Last summer I really developed a lot of the images I created while sketching outside into more finished images. I’d make the sketches on site, take a few photos and then come back home work on some thumbnails before setting up a watercolor block with some taped out edges. then I’d lay in a layer of watercolor with a final layer of soft pastels over the top. I also did a fair number of oil pastel images. Then this winter I dove into tetrapak prints of some of these spaces
I can now identify what artists call “an art practice.”
I really missed out on my daily stops at various scenic spots this winter. I hadn’t taken enough photos last year. I dove deep into my own older images but also begged friends to let me draw their images.
This year I’m taking a lot more photos. 
This week is spring break, so my work schedule is more fluid. It’s a great week to get back into a habit.
I left for work early, an hour early and took with me a tote with the following items in it:
my small on the go sketch kit, water soluble graphite crayons, water soluble colored charcoals, inktense, and a larger watercolor sketchbook. In the car I keep a folding stool for sitting on and a folding stool for propping up my art supplies as I work. In my regular EDC backpack I keep a clipboard, a hat, gloves, and my camera.
I kept it as a goal to record everything as a form of accountability.
I went for a short 15 minute walk. When my alarm went off, or shortly before I stopped and looked for something to capture.
I then set my alarm for 30 minutes and set to work setting up and making art.
I set myself to capture vibes over realism and work fast and loose. I talk to the camera (aka myself) the whole time.
The good thing is that I’m working with a REALLY limited set of tools. The colors are limited- 3 inktense pencils, 6 colors of charcoal, 1 inktense XL block, 5 shades of watercolor, 1 watercolor pencil, a white paint marker, and graphite in 4 levels of softness.
I’m recognizing issues with the colors in my watercolor palette- the blue doesn’t mix well and is really only great for sky and warm purple shadows, forget getting a good gray with sepia, instead I get a muddy green. I’ll swap these colors out at some point, but I also might just keep muddling through, let my shadows be a little more warm than I’d like.
I took the day off work, this Friday, I had some preventative dental work done and knew I would not want to be around my coworkers after drilling and scraping and bonding. Instead I loaded my car up with a BIG drawing board and some larger sheets of paper. I wanted to make some larger images that would really showcase the graphite crayons and charcoal.
I also brought an easel with me. Working upright after leaning over a stool is a little bit awkward. Also when I work at at easel I move a lot more and the area of beach I sat down at was not level, at all. So the video has more movement and I’m thinking of switching to a different camera that can lock onto the paper.
Working big really allowed the materials to show off their capabilities. I was able to work really loose and free. A lot of vibes in these 3 images and videos. (A lot of dog walkers getting their walkies in before the beach is closed to dogs.)
Obviously this paper is not great for mixed media and especially not for wet mixed media. The smaller image is an unknown medium weight text paper, while the rest of the paper is Strathmore text 25% cotton, probably a 24lb paper. It’s great for a small pocket sketchbook but not for this. I’ve got to did out some more of the strathmore drawing paper I used last year. While it cockled and had issues it handled the wetness of the walnut ink well.
I am very enamored with the 3 trees image. I know I’ll do more with it. I like the contrast in the photos of the living tree and the dead branch behind it.
Anyway, I kind of feel like I’m the offical unoffical Salem Willows Artist-in Residence. I’ll head back there tomorrow and do some more drawing and painting and see what happens. Spring is an especially great time for capturing images- everything is changing every day.
The videos of these sessions will be live here over the course of the next few days:
If you are interested in getting the same or similar set of materials that I used in these images:
(affiliate links where available, first link to amazon, second to aliexpress)
Pentalic watercolor sketchbook https://amzn.to/41Iki6s Derwent Color Soft Pencil in process blue https://amzn.to/4cQnKlQ
a variety of Inktense Pencils and blocks https://amzn.to/48bn1sL
Fuumuui Travel Brushes https://amzn.to/4dVcW75
Art Tool Kit Demi Palette with my process adjacent set of colors (not available on Amazon or AliExpress https://arttoolkit.com/supplies/paint-palettes-and-pans/) Water soluble graphite crayons https://amzn.to/4tQwWMD https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c33n2Qdb
Water soluble Charcoal (closest thing on amazon https://amzn.to/4cBmxgW ) https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3b64gT7
Super Cheap Water Brush set (that actually worked well when I bought them) https://amzn.to/41SRok7