Journey Stop #11: Montana

First two page spread... The park let itself to two page spreads, I took advantage of the situation, using my 'artists license' often. 

Detail of two pager 

First morning in Yellowstone Park... I like to arrive several days before the class, searching for good sites, shade,  etc. 

I met this lady, working in oils that first day out. She and her friend were doing a great job as the second lady's husband did a yeoman's job of moving equipment .  The sketch is typical of how I start a journal sketch -big shapes and little detail. 

Remember, I always paint the focal point first...actually here, I painted the dark pines around the lighter rocky cliff. Notice how the white highlights on the rocks look brighter than the plain white paper...that happens due to the dark values around those white highlights. 

Another two pager...First day of my class found us just ten miles from the west gate, as I didn't want to spend lots of time driving. 

Detail of two pager ... do not go crazy with detail; simplify as much as. possible.

Detail of second two pager. Again, the contrast between the dead downed tree and the dark pines create the needed contrast for the focal point.

A simple pattern of trees and  rocks.

Of all the water falls in the Yellowstone, I prefer Gibbon, as it is very visable from the road and is very active. I chided the NPS for not having any restrooms at such a very busy site!

Another double pager. Now we are in the Tetons; a perfect time for a two pager. This view had a niumber of big pines along the shoreline which I removed. Mostly.

Detail of first Teton sketch.

Detail of other half of Teton spread.

At this location. the pines almost blocked out the background  mountains which I wanted to support the feeling of the region. Thus the simpllication of the   trees and distant mountains.

Fly fishermen are plentiful which add action and scale to the sketch.

Journal Stop #10: Washington

Getz Journal No. 10.  This journal begins  with my sessions in the state of Washington. The first image is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chinopk, Wash. The countrified image struck me of its simplicity.

Low tide at COUPEVILLE Wharf

Elbey Beach is a long stretch of shore which accumalates much driftwood which can be fun to draw; reminds me of 'pickup stix'...

One of the town's b&b's... this seemed logical for a two page spread, showing the bay in the background.

Detail of the Inn

Inn detail... this was more than a 'half hour sketch'...

Another two pager, The Captain Whidbey Inn, built in 1907 is a wonderful facility. I may just return there to do a workshop at the inn. 

On to my session in Spokane... The town has a great number of unique bridges in the center of town.

Student's work... I don't single out individual students for attention, but I had to call attention to this lady.

 

Sketch T Ebey Beach... This was simply outstanding! Next, I will be at Virginia City, Montana then Yellowstone Natl Park... Lots of good stuff!

The old power plant has been saved and has many visitors...

Church in Chinook

Penn Cove Overlook,  COUPEVILLE, Wash.  I seek a vantage point where we can get a good view of a portion of the village as the subject, where we might have some shade. The view was from a parking lot. No shade, but the town harbor was in the background.

Admiralty Head Lighthouse, Whidbey Island... One of the prominent landmarks.

The county courthouse is a beautiful architectural example. 

 Monroe Street Bridge... It was easy to get good angles on the bridges and have adequate shade.

Don Getz "Odyssey" Journaling Tour Video by Cheap Joe's Art Stuff

Here is a short video put together by my sponsor, Cheap Joe's Art Stuff. This is from my stop in Kanuga. Hope you enjoy it!

Northern Cali and Up Into Oregon

       Getz, week of June 5...  I will attempt to get caught up for my sessions in June, as the tour has gone well, although 

       very busy! This two page spread is typical of the California coast north from San Luis Obispo toward the Big Sur area.

The whole idea of fast sketching is doing it as quick as possible  and doing as many sketches as possible, in that 

short time. Obviously, a good many of my sketches are not always 'quickies', but I try to keep them as simple As possible.

 I really enjoy sketching other artists, when the opportunity arises , which is not as frequent as I like, but it's great 

 practice. Remember when sketching figures,  sketch SHAPES, not 'things' (people, trees,etc). They are all just shapes!!

I also enjoy sketching vehicles- classic cars, sports cars, farm tractors and trucks, along with landscapes & seascapes.  Again, they are all just 'shapes'!

One of my favorite spots is this locations near Half Moon Bay. The action of the ocean is what makes this sketch work. Study the motion of the. ocean  for creating  realistic. wave action. I have a Sony 'black box' which is positioned between a VCR and tv monitor. This unit allows you to play video. and 'freeze' the image, thus allowing me to study wave action. This is extremely helpful in understanding how the wave action happens.

Nothing but a small country crossroad. but a great subject for a sketch.

Same country intersection-old stage stop.

Note the sky/cloud patterns... all to draw attention n to the lighthouse.

Mendocino, probably my favorite spot on th Pacific coast... the town where 'Murder She Wrote' series was filmed.

First stop in Oregon... Perfect, along with a bit of fog-and figures on the beach which is important to add scale to the surroundings.

Arizona, New Mexico and in to California

Two studys of Grand Canyon, week of May 16th, and I was not impressed, until I saw the IMAX movie which takes you through the canyon, whitewater rafting on the Colorado etc. The movie makes the canyon come alive!

Getz at Las Vegas... May 20-22 found me in Las Vegas... I was interested in the night lights on The Strip, but had no time to sketch them. I will, first chance  I get!... did get several daytime scenes done. I still prefer small towns with historic sites. 

Getz watercolor tour then found me in San Luis Obispo, California and what a drive to get there!! The first night out of Vegas found me just west of Bakersfield. Next morning, my GPS took me directly west on state route 58, rather than north on the interstate and then SW to San Lis Obispo...  what a mistake!!  Rt. 58 goes through the mountains on a narrow road with absolutely NO guard rails !!!  ...with very deep gorges around every bend in the road! I had sweaty palms for over two hours! When I mentioned this to the participants in San Luis Obispo, they let out a shudder! The. first day we sketched at the mission; as usual, the weather was ideal; the watercolors dried very fast. 

Day two, we were in the harbor at Morro Bay; so i did a two page spread to show the village.

The afternoon was spent sketching the landmark rock in the harbor... and it is really a beauty-huge! The cars and people were in the sketch to show the scale of the risk.

More on San Luis Obispo...This landmark is on the outskirts of town.

Getz in San Luis Obispo ... On Saturday, June 1st, I was invited to lecture at Cal Tech about the importance of drawing and I did a brief demo to illustrate how I use my 'plexi trick' to speed up the initial drawing process , which the students and instructors in attendance appreciated. I then headed up Route 1 for my next stop, Saratoga.

Getz tour...trying to get caught up, as time is flying by! Here is theGold King Mine sketch, as finished. I reallly like to lay color washes in, over just a portion of the ink  sketch, which is extremely hard to do, as you never know just when to stop!