve me and be enjoyable while I’m painting. I also like the urban watercolour landscapes by Alvaro Castagnet. Here is the start with light hues and washes on a card.

The Harbour front drawings were an opportunity to experiment with my homemade black walnut ink.