Novermber

Inside, looking out...

Outside....

Inside...

Winter Sketches

In December and January, we had a lot of very cold days. It was so cold that I sketched these trees from the comfort of the car.

Then we got about a foot of snow, so I sketched from inside the house.  I realized that snow is very difficult for me to draw.

Somedays, the sky was blue and the snow and icicles sparkled in the sun.

One day, it was nice enough to put on my Yaktrax, grab my hiking poles and join some other sketchers in a neighborhood coffee shop. I wasn't the only one eager to get out of the house for some companionship and a sketch.

On days when I was housebound, it was a good opportunity to take Veronica Lawlor's online class and play with line and pattern.

I also added a little to previous sketches.

Finally, tiring of snow and ice and expecting that we might lose our power, we decided that we needed a change of venue. M and I  trudged to a bus stop and hopped on  a bus for a downtown mini-vacation. We checked into a hotel right off Directors Square.  I've sketched there many times, but never from the comfort and vantage point of the 10th floor of the Paramount Hotel.

We could hang out in the lobby....

or, by using extra care, we could walk to restaurants, a theater, and Starbucks.

Eventually, the snow and ice disappeared, followed by heavy rain. Even the rain couldn't keep me and thousands of others from attending  inspiring and uplifting Women's March.

Now, happily, the snowdrops are peeking up and the possibility of spring is on the horizon!

Creation and Destruction

I painted a few wreaths...

This was my first one, which has a loose feel to it, but doesn't look like it would hang well.

After painting them, I decided to add shadows, thereby ruining each of them. Luckily, I had scans and one of them became a Christmas card.

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I liked our freeform centerpiece and tried several times to paint it.  

The cedar seemed always to look too much like feathers...

Then, I made one that I almost liked. I made a scan, overworked the page and ended up gluing paper over the damage. Luckily, I had the scan.

This one, I haven't destroyed yet...

...except for eating the muffin.

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I'm not sure whether or not I liked this better before I added the apple tree branches on the right,  but it doesn't matter, because this is what stays. I didn't make a scan.

 

Fall

Some #Inktober Sketches

March Branches and Blossoms