"January - 31 Walks 31 Finds" - watercolor

 

I like walking.  I also like to talk myself out of walking.  I decided to commit to walking everyday during January and to look for a treasure on each walk.  The treasure would become the day's art.  

Seems a simple enough idea, but questions arose very quickly.  

1. Do I have to be able to carry the treasure away?
2. Can I buy the treasure, as in "walk to a cute shop and emerge with treasure?" 
3. If I find more than one treasure on a walk can I grab them both and save one for a "treasure-free" day?
4. Can I sprinkle treasures on a common route then gasp with surprise as I find them another day?
5. Do I need to put the treasures back where I found them, even if I really, really like them?
6. Can the treasure be on private property?

Lots of questions.  But, I DID find myself making time for a walk from 1-3 miles each day; sometimes early, sometimes in the dark, but did NOT miss a day.

I posted each painting as that day's "daily sketch", and revealed at the end that all the paintings were on one big sheet of Bristol.  You know I love math, so I pre-measured; then decided quickly that uniform rectangles would be a snooze-fest; so included some variety. 

Bottom line; I had a blast, and found fascinating things.  Day 2 was tough, fresh, slushy snow, a 3+ mile walk and... nothing.  I picked up the crushed McD's cup I found and decided that picking up litter certainly ranked as treasure.

Strangest find:  It's a tie!  One night, walking through the local downtown after dusk, I found an unopened jar of baby food sitting on a wall outside a closed gift shop.  Turkey sticks.  Yucky.  Tied with the baby food were two small rusted crosses sitting on a wall by the local harbor.  They had been there a while based on the rust.  I painted them and put them back where I found them.  

 Check out the Key: You can see what each painting is and from whence it came.                                            

                                                                  

    The baseball: One of my favorite paintings.  I found the baseball on the sidewalk one day while walking through the local downtown.  I had already found my treasure for that day; so I left the baseball where I found it (okay, I moved it a little under a shrub) and looked for it on another day when I was treasureless.  

The paper star: (Look below) Okay, this is the one treasure I did not find; but I asked for it (sort of).  I judge the annual fashion show at the South Shore Charter Public School where students make fashion from unconventional objects.  One student had folded these cool paper stars which adorned the bottom of her skirt.  I told her how much I loved them and during the runway show she pulled on off and threw it to me.  Score!!

Answers to the questions:

1. Yes, I had to be able to carry the treasure away.  One exception:  Mother Nature dropped two feet of snow on us so shoveling became my walking.  On that one day I counted the bird tracks on our porch as treasure. 

2. No buying treasure.  No exceptions. Almost and exception, to read about in a future blog.

3. No grabbing two treasures on one walk and saving.  No "treasure bank".  See baseball story for how to handle two treasures in one walk.

4. Tempting, but no.

5. Hmmm.  Not necessary to return treasures to their original spot; after all, none came from private property.  I HAVE returned some... but not all.  

6. No, the treasure can not be found on private property... isn't that stealing?  I mean, I DID find something in a parking lot; but no pilfering cute winter windowboxes or hood ornaments.  I DID collect things from two little free libraries.  

Okay, more than enough.  If you read to here, thanks so much.  I loved the project; love the outcome and look forward to your thoughts.  Please leave me a comment and follow my IG @jodypaints for more adventures.

Shadow First - Berkeley and Boylston exploration

 

When you paint outside, the shadows move very quickly.  I decided to lay in the shadow shapes first in this sketch, then add the color after.  This is opposite my usual approach where I draw with ink and add watercolor, including shadows, later. I used the oil painting below "Berkeley and Boylston" as my subject for practice, mixed a couple of neutrals from ultramarine and cadmium red light.  I used toned paper, which is great fun, providing a mid-range value.  I then added ink drawing over the shadows, then some color on top, including white gouache for the lightest lights.  Can't wait to use this approach on my next urban sketching outing.  Thanks for looking.  You know I love your comments.  

Days 620, 624, 626 New Coaster Art

I continue to carry a few of my blank coasters with me each day.  This past month, I drew on them in The Snug, as I watched two men have a conversation at the bar, and at Flann O'Briens the night of the ill-fated Bruins 7th game in the Stanley Cup Finals, and out to dinner after a movie one night with my husband.  I enjoy drawing on the coasters in pen in any restaurant setting, then adding watercolor later from my head, using colors that suit the mood of the scene.  I am going to try adding a finish to the coasters, and am amassing a nice-sized collection.  They look wonderful side by side and tell a story.  
These are my six hundred twentieth, six hundred twenty-fourth and six hundred twenty-sixth daily drawings.  As always, thank you for looking and for your interest. 

Days 599, 600, and 601 "Festival Days"

 

Every year the North River Arts Society in Marshfield, MA holds its annual Festival of the Arts.  I love the weekend, often calling it a "weekend away" without the cost of hotel. Years ago, before I was an artist, I used to ride my bike down to the Festival to hang with my mother while she painted.  Eventually, I began to paint, and to volunteer, and have now been the co-chair of the juried art & sculpture part of the Festival for a couple of decades.  I paint out on the street for both days of the festival, talking to old and new friends while working.  Great music, food, laughter, fun. Doesn't matter to me what the weather is; so I have painted under a tent while wearing a down vest, and pausing for a warm cup of chowder on occasion, or in 90 degree heat, and everything in between.  It is New England, after all. Here is some of the work I created over the weekend. I get fired up by the festivities, the pageantry, the hubbub, and the catching up with people.  These are my 599, 600, and 601st daily drawings created Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during the arts festival.  Thank you for looking.  

Day 593 "Table Top" and impromptu drawing lessons

 Last night we went to a family party celebration for my niece who graduated college last week.  We saw family on both sides, and some one was asking about my daily drawings.  I had my small sketchbook with me and some blank coasters, and was explaining the coaster art I have been doing. Soon, I had a 7th, a 5th and a 4th grader looking at my work and fascinated... right in my wheelhouse.  Turns out I had four blank coasters with me so we all did drawings on the coasters.  Children are so interesting, straightforward, and we had a comfortable place for them to take a risk.  We talked about building space and perspective and I threw a lot of well-deserved praise.  It was great! Here are some photos of theirs and my work.  This is my five hundred ninety third daily drawing.  As always, thank you for looking.  0

Day 591 "Coaster Art" ink & watercolor 9 x 12

 I recently ordered some blank coasters which I carry with me.  Sometimes, in a restaurant, pub, etc, where a coaster might be used, I like to draw on my blank coaster.  I usually add watercolor later from what I remember in the room, and what I want to convey.  Here is a painting of me adding the watercolor to one of my coasters.  It was an interesting exercise, drawing the coaster, which is a drawing.  The other photos here are of the finished coaster itself, from a lunch last month at MJ Smiths on East 45th Street in New York.  There is also a photo I took from inside the pub while I was drawing. 
This is my five hundred ninety-first daily drawing.  As always, thank you for your interest, and your comments.  You know I love them.

Day 518 "Morning Light" watercolor 5 x 8 - a snowy spring day

My husband likes to get to church early on Sunday morning to organize his thoughts, conduct book study, and get settled in before the congregation arrives.  We drive together, but I like to hang outside and draw somewhere nearby. This winter, I noticed the shadows cast up the street on the Old Ordinary, home of the Hingham Historical Society.  I posted my five hundred fourth drawing of the building using ink and markers a couple of weeks ago, with its beautiful shadow pattern.  Today I used my watercolors for the same view.  There is a snow storm predicted for tonight, so the clouds were encroaching, but I could see the shadows intermittently and took advantage. 
You can see my in process photograph below, taken from the dash board of my car as I painted this morning. 
This is my five hundred eighteenth daily drawing.  Thank you, as always, for looking.

Day 329 "Morning Space" 12 x 9 pen, ink, watercolor, pastel

This summer, we spent time every morning on our farmer's porch, drinking coffee, watching the birds, chipmunks, and squirrels move from feeder to feeder in the yard.  It is a wonderful space.  Now that school has begun, I am finding about 10 minutes each morning to sit on the porch and collect my thoughts before heading off to my day.  I made sure to grab some time out there this weekend despite it being moving weekend for our daughter into Boston.  I love the reflections of the yard into the vintage mirror hanging on the wall above our daughter's succulent collection, which will follow her into town within the month.  
This is my three hundred twenty-ninth daily drawing.  Thank you so much for your continued interest.  I began a brand new sketchbook with this drawing, and labeled the inside cover with my name, and "September - ".  Both my husband and daughter wondered aloud about the year, and the rest of the date.  I will fill it in when I finish the book.  It has 60 pages.  Sometimes I put more than one drawing on a page, so we'll see how long this book lasts.  

Day 290 - "From the Harbor - Two Views" watercolor and ink

There has been intermittent sun during our first five days on Monhegan Island, fog, rain, sun, clouds, wind... beautiful New England weather.  And, we can hear the surf from the south end of the island, crashing into Christmas Cove due to the weather.  My new knee won't carry me that far yet, but I am determined to visit my favorite spot before we finish our two weeks.  This morning I could see the waves crashing against the southern tip of Manana, Monhegan's tiny island neighbor that provides the sheltered harbor here.  I walked down to the rocks, found a place to perch, and spent some of my favorite type of time here on Monhegan, surrounded by the sounds, smells, occasional spray and the view of wave upon wave crashing and tumbling over one another.  The first is a watercolor of the southernmost end of Manana and the rock called "Washerwoman".  For the second, I turned to my right from the same seat, and drew the village in the distance beyond the rocks and scrubby vegetation on the shore.  Interestingly, the vegetation seemed to come in three  distinct layers as it receded.  First, some small, low plants that looked like they may have had berries on them at one time, then Queen Anne's Lace with some beach grasses, then some yellow-topped weeds, among a different beach grass.  I added color only in the vegetation, and like the effect.
This is my two hundred ninetieth consecutive day drawing and posting. Thanks for following along.   

Day 286 "Rainy Day" 6 x 9 ink & watercolor

We are back on Monhegan Island, where we spend a couple of weeks each summer.  Doesn't matter the weather; it is just wonderful to be here with friends and family.  This is an interesting year for me as I have a new knee.  Although we rented a golf cart in case, I am determined to use the walking here up and down hills as part of my physical therapy.  Last summer, my recently discovered arthritis prevented me from walking almost anywhere.  So, each day, I am setting a goal for myself.  It rained day 1, but slowed to a drizzle in the afternoon so we walked down the large hill on which our house resides, into the village to the coffee shop. It was the destination for a number of people.  We grabbed one of the handful of tables, watched visitors, listened to chit chat, had coffee and hung out.  What a treat!  I made a couple of alterations to the original painting.  You can see them below.  I differentiated between the Mom and daughter (playing backgammon) in the foreground.  In the original sketch, it was unclear what was happening in that human shape in the foreground.  I darkened the hair on the gray-haired woman in the back, because I felt her head was grabbing the viewer's eye... and why?   I added some warmth below the chins and necks of some of the people because it added depth, and I added a little indication of shadow here and there away from the light.  

Then we walked back up the hill!!!  Goal one achieved, and my leg felt tired but strong.  
This is my two hundred eighty-sixth daily drawing.  Thanks for your continued interest.  You know I love your comments.

Day 268 "I Love a Parade" 6 x 9 ink, watercolor, pencils

We watched a local parade today from a friend's yard. She holds a drop-in brunch/parade-watching morning in her yard on the route.  It is great for families, kids table of breakfast outside, table for adults inside.  This is the second time we've gone.  I meet interesting people, watch the parade and the children and the excitement. It's great fun.  I love parades and they always remind me of my Dad.  Last year, we sat by the street in our lawn chairs, but this year, it was too hot!  Our friend thoughtfully had a pop up canopy on the lawn from where we watched in shade along with a couple of nice families with overheated children. The yard has a hedge and gate so it's easy for toddlers to run around, not under the wheels of a float.  
I did the drawing on site at the parade, moving people where I needed them for the design, including the little brothers in matching stripes lower left.  I added watercolor back at home, from my head, then used a little colored pencil and a china white pencil for some accents.  My first thought was to only color the flags, but I rejected that idea, because i had intentionally added a number of flags and it would have been spotty.  I love painting crowds of people, the busyness, the color, the activity.  There's always a lot going on.  I am working on simplifying the shapes and looking at groups of people as  masses rather than individuals.  
I designed this sketch with everyone looking to the right, the biggest flag to the right and a little girl in Dad's arms pointing off the page to the direction the parade is coming from. Rather than leading the viewer's eye off the page, the design brings the viewer's eye there, and then carries it back into the page, where the two little boys are in the opposite corner,  then around through the crowd.  By the way, this is a parade painting without any parade.  It tells the story through the crowd. 
This is my two hundred sixty-eighth daily drawing.  Again, thank you for looking and Happy 4th of July.   

Day 258 "Bouquet" watercolor 12 x 9

Each week, we have our choice of flowers from church.  I brought home this bunch, laid in some broad watercolor strokes, intending to refine the painting with some pen & ink... but then decided to leave it.  The flowers are angular, and tell some of the story.  
This is my two hundred fifty-eighth daily drawing, this time with paint.
Thank you for looking. 

Day 254 "Garden Sheds" 9 x 8 ink, watercolor, pencils

I painted in the Clift Rodgers Library Garden tour the other day. The garden was relaxed, well-tended, welcoming, just beautiful.  It was a lovely day.  I liked these three sheds lined up in the sunlight.  The third is a chicken coop.  At some point in the afternoon one of the chickens got very vocal.  The owner said the chicken had laid an egg and liked to brag about it.  After about half hour, the owner went down to the coop and chatted with her hen, "What's going on?  Everything okay?".  Then the chicken quieted.  It was sweet.  This is my two hundred fifty-fourth daily drawing.  Thank you for your continued interest.

Day 253 "Garden Tour" 9 x 6 ink, watercolor, pencils

Our community has a small public library, the Clift Rodgers Free Library and Consignment Shop.  It is open to the public, and totally self-supporting, through the consignment shop upstairs and its fundraising efforts.  Today was the annual garden tour to benefit the library.  I painted in this particular garden.  It's always nice to hear the gardeners chatting away about plant varieties and techniques.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day.  I sat in a vegetable patch in the garden, looking at beautiful lettuce, chard, strawberry plants, overseen by a cherub and an active birdhouse on a post. The main house was in the background with lots of visitors, lemonade, and cookies.  As I said, a lovely day. To the left you can see my painting without the garden fence where I sat.  I decided it needed the barest hint of the wire fence for context, else the column was detached and didn't make as much sense.
This is my two hundred fifty-third daily drawing.  Thank you for your continued interest in my view of the world. 

Day 245 "From the Garden" 12 x 9 ink and watercolor

This morning, a few of us met up at my friend Gail's house.  Her gardens are lovely.  We spent some time hanging out on her porch, chatting and drawing this bouquet of peonies.  It was a lovely way to spend some time.  I drew the flowers while there, then added watercolor later from my memory.  
This is my two hundred forty-fifth daily drawing.  Thank you for looking.  

Day 236 "Tree Patterns" mixed 12 x 9 - trying something new

I have been sitting on my porch with coffee in the mornings, looking at a group of trees in the corner of the yard.  In the morning, the sun comes in behind them, making beautiful sunlit patterns. 
Recently, I was looking through Moira Huntly's book "The Artist's Drawing Book" by David and Charles publishers 1994. (picture below).  She has a number of interesting techniques, including one I began to explore today.  
I laid down a watercolor wash to approximate the greens and values of the trees. Then I laid charcoal over the entire page, and wiped out the lights using a gum eraser.  I'm interested in the results, and will spend more time working in this piece.  The eraser can build hard and soft edges.  When I go back in, I will lay some yellow pastel to soften the edges of the black trees, and maybe use some ink for more definition.  Not sure.  I like the experiment. 
This is my two-hundred thirty-sixth daily drawing.  Thank you for looking. 

Day 235 "Weekly Fresh Flowers" 12 x 9 mixed

Every week, we arrive at church to bunches of fresh flowers, and are welcome to take any home.  The flowers come from the local Trader Joe's and a member of our congregation picks up the batches the store is replacing with new ones.  They are generally very fresh.  So, every week, we have some new fresh flowers at home, a treat.
This is my two hundred thirty-fifth daily drawing.  Again, thank you for your continued interest in my view of the world.