model

Pen & ink with watercolor on Bristol vellum. The model is the grandaughter of a fellow portrait group member. It was nice to attend after a few months of missing it because of work.

Scituate

This painting was done with a quill pen that I cut myself. I found directions online. I ruined four feathers before I got it right and found that an x-acto knife does not give much control while cutting, and it dulls almost immediately. I need to buy a pen knife if I want to keep making this type of pen. I really enjoyed using it. The marks are more varied than my Lamy pen, but still is very easy to use. I was sitting on the rocks by the lighthouse while painting.

Cherry Hill

Yesterday I painted at another ice cream stand. This is a very popular one in a beautiful setting. You would never know you were only about 10 minutes from downtown Leominster. I'd better watch the calories- it's dangerous to paint at ice cream stands but they have the best views!

It started to rain as I was finishing this - fortunately they have sheltered picnic tables.

Salem Willows

After work today I drove over to the park. These paintings are on bristol vellum. I used my new Lamy pen filled with Higgins' Eternal permanent black ink. It is not waterproof, and so the ink bleeds a little when the watercolor is applied. It's the first time I've used it, and I like the soft effect it gives for plein air work. I found that the Noodler's Ink turns slightly green when water is applied, so I am experimenting with other inks.
My scanner does not do a good job with subtle work, so the sky is washed out on both of these images.

Rota Spring Farm

Rota Spring Farm is in Sterling, MA. It's a working farm, and an ice cream stand. I painted this from the shelter of the stand's porch because it was very hot but I'd like to go back on a cooler day to sketch the goats. Soon, before the babies grow up!

This painting is on a 6x6 RayMar canvas panel. I really like working in a square format.