Don Colley, Another Marker Sketcher

While I don't usually post using someone else's stuff, this guy is worth taking a look at.  Irreverent, highly skilled and draws weird stuff....probably someone I'd like to know.  I've tried the markers he is using on several papers and can't get the same results.  Those old books must have a coating on the paper to prevent bleed through of ink.   Anyway, I like his sketches.  He has done a number of videos for Faber-Castell which can be found on YouTube.  I discovered him from Steve Penberthy, another good artist with a rich blog.

By the way, news from Debbie, that tall ship I painted belongs to Neil Young and is called the Ragland....its for sale....think I'll buy it....cruise the world....wait,, what do you paint at sea?...waves?  Hmmmm...  I'll pass on this one.

I went back last night and painted a 20x24 of it which I'll post tomorrow.

Waiting, 5x6

There is something enigmatic about this drawing.  Her look involves me in the scene and I bounce back and forth between her and that telephone wondering why she doesn't answer it.  It all seems somewhat unsettling....or is it that cookie jar?  There seems to be three personalities on this stage and I'm wondering why nothing is happening.  You should have to spend a day in my head...it's not pretty.

Instead of doing that check out the new 'Page' I added on painting with gouache.

I also have my new website up and running.  Give it a look here:  Studiolerada.com

Tall Ship, Ragland, 11x14

Last evening as the sun was heading down I thought to go get some harbor photos.  Driving over I remembered there was paint gear in the car so hauled it down the beach trail 'just in case' I decided to make some color notes, but when I got there this was too good to pass up even though the light was waning.

I think there is enough possibility here that it deserves a 20x24...we'll see how that goes.  Anyway, as in most paintings where the light is changing quickly, the paint had to fly on fast with no time for pre-drawing or value studies or even much self critiquing.

Sitting on a log, all went well until I tried to stand up and realized that under that layer of beach sand was tar that had stuck me in place....and they were new pants. 

Ignatius Memories, 11x14

Years ago....  Alas, decades ago, I was hitch hiking north to Glacier Park from Missoula.  I got dropped off to wait for another ride in St. Ignatius, MT where six guys in an old Mercury  stopped for me.  My hopes of a ride were dashed when they told me they wanted to beat me up.  It was either grab my hunting knife or talk fast and I chose the latter, convincing them they needed a beer or two before commencing anything so strenuous as pounding me to a pulp.  Fortunately they agreed and in the meantime the former head of Wisconsin's department of natural resources picked me up.  Whew.

Maynard Dixon the painter spent a couple of years in St. Ignatius as he traveled throughout the West.   It is a very beautiful easy going place to be.  The roads and farms around there are beautiful with streams cascading out of the mountains.

This piece was painted in last minute desperation as my friend Bob and I spent too much time drawing and talking.  The day was waning and a storm was approaching so we just stopped on a backstreet and painted what we saw.  Drops began falling when the final touches went in and we hastily threw our gear back in the truck.