I knew it couldn’t last. I was forever hopeful but our balmy low 40s (F) December has come to an end with freezing rain. Oh well, I’m way behind in my blogging anyway.
Last week I met the gang at the museum but I decided to give the Egypt exhibit a break from me and sat down instead in front of a fishing exhibit. Seems there was a prominent Canadian ethnologist by the name of Richard Gauthier who a day job in the field, but his hobby was fishing and the study of fishing practices in Canada. To that end he amassed a large collection of old fishing equipment. We’ve been blessed with a small exhibit of some of these fishing artifacts and they’re great sketching subjects.
I started with Richard’s hat. I have much to learn about the use of watercolor pencils to achieve tonal gradation but here’s my rendition of his hat.
Stillman & Birn Delta (5.5×8.5), Namiki Falcon, DeAtramentis Document Black
When I finished with the hat I got up and wandered around the museum. Half of it has been closed due to a fire that took place in early summer (construction guys seem prone to burn things down as they try to build them up) and I wanted to have a look at what it looked like now that that wing of the building was open again.
I spent so much time doing my walkabout that by the time I got back the other sketchers were nearly finished for the day. I did this quick sketch of a fishing scale as they finished up. You know what they say, “A bad day fishing is better than most other days.” I think that applies to sketching as well.
Stillman & Birn Delta (5.5×8.5), Namiki Falcon, DeAtramentis Document Black
Indeed, that adage does apply to sketching! I like the painted backgrounds on these — they make the subjects pop.
I like them too. Simple enough but maybe a baby step towards me being concerned about improving my use of color 🙂
“A bad day fishing is better than most other days.” Hear, hear, and two really nice sketches! In March, perhaps there will be jiggers to sketch! And some serious sunlight! 😀
Lots of winter fishing west of us but the coast guard keeps the St. Lawrence open at Quebec City and east of us is the Gulf of St. Lawrence that doesn’t feeze. In any event, I’ll be inside where it’s warm 🙂