I made a new concertina sketchbook out of 300# Stonehenge watercolor paper and set of hiking on a gorgeous autumn day. It wasn't long before I found this lovely scene.
A quick pencil sketch was the start.
A few washes of color -- Azo yellow, Burnt Sienna, a Phthalo blue sky -- expressed the gist of the scene. I discovered that mixing Azo yellow and permanent rose creates a gorgeous vermilion color, perfect for maple foliage.
Burnt Sienna mixed with French ultramarine blue made a cool gray for the oak tree trunk and limbs.
Working from general to specific, larger blocks of color to leaf and twig shapes, the scene takes shape. Always let each watercolor wash dry before adding another layer, or it will simply diffuse into the wet paint.
Finally, a few touches with an ink pen, and the cover is finished.
I like the way looking up from below the oak tree's roots gives the feeling of being a small creature in nature. That's a theme I'm interested in exploring -- being tiny in nature. I find it comforting.
What catches your eye outdoors right now?
What would you like to draw or paint?
What if you kept a list tucked within easy reach so that when you get the time for a quick sketch, you know what to focus on?
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