Today a stiff wind danced across a nearby coastal valley with rolling fog dissolving edges of this tree study. Sepia & burnt sienna watercolor washes with pen & ink on hot press Sennelier calligraphy paper - a nice lush vellum like surface.

Recent figure study in watercolor and gouache, with small additions of pen. 4"x6" hot press block.

This is inspired by Thomas Gainsborough's sketches that show his interest in Poussin, Hobbema, Ruisdael, Wijnants and others. Gainsborough primarily used Dutch principles of design (with a touch of Fragonard), to create a unique vision all his own. I find it wonderful that he would compulsively find bits of coal, lichen and even broccoli plants for trees and then add mud/dirt to create invented landscapes as a model to work from. This he would set up on a small wooden table in his studio under candle light.

-Erik

Developing compositions loosely with watercolor, gouache - Zinc white, with small additions of pastel and pen and ink on some of the drawings/paintings. Very rapid studies in the 4" - 6" range. Most of the work on Fabriano Ingres paper with a laid style of paper, along with Arches hot press 90lb paper.