Quick Sketches from my walk to the Met here in New York City

Hi,  hope you are all painting and sketching away. I am up in Connecticut this week playing in my studio, practicing and painting and getting refreshed. Thank you all for your calls and emails about last weeks post. I am glad so many of you are giving black and white value studies a try. You will grow in your painting because of it.
       I wanted to share some of the quick sketches I did last week as I left my apartment on what was a beautiful Spring day. My total time out was 2 hours so quick sketching indeed . I stood on street corners and did find places to sit here and there. Quick sketching on my travels has become such a part of my life and I just want to encourage you to give it a go. When you look back at your sketches you will recall the moment better than any photograph can. It teaches you to really live in the moment and look . You hand eye coordination will improve the more you do it and you will learn to express your feelings of the day . Sketching is recording what you are doing at a particular time.

 Enjoy these quick sketches and remember perfection is not the goal  as these are not finished drawings , just get an impression of what is around you and the more you sketch the better you will get at it and your paintings will also improve. This is your voice with a pen or pencil so Travel Light and Have Fun ! 

New York City Value Studies

Hi,  I thought I would share some value studies with you today that I did using peach black tubed watercolor and my brush. These are currently hanging on my living room wall and they  remind me how much can be said with so little. Charles Sovek always said , " it takes 3 values to turn an object " I have learned so much by painting and focusing on values that now I almost do it automatically. You can be assured if a painting works in black and white it will work in color. I have also been spending time studying the work of Ted Kautzky  and his wonderful value sketches.

 I hope these two paintings have inspired you to try painting in black and white for a while .  Love to hear how it works for you and if I can help you in any way just leave a comment or email me. Well, a new Sketchbook Skool  sketchbookskool.com   Session starts next week so I am off to hit the streets with my sketchbook and fountain pens and of course a tiny watercolor kit. See you next time . Enjoy this beautiful day !