Comments on: ACEO Card “Drifting The Ant” http://www.idleminutes.com/2006/08/aceo-card-drifting-the-ant/ An Illustrated Journal Featuring The Artwork of Don West Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:37:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Don West http://www.idleminutes.com/2006/08/aceo-card-drifting-the-ant/#comment-56 Don West Tue, 15 Aug 2006 05:34:48 +0000 http://www.idleminutes.com/index.php/2006/08/13/aceo-card-drifting-the-ant/#comment-56 Hi Karen, Thanks for the comments! I actually did this one from a photograph. I changed it a bit, leaving out some of the rocks and boulders. I created a "fall look" too. The original photo was from mid-summer and everything was green. This really isn't a "sketch". It's more a painting. I say that because of the time involved and the pondering. If I were going to do this from life, I'd just sit and study the fisherman with a sketchbook in hand. I'd try to capture the gestures and body movements and develop a "pose" from that. Once I had that down, I'd sketch the scene, maybe even without the figure. Then, time allowing, I'd put it down in watercolor on site. If not, back at home or the office, I'd work from the sketches and memory. And hey, a camera doesn't hurt for reference images too ;-) Even on site, I would likely have changed the color scheme to fall or spring. These stream scenes are kind of bland in the dead of summer at mid day. :-) I wish I had time to get out to the streams more and sketch (fishing too!) In the fall, I'm going to make the time :-) I've got a short vacation coming up and I'll be doing some "live" stuff on that trip. Plein Aire would be the proper term I suppose. We'll see how that goes ;-) I have to tell you though, like you, I really like pen and watercolor. I think I'm gonna concentrate on that and quit flitting about. That's what we artists do though isn't? A fellow I met, who runs an annual artist convention, told me that organizing artists is like herding cats. They just go whatever direction they please. :-) Hi Karen,
Thanks for the comments! I actually did this one from a photograph. I changed it a bit, leaving out some of the rocks and boulders. I created a “fall look” too. The original photo was from mid-summer and everything was green.

This really isn’t a “sketch”. It’s more a painting. I say that because of the time involved and the pondering.

If I were going to do this from life, I’d just sit and study the fisherman with a sketchbook in hand. I’d try to capture the gestures and body movements and develop a “pose” from that. Once I had that down, I’d sketch the scene, maybe even without the figure. Then, time allowing, I’d put it down in watercolor on site. If not, back at home or the office, I’d work from the sketches and memory. And hey, a camera doesn’t hurt for reference images too ;-)
Even on site, I would likely have changed the color scheme to fall or spring. These stream scenes are kind of bland in the dead of summer at mid day. :-)
I wish I had time to get out to the streams more and sketch (fishing too!) In the fall, I’m going to make the time :-)
I’ve got a short vacation coming up and I’ll be doing some “live” stuff on that trip. Plein Aire would be the proper term I suppose. We’ll see how that goes ;-)
I have to tell you though, like you, I really like pen and watercolor. I think I’m gonna concentrate on that and quit flitting about. That’s what we artists do though isn’t? A fellow I met, who runs an annual artist convention, told me that organizing artists is like herding cats. They just go whatever direction they please. :-)

]]> By: karen Sandstrom http://www.idleminutes.com/2006/08/aceo-card-drifting-the-ant/#comment-55 karen Sandstrom Tue, 15 Aug 2006 02:30:36 +0000 http://www.idleminutes.com/index.php/2006/08/13/aceo-card-drifting-the-ant/#comment-55 Hey, Don. Great picture. And I respect your resistance to the ink embellishments, as I have been attempting such things myself at times lately. I'm always curious: did you work from life or a photo? If you worked from life, can you share details of how you went about capturing what you wanted? Hey, Don. Great picture. And I respect your resistance to the ink embellishments, as I have been attempting such things myself at times lately. I’m always curious: did you work from life or a photo? If you worked from life, can you share details of how you went about capturing what you wanted?

]]> By: Don West http://www.idleminutes.com/2006/08/aceo-card-drifting-the-ant/#comment-54 Don West Sun, 13 Aug 2006 14:25:33 +0000 http://www.idleminutes.com/index.php/2006/08/13/aceo-card-drifting-the-ant/#comment-54 I don't fish as much as I'd like to r.e. :-) I don’t fish as much as I’d like to r.e. :-)

]]> By: r.e.wolf http://www.idleminutes.com/2006/08/aceo-card-drifting-the-ant/#comment-53 r.e.wolf Sun, 13 Aug 2006 13:51:00 +0000 http://www.idleminutes.com/index.php/2006/08/13/aceo-card-drifting-the-ant/#comment-53 "the opportunity to wade or float a cool stream, eat a good sandwich, and commune with nature, makes it all worthwhile" Amen! And I don't even fish! :) “the opportunity to wade or float a cool stream, eat a good sandwich, and commune with nature, makes it all worthwhile”

Amen! And I don’t even fish! :)

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