Theme and Variations

Pastel 12x18 on UArt

This view of South Ponte Vedra Beach is built to show the repetition with variation of the many lines and forms that make up the coastline vista.

First of Spring

Pastel, 9x12

Plein air across the salt marsh.

This is the early morning view across the Intracoastal Waterway on the last day of February. It is warm and bright with the spring winds carrying the clouds and ruffling the water. The marsh is just starting to show green among the golds and bronze of winter.

Expectations

Pastel, 9x12

In the early morning, as the tide starts to move in, the sea gulls gather expecting the waves to bring them breakfast.  I selected this one gull from among many because of his frozen, unmoving gaze, expecting good things for the day.

Waiting

Pastel, 12x16
As the line of showers approaches, the estuary lies in quiet expectation waiting for the rain.  The long line of pines on the shore have seen the storms come before, and they will weather this one easily.

Pond Pines

Pastel, 11x14 on drawing paper

I did this study on drawing paper with pastel pencils and NuPastels.  The subject was taken from earlier sketches on photographs of retention ponds near my home.  As I worked on this, the composition and materials began to look more like watercolor, and the image became more informal.  I left white paper to keep that quality. 
I am doing a series of views of these ponds to highlight the beauty and wonder of the small vistas that surround us and that we pass without notice.  What beauty could there be in an ordinary retention pond or roadside canal?

Pine Portrait 2

Sepia Conte on tan Canson, 12x9

Second study for a new project - Urban Parks and Vistas

Pine Portrait

Conte on Paper, 15x11

I wanted to capture the substance and stature of a stately pine that grows on a pond near my home.  I did the drawing with sanguine Derwent Drawing pencil.  I like the sense of color and the smoothness that these pencils supply.
This is my first effort of the new year.