How about another Thumbnail...

End Shed

       We passed this place again yesterday coming in from Minnesota, so thought it about time to post this November drawing. Too bad there is no snow to cool us down a little. The pocked yard extends all the way into the shed... You may be able to see the rolled corner of the tin covering the end post where the cattle crowd as they make the round into the cover. A nice clean white paint job shows someone considers this a going concern. 
       A pencil will not do everything for me, although there are some who seem to be able to make it so. There has to be a shorthand for the approximation of information in a drawing. Pencil will only go so dark, and the white of paper can never be as bright as the sunlight; But a good drawing can take you past all the shortcomings.

East of Mary's Lake

    

        This drawing was done just before my surgery in January. Standing in the trail heading back into the woods from the concrete trail on the east side of Mary's Lake you can “eave's drop” on the neighbors; or do a quick sketch of the view to the east. Some views are just the right combination of line, direction and shade that it makes it difficult to resist doing a sketch, and not too difficult to finish it! Although it does get more difficult to concentrate as the weather improves and the hedge woods green up, this drawing was done before the winter weather even arrived.

       On the thumbnails page I reference a sketch posted early on that is in Colorado Springs- just over the hill south of the Black Forest.
       Also there is a quickie done at the Melvern KS Quarry.

Snow Curls

        This and “Winter Holly” were started on the same day, March 15^th, 2013. Almost 3 months ago as I write this note. Lonnie's in N. Lawrence. It was a spot I had been planning on sketching for some time, but could not pass it up on a snow day. I was heading home after dropping Gramma off for the morning. The street had been cleared and the blade had left the typical curls of snow along the edge of the parking area which added a little extra interest to the scene.

        Why does someone continue to do these drawings? After all, I often have the camera along, even if my “smart-alic” phone won't take a photo! For some reason it is a pleasure to record only exactly what the mind, eye and hand can get together on the page.

"Visit beautiful Ruby Falls" on the thumbnails page!  No charge for this!  (Very low budget tour of the 3 state area - And no falls...)

the Renters

        One of the places that just looks to me like someone is living there, but the original owner has for one reason or another moved on- to a new house, a new occupation, or to a new world. These are the farm-scapes that I enjoy- lots of interaction between surfaces of earth, wall, roof and sky; interaction between shades from deep shadow to intense reflected light! Each building is a creation in its own right, probably in its own generation, with each new one coming some years later. The earlier ones replaced or enhanced by new additions. A barn, a shed, another one long and low built for what originally? The house came early on and was then also added to how many times?