Sketching outdoors - connecting with nature - holding onto my sketchbook and hat before they blow away

 

A welcome trip to the coast. 

I like the struggle to keep my hat on and to get some marks on the paper as my sketchbook blows in the wind. I'm capturing impressions and memories as I sketch.

Some painting in Italy

 Sketching early evening at Cortona Square

 afternoon sketching

strong colours in Cortona square

Pen and ink sketch of Cortona from hotel

Watercolour sketch from Cortona Square Garibaldi

Japanese-themed life and costume drawing

A few of the 9 drawings created in a Japanese-themed, costumed and life drawing session.

Pen and ink is good to use when the pose is only 2 minutes long. When there's longer, pastel is possible too, especially on a coloured, textured paper. I tried out some Khadi paper for the first time with pastels. I didn't have long for any of the poses - I added more pastel to the portrait head afterwards.

Very enjoyable with the dramatic lighting, differently applied make up on the model and different poses - must do more!