Thursday, May 29, 2008

sketching & painting along the way

though i've traveled the States and overseas many times and even lived in Scotland long term, i've never really taken the opportunity to do plein aire artwork (sketching & painting outside). 

as i blogged earlier...this time is different. i have been taking brief moments here and there to stop, sit down on a fort wall or a rock in the middle of a river or a large stone near a cairn or a rock wall in a monastery and take out my wee art bag (which includes a wee sketchbook, some wee pencils,a few wee charcoals, a wee travel watercolor set, and a wee cloth)...so i can be creative in the midst of the beautiful scenery that i've been exploring.  


this particular sketch/watercolor is of a scene at the monastic site at Glendalough in the Wicklow Mountains in the east of Ireland (south of Dublin). it's one of my favorite spots in all of Ireland and i have to say that it was a wonderful feeling to be in the middle of such a beautiful valley with such rich Christian history surrounding me. 

i don't consider myself a watercolorist (in fact i've only recently learned how to use them) but i am having a lot of fun painting with them as i travel. i certainly am gaining tons of inspiration and am looking forward to returning to my studio in Idaho to paint these scenes on a large scale in oil...and also have a go at creating some abstract collage expressionist paintings from these ancient and spiritual themes. i can tell that this trip has been and is exactly what i've needed to truly breakthrough the artist block i was experiencing earlier in the year. 

i have really felt God's presence here in Ireland and i've been enjoying my quiet and artistic times with Him as i explore, create, and learn.