Trying a tree again

I quite liked sitting outside doing the tree, so I tried again this morning. The garden is tricky for a good pic, lots of green, lots of up close finickity detail. I walked about for an age trying to find something that looked good composition wise, but then decided that it didn't matter really if all I was doing was tree practice, so I just sat in the shade and went for it.

I got a bit lost in tree detail, one minute I'm looking at overall shapes and the next, I'm trying to do a goddam leaf. I think the grass/shadow is better than the last attempt though, so that's okay.

If I'm to keep going with this plein air business, I'd really want not to end up with paint on my jeans, my hands and my eyebrows. I came inside with green lips, how did that happen!

Some summer sketches

Well I have been painting, but I've been painting the exterior woodwork on the house which is no fun whatsoever. I did a rubbish job on it anyway, and managed to get impossible to remove paint on legs, shorts, dog, path and plants. I've been keeping up sketching though and have finished pad number 3. Ta Da. That's the end of the Moleskin. The long format didn't suit me, although, it was okay for this foxglove:

 

I need to leave home more often, I've been sketching looking out of doors and windows:

 

 

And I've been sketching bits of rooms:

 

 

And I've been sketching any flowers in the garden:

 

I get a bit fiddly and faffy too easily, so sometimes I have to try and force myself to be looser:

 

I've given one of my daughters some watercolours, so she was sitting out in the garden sketching with me last night, while my other daughter was out there reading with us. Nice way to spend an evening.

 

 

 

 

 

Sketching the house etc

I've been trying to draw things that are a bit challenging, especially lines and perspective etc. for the practice. That makes it all sound like a boring  exercise, but I must say I'm loving the whole thing.

 

I sat out on the grass doing the next one, Max ran off with the tissues, licked the paint, and took to chewing my sandal , painting with a dog is gas crack.

 

I'm not the most innovative when it comes to subject matter. I wandered around looking for things and ended up sitting in front of the shed.

 

The next one  I didn't do for drawing practice, I wanted to try and quickly catch the late sun on the grass and the backlit viburnum. Minimum drawing and very quick painting.

 

 

And last weeks veg box.  Now that I think of it, I think that fennel bulb is still sitting in the fridge a week later, oops.