Class Project Preparation

Tomorrow four artists are coming to my studio for an art class. Today I've been busy preparing the lessons I wish to present. I'm hoping to guide them through two paintings in the two hour session, one in gray values and a second in color.

Home With The Hummers

I did a bleach soak on my ten hummingbird feeders today. It took about an hour and the hummers were getting very impatient. Needless to say, they were very happy to see me hang them back up.

SEA LEVEL SICKNESS

I've had "Altitude Sickness" before, but didn't get it this time when I traveled to Colorado's high elevation. I just got back home early this morning and have had a case of "Sea Level Sickness" ever since. Missing the mountains, today I finished this pencil sketch I posted here on Saturday.
See more sketches from Colorado in my older posts.

Hawk Feather

I sketched this hawk feather at breakfast. When you get into the habit, drawing becomes almost automatic.

Lost Lake

We did a three mile hike around Lost Lake and Dollar Lake today. The trail was rocky but easy and the vistas were amazing.

Plein Air Sketching in Colorado

I quickly drew this fir tree this morning in my friend's yard. We will be going out sight seeing again today. See photos from yesterday's trip on my web log.

High Mountain Road

I have not had internet access all day here in Colorado, but here is the daily drawing for Thursday. This was the drawing demo I did at the Rijks Gallery in Crested Butte here yesterday.

Hummingbird Talk

I'm sitting here this morning looking out over the mountains as I sip my coffee and watch my friends hang their hummingbird feeders. I've seen lots buzzing around their yard and I'm looking forward to seeing the little Colorado Cuties up close and personal. I love talking about them and will enjoy my hummingbird presentation today at the Rijks Gallery.

Colorado Rockies ~ Wildflowers and Grandeur

I'm writing from Colorado. The beauty and grandeur is just awesome!

Wish you were here!

Colorado Landscape

I'm sitting here at the Denver Airport. I've got a few hours to wait for my friends to arrive, before we can drive out to Crested Butte. I can't seem to send out to my google groups from here. I will try again when I get to Crested Butte. I did some sketching on the plane and it really made the time go by faster.

A Busy Day ~ Hummingbird and Wildflower

The day before travel is always so busy. Today I'll be preparing for my trip; packing, planning and cleaning.

All Down Hill - Baby Elephant

Today's elephant silhouette reminds me that life is what you make it. Our attitude and belief system can determine whether we see things as being an uphill battle or all down hill.

Elephant Silhouette

This one's for you, Michelle!

Moonlit Tree

My next workshop, Sept. 12th - 14th is filled! Spaces are still available for the Sept. 20th -21st Workshop. Click on this banner to get more information.

An Elephant for Lee

Just Monkeying Around Tonight!

Old Mission

FOR A CHANGE OF PACE, HERE'S A PENCIL SKETCH OF AN OLD MISSION. THE COOL THING ABOUT SKETCHING IS THAT THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS.
ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING IS SKETCHABLE!

Lots of Hummers!

I've got a part time job this summer filling hummingbird feeders. They really keep me hoppin'! Oh that reminds me, I better add sugar to my grocery list for tomorrow!

Workshop Work

Here's a photo of my drawing table at the end of the day with all my tree demos. Did we ever do some painting today! (I quickly sketched each of these out before painting.) See some of today's student work on the web log at:
http://sandysandysweblog.blogspot.com

Old Oak Tree

Tomorrow we'll be working on trees here on the last day of my first Spirit Art Workshop. Go to my web log to see a few of today's students' loose flower paintings.

The Habit of Sketching

I started today's sketch while I was waiting for my workshop participants to arrive
this morning and finished it this evening after they left.

I don't think I'll ever forget something I said to my students today;
"If you get into the habit of sketching, you'll never be bored."

Watercolor Workshop, Day 1

Here are two of the four demos I did today at the workshop. Although it's not actually a drawing, I did draw the image on the watercolor paper before I put the pigment on and it was done basically the same way as my pencil and wash sketches.

You can see a photo of two of the participants and their work
today on my spirit art blog.

Twin Trees with Huge Fern

THIS TREE SKETCH WAS DONE TODAY "EN PLEIN AIR".

Expressive Tree Sketches

Here I added a watercolor wash to the gesture sketch I did yesterday.

The second sketch is a quick one done as it was starting to sprinkle yesterday on location. It's still not too late! There are still spots available for my spirit art workshop starting on Thursday.

TREE GESTURE

I went out sketching today "en plein air" ("in the open air"). This is a gesture drawing of a tree up the road from me. It's one of my favorites! The flies were biting me so bad I had to draw fast and get the H___ out of there!! See the photo of the tree on my weblog:

Tree with Exposed Roots

I've been fascinated with this huge tree with exposed roots for years. It grows right on the road's edge of a sharp curve near me. I always imagine some kind of animal living inside.

Sunflower Shapes

Today's drawing is done with the idea of making nice flower shapes
that will be used in a painting. See the Momma, poppa, baby.

4th of July in the Mountains

I'm spending a pleasant holiday at home, getting lots of things done. Some lucky folks are spending their time on vacation, at the shore or in the mountains. Summer holidays always take my thoughts away to places I'd like to be. What's your favorite vacation spot?

Wildflower Sketch

An idea for a painting.

The Cardinal

Cardinals are beautiful birds and some of my backyard favorites. They are symbolic of family ties and of finding new ways to express your creativity.

The Education You Deserve

The Nuthatch is one of the only birds to go down the tree head first. They remind us to get involved; jump in "head first" rather than just test the water with our little toe. My 2008 Spirit Art Workshop is coming up fast.

"A man's mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind." ~ James Allen