Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Walking and Sketching


W&N Watercolour Sketchbook 10 x 7"

Most mornings I try to roll out of bed around seven and head off into the Tuscan countryside for a walk. These Autumn mornings are the best time of year here. The other day I finally took my sketchbook and made a quick study of this old aqueduct. The watercolour was added later.

Katheryn Tyrrell of Making a Mark has been blogging about Gardens in Art for the past few weeks. Today she has a wonderful post on Monet. I've been dying to join in but I find masses of foliage really challenging. Hopefully little exercises like the one above, might eventually lead to a garden painting. I am happy with play of light.

There are also lovely views of our hilltop town along my wallk. Something else to tackle in the future.

20 comments:

Robyn said...

After reading the first sentence I was so eaten up with jealousy that I couldn't go any further ... you lucky duck :-)

Robyn Sinclair said...

Robyn - The truth is actually less romantic. As the sun comes up HWEM jabs me in the ribs and says 'You going to walk?!' then rolls over and goes back to sleep. Dermott raises his head, scratches, belches and does the same.

Lin said...

ABSOLUTELY AWESOME, Robyn!! The foliage is handled beautifully! And what a place to live!! I am as green as the trees, cara!

Anonymous said...

This is so lovely robyn...very different from what you usually do, but you are suddenly just popping with all kinds of wonderful suprises! I think you did great on all that foliage, which to me is also a daunting thing and yes...in spite of the rest of the household digging in deeper for a sleep...that first sentence does sound just tooo romantic!
Ronell

Anita Davies said...

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!

Casey Klahn said...

Your recent sketches are a delight to follow!

"JeanneG" said...

You lied. Your foliage is just beautiful. Great photo of your town. I would love to see more.

brian nelson said...

Wow! What scenery! Great art too!! Yep, I am jealous! Wish I were there!!!!!!!!

Mary said...

Robyn, what incredible walks you must take and I can imagine the opportunity for sketching is always in sight. Lovely sketch!

Making A Mark said...

The male of the species in the morning often leaves little to be desired!

Now I particularly want you to read Monet's routine in the post which follows the one you highlighted - and you need to show it to your husband and indicate that from now on the artist in the family will be getting up a little earlier than usual but will also need to have meals on the table promptly when the bell is rung twice! ;D

Your town is looking great in the photo - wonderful colours at this time of year and morning light is so special!

I can't imagine Monet painting in watercolour - except maybe click on that picture of the woman sitting under the willows. Do you think that would work in watercolour? I think it might!

Dermott said...

I belch in the mornings? Wrong end, toots.

caseytoussaint said...

You really did a wonderful job on the foliage, Robyn! Having just struggled through this a couple of weeks ago in Kate's watercolor class I feel qualified to say that! How nice to have had your walk and even done a sketch before breakfast! You must feel so virtuous for the rest of the day...

juj said...

Gorgeous! The color, consistancy, and composition are delightful.

Joan said...

Robyn, I'm so proud of the way you're challenging yourself. This is beautiful. What did you use to do the sketch underneath? Excellent job on all that foliage. I take a walk when I roll out of bed at 7am too, but I'm passing thru housing developments, not gorgeous Tuscan landscapes like you. I'm so jealous!

janie said...

Beautiful.
Just beautiful.

dinahmow said...

I haven't been "over here" for a while, but want to say that you do seem to have changed.A good change, too!

Robyn Sinclair said...

Katherine - I've bought my bell and alerted HWEM to a new domestic routine. He's pretty safe though - I don't see myself rising at 4am!

I think that Monet painting under the tree would work a treat in watercolour. If only I were Monet :(

Casey - I so enjoy that you are doing a watercolour class as well. I don't feel quite so alone.

Joan - Many thanks. I did a very simple little pencil sketch as the basis for this watercolour. It really helped me though because I'd made the decision on the spot of how much detail to include, rather than getting bogged down later with all I could see in the photograph.

Ronell, Judi, Anita, Lin, Casey K, Jeanne, Brian, Mary, Janie, Dinah - Thank you all for taking the time to comment and for those of you who do so on such a regular basis. You are so appreciated.

Kerstin Klein said...

wow. beautiful!

sandy said...

Glad I found your blog. Your work is beautiful and your painting of the foliage is lovely.

Found you through Marta's blog.

sandy

Robyn Sinclair said...

Thanks Sandy, I had a lovely day in Florence with Marta yesterday.

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