Paddle, Picnic and Paint

David & I capitalized on a beautiful late summer day to take our inflatable paddle boards out to the state park lake.  We packed in lunch and my travel art supplies.  

As we drifted on the lake, I found the gorgeous Sugar Maple leaf on the left. After we ate lunch, I sketched the contours of the leaf with my Lamy fountain pen.

I began to lay in watercolors with a layer of warm and cool yellows (Winsor Yellow and Cadmium Yellow Hue).  

After that dried, I began adding in cool reds (bottom left of the leaf) mixed with Alizarin Crimson and Burnt Sienna.  On the right and upper parts of the leaf, I mixed warmer reds with Cadmium Red Hue and Cadmium Yellow Hue.  

The few touches of green were created by mixing Winsor Yellow and Ultramarine Blue. A mix of Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna made the shadows.

Spending time outdoors in a peaceful natural place just to take in the scene instills calm and serenity for me.  I notice that adding the layer of drawing and painting to my nature time slows me down as I focus on one facet of the scene.  The meditative stillness magnifies the benefits of nature for me.

I hope you get some time out in nature to make art and connect with nature.  

Happy Creating!

A Friendly Goose

Last Friday dawned sunny & warm. David and I took our paddleboards out onto a nearby lake for a picnic and a cruise.   

After watching bright Tiger Swallowtails puddling on a sandbar, and witnessing an entire cliffside strewn with White Trilliums in bloom, we let the breeze push us down the lake towards the picnic area.

A friendly Canada Goose floated right up close to visit with me.

As we floated companionably side-by-side, I pulled out my nature journal & a few colored pencils and made quick sketches.

How incredibly fortunate I was to see a wild creature this close!  I felt frustrated at not being able to express every crisp feather and beak detail as the goose turned this way and that.

But what a gift to visit peacefully with this gorgeous goose!

Now, when I look at my drawings, I re those silent moments, when I had the privilege of looking into the eye of this wild bird.

Nature journals are a way to connect deeply with nature regardless of whether you draw a Canada Goose or an oak tree.  

I find the experience grounding, a form of meditation & reverence.  

Whether my sketch looks ham-fisted & rough, or bright & luminous, I always remember the experience that brought about the journal entry.  

And collecting memories makes a life rich.

I hope you get 15 minutes to sit with your journal outdoors and sketch what draws your attention this week. It's a lovely form of self-care.