Roots

        

        Here is a drawing done on a recent Kansas scorcher in mid July. An unused, rundown garage or outbuilding with little around to inform us of former activities here.  Even the great tree that once provided some good shade for work in the heat of past summers is now rotting, roots up in the grass. I guess someone here took the time to take most of this "storm-fall" for fire wood.  The tree that cooled many summers now more lately heated for a single winter.  I suppose some kids in the past played often in the shade of that tree. They would also have enjoyed the warmth of the  garage on winter days. 
        Something besides that tree put down their roots in Kansas prairie...

        One gets a day from time to time that gives you enough of a break to do some sketching on location. Thus you are taught some amazing things: There are many places and things that inspire a creative record.  There are as well many places that are way beyond what you can get on the page in a few minute sketch. Even though there are sometimes when a few minutes is all you have. So work quickly! And how do you instantly "get over" the fear of that blank sheet of drawing paper staring back at you?  This recent piece is one in which all the "details" were recorded in a short time and were then evaluated and expanded over the next couple weeks.