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.