Practice Makes Better-Canadian Rockies

I live in Banff, Alberta, and want to do some paintings of the local sites in our area. We have many unique buildings, mountains, trees and a very diverse climate. Trying to capture all the colors, elements and activities that go on every day takes practice. Not sure what the first painting will be but I'm enjoying being outside and capturing all that I see. Practice Makes Better ;)

California Dreaming-Grasslands

In an earlier post I mentioned I was in California working for a few weeks. Sometimes life is pretty hectic and there is not a chance to pull out the paints. The Ipad is a great substitution to quickly pull out of the pack and capture a feeling, colours and moods. This quick sketch was taken on the side of a trail where I was sitting looking across the valley at a local lake.

California Dreaming

As I mentioned in a previous blog I have been creating some images on my Ipad. Easy to carry, no water/paints/paper needed and a wide use of textures and colours. California dreaming.

Santa Rosa California-Back to the pencil-California Dreaming

As far back as I can remember I have always sketched with a pencil and paper. Very simple tools, easy to carry and get at. As time progressed I got into carving into wood with metal tools, creating images from copper sheets, silk screening onto different fabrics and painting with oils and watercolours.
Each medium was an adventure, a journey....but the one I keep coming back to is pencil and paper.
This past week I was in Sonoma County, California, at meetings, and as I work for an outdoor company, we were exploring the surrounding hillsides with one of our dealers. I had time to sit by a lake, the warm California breeze blowing thru the air....and I picked up my pencil and paper and enjoyed the moment.
California Dreaming