I actually drew this same building last year from a different angle so I was anxious to try a new technique to see how I could do.  This is a real neat tropical looking building across the street from where I did the last sketch of the single boat, immediately over the bridge to Palm Beach which is about a five minute walk for me.  In addition to being near the water, it also is near the library and a great museum so as you can imagine it is a place I love to visit. 

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Boat Study-Palm Beach

Rendering in pen and ink without pencil guidelines is a real challenge but also a great deal of fun.  The secret is in anticipating the counterchanges (dark values against light and vice versa) to make the image stand out.  Of course it has to look spontaneous but it takes a great deal of forethought and restraint.  I don't recommend it for people just beginning to sketch but after a while in the field, do get a cheap notebook and a ball point pen and have a go.  Remember, in sketching we are just making interesting spots of dark on white.  Make sure the shapes you select are interesting at the outset and exaggerate as much as necessary to make them more so.  Think variety and harmony and, most importantly, don't say everything.  Let the viewer complete the process of connecting the dots.  By the way, those few people who know my work may notice and wonder why four birds and not the customary three for my dear deceased sisters.  In this case, I needed an extra bird on the top left to balance the composition.

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Rooftops Palm Beach

I did this pen and ink sketch from my balcony this afternoon.  I gave myself 10 minutes and tried to capture the spirit of the place as best I could.  I like the fresheness of it.  The buildings in the back aren't really there but I needed to add them from other buildings in the neighborhood for balance and scale purposes. 

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Palm Beach Museum

I went out yesterday with the intention of capturing lots of photos from which to edit and paint from in the comfort of my studio (or condo)  when I happened upon a comfortable bench which provided a lovely view of the Flagler Museum.  Whenever I find a comfy seat and a good view I  prefer to sketch than photograph.  So here is the result of this fifteen minute drawing exercise.  I used a rapidograph pen to build the framework (or bones) of the scene.  The next step was to add shadows (flesh), followed by details(features).  Lastly, for the color (makeup) I used a limited number of colored pencils.  This is the four step process I use when doing these small pen and ink studies.  I made sure I took a couple of photos to capture the shadow pattern and a few passers-by I may or may not decide to use in a future painting and there you have it: A charming little reminder of a pleasant day outside and all the information needed to paint a large version at my leisure.  Hope you try some of these gem-like studies or at least enjoy looking at them from time to time.

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On the Rocks

This is an acrylic painting on an 8x10 canvas.  I am not totally happy with the outcome but I feel I am making good progress in this new medium.  I wanted to push it in terms of applying watercolor-like washes and thick strokes of paint as in oil to see what it would do.  I am happy with the composition so I will definitely attempt this scene again as I get more proficient with acrylic.   What I found is that some of the lighter tones came out very chalky which is the same problem I had when I began oil painting some time ago.  I am not too worried about it though.  The fact is I could do an outside color study of this size or even smaller very quickly and without a lot of mess with the acrylic paint and then finish it in oil back in the studio.  So, onward and upward.  By the way, this is the first actual painting of Palm Beach I have done in the two years I have been wintering here. 

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