ATC Template

I've always wondered how many ATC cards I could cut out of an 8-1/2" x 11" piece of watercolor paper.  ATC's, also known as ACEO's are not business card sized but close. 

The answer is 10.  Here is a handy template to help:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/49187820903743804/

Plein Air Practice

Plein Air is a French word meaning to work from and in nature.  Toward the end of September I decided to take advantage of an opportunity in the early hours of the morning by setting aside one hour to paint along the river.  When the weather is good I walk down to Pixie Park or stop at the Daughters of the American Revolution rose garden which is slightly up the hill, set the alarm on my phone for one hour and paint the vista before me.  The dew point as the sun comes up affects how quickly or how slowly the paint dries so I am often waiting for a section to dry before I can continue on.  So nothing gets to the point of "finished" but that's not the point.  It's the challenge of figuring out how to capture a sunrise which is over as soon as it begins. 

 

 

 

 

Watercolor in a watercolor moleskin journal.  What I'm liking about whatever paper they used to make the journal with, it kind of puckers a bit when it's wet but as it dries it returns to a flat state.  And an interesting observation, each sunrise is unique.  Makes it fun.  

Sentimental Journey

(Click to see the image enlarged)

 

"Sentimental Journey"

7-1/2" x 11"
140# Arches hot press cotton paper
10% watercolor for the foundation
90% Caran d'Ache Luminance colored pencils for the magic
Reference: Union Station in Portland, Oregon

Background on this piece:
Many years ago when I first began using colored pencils I drew the train station in preparation for a painting.  Because of all of the detail in this particular location it was a bugger to draw but that was when I was growing an appreciation for what colored pencil could do.  When I was done with the initial drawing (below) I never did go back and paint the train station. I was that pleased with the drawing.  This is not a very good picture of the original drawing from about two decades ago but it gives you the idea of what it was:   

Washington County Fair - follow up

 



 

Both drawings won first place in their respective classes. The drawing on the left was awarded Best in Show.  

Hotel De Haro

 

I finished another piece for my Roche Harbor series.  For Mother's Day my son gave me a two day stay and I made the most of it.  I got up early to enjoy the quiet before the hustle and bustle of the day began and was treated to a spectacular sunrise.  This is the historic Hotel De Haro. 

 

8" x 11"

Watercolor, pen and ink and colored pencil

140# Arches hot press cotton paper

Available for purchase

Washington County Fair

Entries were dropped off today in Hillsboro.  Fair doors open July 30th - August 2nd.  Let the fun begin!

Columbia County Fair

St. Helens, Oregon
June 16 - 19, 2015

First place - colored pencil, landscape division
First place - mixed media, floral division
First place - mixed media, animal division

Note:  My mixed media is colored pencil with a watercolor foundation.