Saturday, December 14, 2024

De Chirico on Wason Ave.

I've done these RR signals several times, but usually in the morning, looking west. This is in the afternoon looking east, and including the oracular smokestack in the background.

Ink on toned paper


Ink on toned paper sketch of railroad crossing signals on Wasn Avenue, Springfield, MA, in low afternoon sun. Brick building with smokestack inbackground.


Thursday, December 5, 2024

First Snow

 Woke up to our first proper snowstorm this morning. It wasn't very much snow but enough to frost this gnarly tree and bring out its undulating wavelike properties.

Black, white, and gray ink on toned paper

4" x 6"


Pen and ink drawing on toned paper of gnarly tree with intricate branches outlined with snow


Sunday, November 24, 2024

Another monolith

Sketched over two 30 minute sessions at the UMass Sun Wheel, plus detail work from reference photo.

This was interesting because of the variation in how the different facets took the light, affecting both the overall values and the textures.

Pen and ink wash drawing toned paper of roughhewn granite monolith with sunlight raking across its jagged surfaces.


Saturday, November 23, 2024

Little Tinker Hill

I've done this scene a couple times before. There's something adorable about its gently curved profile that keeps bringing me back. The late afternoon light in the fall is always spectacular.

Oil painting of Little Tinker Hill in Hadley, MA, USA. Late afternoon light rakes across the gentle curves of the small hill, bringing to life the fall colors of the trees.


Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Dead Bird

Poor thing crashed into a window at the bank entrance and lay there as customers came and went.

This is likely to be its only memorial.


Ink drawing of dead bird with dried leaves

I'm guessing it was a swamp sparrow,  although this one's colors are a bit darker than the illustration in my Roger Tory Peterson bird book.

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Forest Path

I've sketched this little path heading into the woods several times in different seasons and times of day.

Election day significance? Well, we are heading into the unknown. But really I just happened to be in the neighborhood and revisited the spot.

Pen and ink drawing with ink wash and whit highlights of path heading into wooded area


Friday, November 1, 2024

Monolith

I was waiting for a friend at the UMass Sunwheel and sketched one of the monoliths used to track astronomical events.

These roughhewn granite stones are good sketching subjects for practicing measurement and proportion because their shapes are pretty arbitrary - no preconceived armature to fall back on. 

Pen and ink wash drawing toned paper of roughhewn granite monolith with sunlight raking across its jagged surfaces.