Note: You do have to click on the thumbnails here to see the full pieces. They are too wide for this format.
Well, Alaska was humbling! And thrilling and unforgettable. I'm so grateful for the time I had there. I wish it had been longer.
Humbling for the obvious reasons of the place's grandeur and uniqueness, but on a work level, too, because constricted packing space and travel exigencies naturally limited the kinds of materials I could take with me. The upside of that is that I made do with what I had... and that is a very Alaskan trait!
Here are samples of studies and sketches I made, direct and immediate responses to what I saw, in no particular order.
At the last minute, I decided to throw in a pad of heavy craft paper and I'm very glad I did! It is so sturdy and, being toned, it provided instant atmospherics and drama.
The paper's brown tones seemed to bring out my hitherto completely unsuspected inner Maynard Dixon, a twentieth-century painter of the American west!
The craft paper stood up well to the charcoal stubs I harvested from a fire pit, using them as drawing tools:
I brought loose sheets of heavyish watercolor paper and was able to make some studies with paint made from soil.I brought back soil, rocks, and found charcoal to continue these experiments at home.
I collected wild currants and smashed them and used their pulp to add color to this ink sketch of fireweed:
In a sketchbook made for me by a good friend especially for this trip, I turned to more colorful subjects:
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More to come of Alaska and its aftermath!
Thank you, Patricia! I'm so glad you like the work. I first drew with a brush pen and then added watercolor washes.
Posted by: Laura | August 31, 2016 at 07:51 AM
Thank you so much, Robyn! I appreciate your support.
Posted by: Laura | August 31, 2016 at 07:50 AM
Very inspiring. Only a true artist would pick up charcoal left from a fire and draw with it (or a child who didn't "know better"). Brilliant! I love the flowers - may I ask which came first? The ink or the watercolor?
Posted by: Patricia Wafer | August 30, 2016 at 11:22 PM
HI Laura--finally getting a moment to steep myself in your sketches and story. The blues are fabulous and they really stand out from the charcoal. They are so evocative and it's lovely to know your natural tools. I plan to look at them several times
Posted by: Robyn Mixon | August 30, 2016 at 04:40 PM
Virginia, thank you! You are such a supportive friend! xoxo
Posted by: Laura | August 29, 2016 at 09:56 AM
So exciting and exhilarating to see these, Laura! I love Maynard Dixon, and I LOVE your sketches!
Posted by: Virginia Hein | August 28, 2016 at 10:11 PM