I waited until coming home to sketch this heron from Mustang Island State Park --- I wanted to try using liquid masque on the waves. But my masque is a bit old and came out in globs. Oh, well . . .
We saw the heron when exploring the tidal pool area. He didn't seem to mind my getting very close for a photograph. I was also watching the man standing in the Gulf up to his chest, fishing. Sometimes waves washed up to his chin . . . I wonder if he actually caught any fish?
The tiny jellyfish was seen half-buried in the sand with the incoming tide --- I'd never seen one this color before.
This seems darker than previous pages because I had to photograph my sketchbook inside on a very dark and rainy day. Need better lighting!
This seems darker than previous pages because I had to photograph my sketchbook inside on a very dark and rainy day. Need better lighting!
Vicky - you know I am one your biggest fans .This page is so lovely and captures so much atmosphere and memories. The waves have great movement. I have only experimented with liquid masques a few times and am trying to find the one that leaves the finest line. Live and learn
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alissa! I normally don't like the fussiness of liquid masque, largely because I haven't found one that is as exacting as I would wish (this one is from Daniel Smith), but I didn't know how else to keep the tops of the waves pristine white. I lost the white edges of some sunrise clouds I tried recently. Still looking for the "right" masque.
DeleteGorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jana!
DeleteI think your Gulf waters turned out great! Love all your finds and the silhouettes of bird and man!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan! The minute I saw the man and the heron so near each other with all those wild waves, I knew I had to try a sketch of them!
DeleteDid you do the Sketch Crawl yesterday? I was planning to do something in the house since there was so much wonderful rain here. but it just made me so sleepy, I didn't do anything but take a few pictures! My daughter baking cookies, pets sleeping. I am always concerned about the nearby creek when we get a lot of rain, but, so far, it's been ok. Hope that one of these days we can get a group to do Sketch Crawl in our area. Love your work from the Coast! I haven't had a lot of luck with masking fluids. They either turned my paper yellow, tore the paper, or would not come off. Plain old rubber cement worked just as well for me. I did one watercolor of some aspens in which the fluid worked pretty well. But it does have the same problems. The problem with so much art materials is that it does go bad, thickens, etc. over time. I hate to buy things and just use a little of it at the time. Next time I try to use it, it's dried out, separated, etc. Hate to waste money. LOL
ReplyDeleteCecelia, I tried leaving a comment to you on Facebook but not sure it went through. I did not know about international sketchcrawl day until seeing your Facebook post late Saturday --- I had already spent Saturday on this sketch from beach photos. Then, because of heavy rains, I could not get internet signals throughout the day.
ReplyDeleteI would love to find people to meet up with to sketch in our area! And if I have some prior notice, I'd try to do some special Brazos Valley subjects for international events.
For this sketch I used Daniel Smith masking fluid --- not happy with it. It would not come through the fine tips provided (the tip popped off spilling goo all over the paper), and I couldn't get the fine detail I wanted. No problems with getting it off the paper though . . . unless you count a blister on my finger from rubbing it off!
Vicky, I am a devoted reader of your blog and so admire your talent. It's a treat for me to see what you chose to draw. As a Houstonian originally from Jacksonville, Texas, I enjoy your views of our wonderful state. Now, your "sketch" of the angler and great blue heron is not a sketch, it is a beautiful painting. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLeigh, I'm so glad you commented! and thanks for the encouraging words!
ReplyDeleteI have totally fallen in love with the state of Texas, which probably comes across in my journals. Ever since we drove our daughter from Kansas State University to her first job in Houston, I have had a special feeling for the state -- though I didn't understand it at the time. Then one by one, the rest of our kids moved here and we followed soon after.
The minute I saw the heron and the fisherman at the tide pool, I knew I had to sketch them in my journal. Maybe someday I will turn this sketch into a framed painting --- it certainly tells a fun "story" to see them together like they were!