Tree day.

A few days ago, I went out to Sugar Bottom near Lake Macbride to study trees. I didn't really think of it much, but I guess what I'm doing sort of feels like a little science experiment. Usually, I compose images, draw the whole, so to speak. Lately, though I have decided to study one thing at a time....to take some time with an individual thing in the spaces I observe...a flower, a plant, a tree...Drawing feels a bit like meditating lately. I like that. It is just such an great intense period of focus like no other part of my day. Someone once said that drawing is like "physical empathy." I could not put it any better. 

Today, I decided to stick around the yard at home for my drawing session...mostly because I was waiting for the cable guy to come between 8-12 (which he never did). Oddly, trying to get your cable disconnected is not one of the high priority jobs on the cable company's list. Go figure. 

Anyway, I decided to go away from the washy, fluid approach of the last few days and go graphic, using black and white only on one. The light this morning was really amazing and creating these patterns across the leaves.

 On the other I did some direct tracing...love love love that static look, and then worked back into it with gouache and ink. 

Summer!

New watercolors from an outing in Coralville. Prairie grasses and beautiful flowers from the community garden just a short jaunt away!