Monthly Archives: December 2009

Winter Tree and Snow Sketch

Posted on December 6, 2009 | 4 Comments
Whenever you’re unhappy with your own current weather conditions and you long for something else….just make your own!

Winter Tree in LaGrange,IL #1 watercolor

I love snow. I love to watch it fall, I love to hike in it, but what I love most of all is to paint snow.
My Dad (who moved out West because he hates Chicago weather) always said to me, “Christine, when you get older, you’ll hate snow. Shoveling and driving in it will drive you nuts.”
Well, I’m older and I still looooove snow!

I am longing for a big storm, I might actually get it this Wednesday…but I CAN’T WAIT THAT LONG! So I have decided to paint my favorite weather conditions and not wait.

Yesterday I had some time to spare in LaGrange, IL at the gallery and I noticed two beautiful young trees. The trees are exact (even the crooked one) but the sky, background and snow are all made up. You can do that if you want. Reality can sometimes be boring.

Winter Tree in LaGrange, IL #2 watercolor, salt

 With tree #1, I painted falling snow and snow on the tree limbs with white gouache. With tree #2, I sprinkled salt on the background while it was still wet, to make it look like it was snowing.

I can’t really explain why, but creating your own weather really makes you feel better. If it’s winter and you like warm weather, you don’t have to wait, paint the beach or some summer flowers. It works!

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Posted in art, Artwork, Chicago, Landscape, nature, Nature Sketching, sketchbook, weather

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Lichen, Moss, and Mushroom Sketch

Posted on December 3, 2009 | 5 Comments

Just look at the beautiful specimen I found while hiking last Sunday! I always like to note what the weather conditions are because I think it is so vital to what you encounter in the woods. While I was hiking it was 41°F, raining and there was a light fog hovering above the horizon.

Here is what I found on a felled tree. Aren’t those the most beautiful puffball/earthball mushrooms you ever did see! There were hundreds growing on tree bark. My friend David Fischer of American Mushrooms.com told me that these are mature mushrooms. They stared out as a solid form before they releases their spores and became hollow. Speaking of spores, while observing these mushrooms, I took my pencil and tapped one of the shrooms… a brown cloud of spore smoke erupted from the hole. So totally cool.

Here is a close-up…

Notice the speckled skin. As an artist you must look at the little detail and include it in your sketch.

Here is my sketch. I did this real fast, maybe 20 minutes. I just wanted to include the lichen, moss, and puffball mushrooms. See, you don’t have to be a perfectionist and make everything exact, take the stress away. A quick little sketch will do and it will allow you to savor these memories for a long, long time.

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Posted in art, Artwork, hiking, nature, Nature Sketching, sketchbook, weather

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The Art Police Issues Tickets

Posted on December 1, 2009 | 5 Comments

I am always striving to be a good motivator. I like motivating people, it makes me feel good and it helps other people. When they don’t take my advice however, it’s time to get serious. It’s for their own good.

Today I had to be the art police and issue a ticket to a friend (named blocked to protect identity) who during an extended time off work, did not pick up a paint brush or pencil. She was warned before her 5 days off that she better practice her skills. Now she must pay. She must show up at court (my house) with her art supplies so I can supervise her work. And she must bring lunch!

He, he, he, heeeee.

Time is precious and there is not a lot of it. If you don’t want life to pass you by, you must make time for what you love. No excuses!

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Posted in art, Artwork

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