Rita Sketching

I was tempted to do a contour drawing while Rita was focused on her nature journal at the top of the trail from Buster Brown Field.

I tucked this sketch into the fold over part of my handmade accordion sketchbook, ready to add watercolor washes later.

June 28, 2018 = 7:30pm Back in the studio on Thursday night, I did a live broadcast of some additions and corrections to my North Cascades nature journal. See the replay on periscope.tv/michelecoopart

Some souvenirs of our weekend in the North Cascades

My 19 minute demo on Periscope includes tips on making corrections and using watercolor, watercolor pencil and pen.

Rita sketching on a windy hilltop in the North Cascades.

A Forest Discovery

At noon we took our sack lunches on a short trek to Buster Brown field. We spent a wonderful afternoon sketching in the meadow. On the return hike Sylvia and I discovered a bracket fungus growing near a woodpecker hole.

We have some growing on our birch trees, too. I actually saw and heard the northern flicker who made the holes in our tree when he did it.

The fungus in the N. Cascades National Park looked like a set of steps and with the moss covered "porch roof" over the hollow spot, reminded me of a fairy tale house that a tiny gnome might live in.

I added the sketch to my nature journal page for the day along with some swirly gnome-like writing. During lunch I sat on a fallen log, shared by some big black carpenter ants. I'm not sure yet if I'll add them to this spread.

Bracket fungus, lichen and moss share the bark on this tree in the forest.

Faux leather roll up case for watercolor sketch kit

 

Thinking of going on a nature walk in the crisp fall air or the shady forest canopy in summer? Why not take your watercolor sketch kit along?

This faux leather roll up case will hold:

• A waterbrush that carries its own water in the handle
• A disposable fountain pen with water soluble ink
• A wee four color DIY watercolor set in a mint tin
• A #2 mechanical pencil,  .7 mm
• A Sharpie waterproof  fine point grip pen
• A folded blue paper shop towel

*Travel kits available only for registered students at the October 7,8 and 9  North Cascades Fall Getaway Workshop  and the June 16, 17 and 18th North Cascades Summer Workshop. Not available through mail order. I will deliver your order at the workshop on the first day.
Please contact me to order.

*Travel Kit Options

1. Basic Kit includes: 1 canvas or faux leather roll up case, 1  #2 mechanical pencil, .7 mm, and 1 Sharpie waterproof fine point grip pen
2. Basic Kit plus one handmade 4-color watercolor tin
3. Basic Kit, 4-color watercolor tin, plus one disposable fountain pen (water soluble ink)

*Important: Any other items in the photo are display only and not included.(i.e. Leaves, water brush, easel)

A Nature walk may include lightning!

It started out under the freeway by the sewage treatment plant and right across the river from the railroad yard. A dream come true, you say? But wait! There's more! Meanwhile, here are my results from our nature walk this afternoon. Catching up with Day 28 in my EDIM Sketchbook.

We went on a nature walk to Spencer Island today. The clouds grew darker, the wind came up. We stopped at Langus park nearby, where I laid out my collection on the picnic table to sketch. The wind blew them off the table twice. As we retreated to the car, we saw lightning strike in the sky behind the bridge. Sketches finished on the counter at home!