Colors of Colorado (and Happy New Year!)
Happy New Year friends!
We decided to head out to Colorado to ring in the New Year, as we have friends who live in that beautiful state and I was hoping to spend some wintery moments outside, soaking in the mountain air and scenery.
With that in mind I packed a small bag of travel art supplies (enough to sketch with, but not much more) hoping to get some time to process the colors and rhythms of the mountains in my sketchbook.
There was so much blue and yellow, various shades and various and various hues. I took several little hikes when time allowed and tried to document what I could.
I made a few color studies while out in the wild which was the best start I could have envisioned for the first day of 2019.
Hope you all have a wonderful, warm and peaceful start to this new year. Much love to you all!
—Update—
Now that we’re back home, I can share the paintings made from those studies!
These are the first two that will be available during my month-long show at Miss Kim in Ann Arbor coming in March (more info to follow!) for purchase and on display. To purchase ahead of the show send me a message and I’ll get you more information.
Colors of Italy; Part II
We’ve spent the last few days in the Lake Como area, going back and forth between Varenna and Bellagio.
In many of the places we visit I go off on my own to find a little corner of inspiration, some color shift or movement in the water to focus on; some small moment of beauty.
Here however it’s literally everywhere and honestly, it’s a little overwhelming.
I only have so many pages left in my sketchbook.
We’ve taken a few hikes up the mountainsides and explored the lake and I’ve tried to sketch when I can, but every view seems to better than the last. I am completely inspired and yet paralyzed by the amount of things I want to sit and paint.
The buildings are so vibrant against the gray clouds, the shadows of the mountains breathe in and out of existence with each wave of rain and though we’re constantly wet (its the rainy season here) - it is easily one of the most beautiful places I’ve been.
In the end I didn’t end up making as many sketches as I hoped, but spent more time outside processing with my eyes and camera instead. Of the sketches I was able to make - I can’t wait to get home and translate them to canvas.
Huge thanks to my sister-in-law for suggesting this place, it was magic for me.
Colors of Italy; Part I
I know, I know.
Not a travel blog.
But so much of my process is rooted in the colors of my surroundings, in the different shades of water and sky that to provide an accurate idea of the inspiration behind my work it’s helpful to share these moments away from the studio.
Plus it’s just really, really pretty here.
We flew into Italy earlier this week and I have been absolutely entranced with the light. Everything is yellow. I joked with my husband that I finally understood the naming behind “Naples Yellow” and am so grateful I didn’t cherry pick my paints for this trip. I’m going to need them all.
We have a few days here in Rome to explore and we’ll do all the regular tourist attractions (though if you have a suggestion of something else please let me know!) before moving northward.
As this is again, not a travel blog I won’t bore you with photos of food and old stonework and get right into the sketching.
On our second day en route to a brewery I found a square sketchbook and it makes my heart happy. I also bought a few paint pens, though I’m not sure what use I’ll have for them yet.
And now to the good stuff.
My internal clock is still all sorts of discombobulated, so I’m napping late and waking up at odd hours. With a bit of extra time because of this weird schedule, I was able to finish a few sketches and get a couple of layers down on canvas before heading out.
These siennas are a response to walking the grounds of the Coliseum and Palantine Hill, just incredible ruins of ancient Roman society. It was breath-taking.
We’re headed northward in a few days, up to Verona and Lake Como by train - and I’m hoping to get some sketching done on the long train rides up.
(Or naps.)
From the Beach - Kona
Couldn’t pass this view up.
I had a little bit of extra time on my hands in Kona today so I packed up a few supplies and walked down the street about 20 minutes to find this little beach.
2 gessoed canvases just waiting for the right beach <3
This is the first time I’ve unrolled these canvases and I’m anxious to see how they hold up.
wet paint!
Here I’m using my watercolor pastels as I only brought carry-on bags - so no liquid paint. The watercolor pastels are great for this case as I can use them like a colored pencil and then apply water - turning them into nice pigmented washes.
And here is where I’ll stop for today - we’ve got dinner plans later so I want to make sure I’m back at the hotel and showered after this incredibly hot painting session!
Letting the paint dry!
What's in My Art Bag; Hawaii Edition
Tomorrow we head out for a little Hawaiian adventure. We’ll stay on the big island this time, rent a car and just sort of explore and venture out as the winds take us.
I’ve packed a slightly condensed bag because of this - mobility will be key and I don’t want to drag behind because I’ve overloaded my bag with supplies I won’t use.
This is the paired down collection;
Supplies for Hawaii
1.) Plastic tube.
Surfaces;
2.) Pre-stretched and gessoed canvases.
3.) Strathmore 9 x 12 Acrylic pad
4.) Fredrix 9 x 12 Watercolor Canvas
5.) Strathmore 9 x 12 Toned Mixed Media pad
6.) Moleskine Watercolor sketchbook
7.) Canson lay-flat sketchbook
Media;
8.) Fredricks and Mae circle watercolor palette
9.) Golden hi-flo in White
10.) Winsor and Newton Indigo
11.) Winsor and Newton Burnt Sienna
12.) Winsor and Newton sketching pencils
13.) Derwent graphitone watersoluble pencil
14.) Caran d’Ache watercolor pastels
Brushes;
15.) Rubber wedges
16.) Long-handled hake
17.) Niji waterbrush
And - it all fits!
So we’re off - I’ll check back in when we’re in Hawaii!
(Orders placed between today and the 13th won’t ship until the 15th, just FYI)
<3