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The Unexpected

The unexpected. It happens. It is unanticipated but it still happens.

Such has been my year particularly in regards to my health. I had surgery at the end of May. Happily, the journey seems to finished and once I recover from the surgery I will be back at full strength. That is a blessing from God which I hope I no longer take for granted.

In this post are some sketches I did while watching a movie with my family. I've had lots of time to think about where I am heading with my art and I have some exciting plans to implement as soon as I can...stay tuned!

After Sargent: Wind in the Willows Author

After Sargent, Kenneth Grahame
watercolor on paper

Bedtime stories. That's how it began apparently. Kenneth Grahame told his 4 year old son Alistair stories about a toad at bed time.

Grahame was a gifted individual that could have had success in many areas and certainly had it in some. He was successful in his career at the Bank of England. He published several stories, although none were as popular as his book The Wind in the Willows.

The rest of his life is fairly sad. His son Alistair struggled. His marriage apparently was not all that happy. But his memorable characters and their stories live on, bringing joy to children and adults.

More information can be found at the Kenneth Grahame Society website, where I gathered this brief look.

This watercolor is a copy of a drawing by John Singer Sargent.

After Sargent: Ernest Thesiger

This bright eyed young man and I wish you a good weekend.

I do believe I am having more fun then is strictly allowed with this Sargent series.

After Sargent: Eugenia Errazuriz

This is another Sargent copy. Here is the version I did in 2007.

The great thing about doing these portraits in watercolor is that I can't really fix things that go awry. That gives me a fair amount of motivation to be diligent and have the shape I need to place in mind before putting brush to paper. At this point, my skill is inconsistent. But I hope as I continue, I will be right more often then not.

This is also a really fun way to play around with watercolor try out ideas and learn the medium.

After Sargent Flora Priestly

Flora Priestly, after Sargent.

I do know that I did a very bad version of this back in 2007 - I have it in the sketchbook. But, apparently I never posted it. Trust me, this one isn't great, but it's better.

These portraits provide a good challenge:

• getting the shapes right the first time, no drawing
• practice fixing the shapes when they are wrong the first time
• practice controlling hard and soft edges

After Sargent Gordon Greenough

I'm working my way, for a second time, through Sargent's portrait drawings.

Here's the version I did early back in 2007.