Two recent watercolors done on plein air outings with Patti Slattery

Carter's Hay and Feed (Watercolor Journal) 

June 27, 2018

Key's Creek Lavender Farm

 June 30, 2018

Carter's Hay & Feed

 June 27, 2018

Patti and I met at Carter's Hay and Feed to do some sketching, including the livestock. It was a beautiful morning as we sat under a tree in front. Patti opted to do several sketches as she continues to perfect her line drawing and tonal studies - which are getting really good! I did one sketch in my largest watercolor journal. Knowing where we were going, the night before I stained several pages in the journal with coffee to create a nice rustic tone to begin on. Usually you want to use different strengths of instant coffee, which I didn't have, so I just used leftover morning coffee. I was very pleased with the results and plan on doing this more to pre-tone the paper.  Here is my sketch of the livestock chilling out in front of the barnlike store. These were goats and a couple of Barbados sheep who had lost there winter wool, which apparently you can just pull off in a sheet so they don't need sheering. They staged an escape while we were there but sheep herder, Patti, foiled their attempt!  I'll post Patti's when she sends them to me. I'm going to miss these times with Patti when I move. 

Urban sketching at Carter's Hay & Feed in Encinitas with gal pal, Patti Slattery. They keep some small livestock to entertain children and artists! I pre-toned my journal paper with coffee which was kind of fun.

 I filtered some of the color out for a different look.

Mystic Mist

autumnal blue mist settles

a mystic painter’s mixed colour palette

and something stirs in me

a mountain, veiled in mist and shadow,

painted by a forest's fragrance

and a temple

singing through its hollows

where only the wind

is left to worship

something echoes through the trees

leaving whispers in its wake

I walk the lonely path

unafraid,

not alone

ancient eyes are watching,

primal breath is stirring,

clouds gather in my bones

earth ever changing beneath my feet

a restless dance that goes on and on

as I get lost in the disorienting

swirls and wisps of water

flowing from the mountain

Trees are Poems that God Writes Upon the Sky.

Trees are poems that God writes upon the sky.