Dry Island Buffalo Jump

Well, the fields surrounding it anyway. The light wasn't right for painting the valley as it took us about an hour and a half to get out there.

The first acrylic I did at the workshop. The colours are maybe a bit too strong? I like the brilliant sky and clouds (although I muffed up the bottom bit while trying to soften the horizon). Otherwise it's not too bad considering I haven't played with the acrylics for more than a year.

Anyway, it was a lovely (if scorching) day out, and we sat near the valley drop-off listening to the hum of bees and watching hawks soar out of the valley and hang maybe 20 feet above us, riding the air currents. It was my favourite day and I really would like to go back there next summer for some hiking and painting (and if I can convince Neil someday, some canoeing too.)

Horseshoe Canyon 3

This was the last thing I did in Horseshoe Canyon, a quick exercise in composition. Just to be able to show something for the day that wasn't a total mess.

Horseshoe Canyon 2

The second watercolour I did in Horseshoe Canyon didn't turn out so well, but I was there anyway so I spent some time doing an ink sketch of the same scene before the shadows buggered off.

Horseshoe Canyon

The next day we were out early at Horseshoe Canyon. Well, other people were out early. I can't manage to get anywhere before 09:00 and that's only if I manage to get going before noon at all.

The shadows were going by the time the instructor's demo ended and I wanted to get them down. Unfortunately I think they're the weakest point of the picture. I did another one in the afternoon and that was even worse. The two things I keep wanting to capture, the dark shadows and the stripes on the hills, keep turning out poorly. I'm kinda looking forward to maybe going back next year (probably not with the group, just by myself or with Neil) and giving them another go with acrylics.

Hoodoos 3

Our day at the Hoodoos started at 09:00, but by about noon it was 33C out there, there was no shade whatsoever and we were pretty tired of being out in the sun. After lunch the group decided to move closer to the river. It took me a while to find the place (perhaps the big sign saying PRIVATE DRIVEWAY DO NOT ENTER had something to do with that) so by the time I arrived everyone else was already set up and I had a bit of trouble finding a shady spot.

After one false start I ended up with this:

I'm pretty sure watercolours aren't my medium (at this point, anyway) but I liked the colours and perhaps this could serve as the base for a better painting.

Unfortunately I rushed the bottom third because I was late for the group critique. The heavy purple could use some softening and the river more work.

Hoodoos 2

The same scene as the sketch, done in watercolour on a 5x8" pad. None of my watercolour sheets stretched well. I think I need a better board and the other kind of watercolour tape.

The colours in the original turned out a bit dull. I think I'm going to replace them slowly with artist-grade watercolours.

Hoodoos

I spent the week at a painting workshop in the Badlands. It was definitely an experience! It was my first major highway road trip by myself, my first full-day painting workshop, and my first time in the Badlands since I was a kid.

I met a bunch of very nice ladies, I painted like mad, there were bugs everywhere and I've fallen in love with my province all over again. I can't wait to get out of the city and paint some more! I think that while the weather remains good I'll go out for a day trip every Friday and see what there is to see just outside of town. In early October the river valley should be gorgeous, and then once winter comes I'll be pretty much done unless I buy some oil paints.

Anyway! I'll post the results of my painting spree this week (even the crappy ones), and then see if I can scan the rest of my Barcelona sketches.

To start off, here's the first sketch I did on site, out at the Hoodoos just outside of Drumheller.

(Click for bigger!)

Sketches

Void

Loosely inspired by Michelle Sagara's "Cast in Chaos".

Life Sketches

An unfinished sketch from earlier this summer. I was waiting for a friend at the bus stop.

Life Sketches

Random life sketching from earlier this summer.

Sunflower Girl

Scanning some more stuff from random sketchbooks. I don't think I posted this one before:

Barcelona Sketches - San Miguel Beach

Hot and full of people. All I wanted to do was sketch in the shade.

Barcelona Sketches - Airport Toy

A weird little dog toy, dragged away from the kids' area and left sitting by the gate like an art piece.

Sketchcrawl - Watering Can

From back in January. My watering can on a pole, stuck in a mountain of snow. Those round things buried on the bottom right are four foot tall tomato cages.

The Remedy

Finished! And mocked up as book cover, even.

Remedy WIP

Working on coloring this up today. I think it's starting to look all right.

Barcelona Sketches - Port Vell

This was a building in Port Vell that I could see while sitting just off the Rambla del Mar. I have no idea what it is. Those things on top turned out to be hippogriffs.

Barcelona Sketches - Park Diagonal Mar

One of the newer, more shiny sections of Barcelona. Filled with odd sculptures (which is pretty much Barcelona all over).

Barcelona Sketches - Ramble de Prim

I just got back from vacation, and I did a bunch of drawing in between a lot of walking and eating! Not as much as I'd hoped, but more than I usually manage. :)

These are mostly in ink because I find that pencil smears like crazy and that's not what I want out of my travel sketchbook.