bits of last week

Just some bits of nothing much sketched in my journal . . .

My vision has been a bit fuzzy lately. I have glaucoma and early macular degeneration, for which I am under treatment and have regular checkups. I was relieved at last week’s check that the slightly out-of-focus fuzziness was part of the seasonal allergies I’ve been going through. Very irritated dry eyes (which sounds weird when my eyes water so much!) and lots of oak tree pollen. Hot compresses and extra eye drops, including one for allergies — simple fix!

I also played around with new palette arrangements, just for fun. And tried out my new Kaweco Brass Sport fountain pen. As reliable as my beloved Liliputs but slightly chunky and heavier, better for benign tremor shaky hands.

an old stone house

For the first few years after moving to Brenham, Texas, we often drove around the small communities nearby exploring. This sketch is from a photo taken 7 years ago in Belleville, where we found several old historic homes. Just around the corner from this native stone cottage is an original dogtrot log cabin, photo shown below. It is currently being used so doors have been modernized.

De Atramentis Document brown ink, watercolor, and colored pencil in a Seawhite Travel Journal.

another early cuppa

It was very early in the morning, only me and the cats stirring. Butters, our corgi, actually gave me a dirty look when I turned on a small lamp as she moved from the couch to her darker kennel!

This time, I had a cup of my new favorite black tea, Taylor’s of Harrogate spiced Christmas tea. Drawn with an odd assortment of tools in my tiny 2” sketchbook.

nothin’ but us chickens!

Yesterday we took our corgi to the vet’s for her yearly checkup and a vaccination. We must’ve been taken to the chicken exam room (yes, our vet has a chicken specialist on staff) judging by the chicken decor! 

My Duke 209 fude fountain pen was still causing me problems, even after repeated cleanings and changing ink brands. Seemed like a good excuse to buy this Sailor fude de Mannen pen . . . Besides, it comes in BROWN! Perfect for using with brown ink. Like the navy version, this one has a 40° bend which I prefer over the bamboo green 55° degree nib. I found the pen at Jet Pens.

sketchbook play

It began when I pulled my favorite fude nib pen (Duke 209) from the antique tool box where emptied & cleaned fountain pens sleep. I wondered how this very lightweight pen would work with the progressing tremor in my hands. I filled it with new-to-me Robert & Klingner Lotte Sketch Ink and drew some sketch tools.

My hand didn’t shake much, but the pen nib fought with me the whole time! I remember its lines as smooth and effortless, not skipping and dragging. Was the CP paper of the Seawhite Travel Journal to blame? Or the ink? I cleaned it and refilled with my old ink, De Atramentis Document Grey. Seems much smoother now, but I’ll try it on other papers to be sure.

As long as this mostly-gouache palette was out, I wondered if gouache could be used in ink & wash like watercolor. I had just baked another loaf of sourdough so I sketched it with the fude pen, then added thin layers of gouache over the dried ink. Seems to work fine.

We don’t actually eat that much bread, so I cut fresh loaves I bake in half and pop half in the freezer for later. 

no one to sketch

I walked into the clinic this week determined to actually draw people, something I tend to avoid.

Too bad we were the only ones in that particular waiting area.

I drew Bill’s foot . . . as he kept bouncing it up and down.

 

camping at Cagle

This week we have been once again camping in the Sam Houston National Forest. Not too hot, not too cold — just right for leisurely walks on nearby trails. There are several items we forgot to pack or didn’t think we’d need and wish we had, but it’s been a relaxing, enjoyable time. Today, lots of new campers are coming in for the weekend just as we are getting ready to head home. Being retired means not needing to plan around working hours!

At the campsite next to ours, we found an arrow made of pine cones, leading up to a hidden painted rock that someone left as a surprise. I took a photo and left it for the next person to find.

the gulf, revisited

Two weeks ago I posted a 2” gouache sketch I did from a photo taken on Mustang Island. This past week I repainted the scene, this time using Japanese Gansai watercolors. These were purchased years ago but seldom used. Recently I replaced the brighter colors with muted ones that I’m preferring these days. After the initial painting, seen in the second photo, I added a bit of colored pencil. The previous tiny sketch is shown in the third photo.

overworked

This sketch of leaves (and acorn) seen on the lane while walking my corgi began well enough with a watercolor wash. I removed the masking fluid and added a bit of colored pencil — still going well. I wish I had stopped there.

Instead, I added shadows with the nearest dark pencil, which happened to be a water-soluble Inktense pencil in Bark. I meant to leave it dry but somehow a drop of water hit one bit, so I wet all shadows. Which ruined the light, delicate look I was going for.

tiny house, c. 1840s

This sketch didn’t turn out quite like I had planned, but I’m calling it done and moving on. It’s drawn from a photo I took in 2018. The cabin had a spindly live oak growing behind it with skinnier branches than normal.

The photo was in with others on my phone taken in Old Baylor Park but after I wrote the text, I’m not so sure if that’s where we saw it. It might have been in Round Top.

(watercolor & colored pencil)