I saw a football game at the Yale Bowl, something I last did 36 years ago. Fun! We hosted Dartmouth. We shall not speak of the outcome. Here’s a quick sketch.
Geoff Watson, “Sketch of the Yale Bowl,” ink on paper, 5” x 8,” 2018.
Girl in Hat
I drew this little sketch on my iPad today.
Geoff Watson, “Girl in Hat,” iPad sketch, 2018.
Studying
Yet another iPad sketch, with an Apple pencil. I’m starting to love this thing.
Geoff Watson, “Studying,” iPad sketch, 2018.
More iPad sketches
I’ve been spending more time playing with Procreate, a sketch/paint app for the iPad. I’m getting more comfortable with it. Maybe I’ll add some color next.
Geoff Watson, “Profile from imagination,” iPad sketch, 2018.
Geoff Watson, “iPad doodles,” iPad, 2018.
iPad sketching
I’ve been experimenting with sketching on the iPad, using an Apple Pencil and Procreate. It’s fun, but it takes some getting used to. For now I’m working with just one color, as if using graphite. I still haven’t quite figured out how to smudge or soften edges, but I’m learning. Here’s one example.
Geoff Watson, “Anne’s chair,” iPad sketch, 2018.
Mallina
In today’s life class, our instructor asked us to mass in the form without drawing contour lines. She suggested amoeba-like soft edges, allowing us to push and pull things to refine the drawing. I like this approach. It took some of the pressure off the initial lay-in, and it promoted soft edges. We had only two hours, so it’s still rough, but I still feel I made a statement.
I only wish I’d painted this on a panel! All I had handy was a canvas pad. Maybe some future art historian will cut it out, put it on stretcher bars, frame it, and donate it to the Met. :-)
Geoff Watson, “Mallina,” oil on canvas pad, 12” x 16,” 2018.
Tylenol
I’ve had a stomach flu for the past couple days. Today I felt well enough to sketch something and do a quick watercolor. I chose an object that has been getting a lot of my attention!
Geoff Watson, “Tylenol,” watercolor sketch on paper, 6” x 6,” 2017.
Popcorn gallery
I had only about an hour free to paint today, so I did a quick sketch of the sales booth outside the Popcorn gallery at Glen Echo park. I was interested in all the curves of the building and shadows. I dashed in the figure at the last minute, as I was rushing to finish, so it's a bit odd. Obviously the picture could use more work, but it's an interesting little study.
Geoff Watson, "Popcorn Gallery," oil on panel, 8" x 10," 2017.
Utility pole
This utility pole stands guard near my house. I liked the afternoon sun on the "bark" of the pole. This is just a 10-minute sketch in watercolor. Eventually I'll do a more detailed painting of it, as a way of thanking it for its ongoing support!
Geoff Watson, "Utility pole," watercolor on paper, 4" x 6," 2017.
Monument thumbnails
These are tiny 2" x 3" thumbnail sketches, done from memory and a photo reference. These are compositional tools: I'm making sketches like these to figure out how I want to paint this scene when I return to this spot next week. Normally I make thumbnails with pencil, but artist Christine Lashley (with whom I'm studying this autumn) suggests doing thumbnails with watercolor. What a nice idea! I think I like #1 the best.
Geoff Watson, "Monument thumnail 1," watercolor on paper, 2" x 3," 2017.
Geoff Watson, "Monument thumbnail 2," watercolor on paper, 2" x 3," 2017.
Geoff Watson, "Monument thumbnail 3," watercolor on paper, 2" x 3," 2017.