Week #23: Taking refuge in sketching



Sketch in Nisqually refuge

   One of the best things about sketching is that if it is a cloudy day... there are still values. Many a time (especially recently) I go for a plein air session and either it clouds up or worse... it rains. Many people (Richard Schmid) can do some incredible things with paint in the absence of ideal conditions but often times this color heavy painter lacks in her command of values- hence I draw so much. Still I have painted in the rain more than once but when you have to dump the pochade  box because it is holding water, chances are the paint is also beginning to refuse to stick to the wet surface. In this case I take refuge in sketching and will hover over a 3x5 sketchpad as it is easier to keep something small dry.