Are we there yet?

Where are we?

Walking through a waltz of color to the music that rises and falls with the sound of the wind and rhythm of crunching steps.

What colors do we see?

Really. Just every color. I don’t know where to begin. For inks I find Iroshizuku Yu-Yake orange is quite autumnal with a yellow to deep orange shading effect. Noodlers Golden Brown provides a lovely, crispy, dry-leaf brown. Daniel Smith has a series of mineral pigmented watercolors that includes incredible oranges and deep yellows.

What tools are we using?

Platinum Preppy fountain pens. Various Palamino Blackwing pencils. A bit of natural sponge. A new, old-fashioned Autopoint mechanical pencil, built by the skilled pencil historian at the Legendary Pencil Company, and filled with vintage, green pencil lead. Such a treat to use in sketches and layouts.

What supports are we using?

Two pieces are rough, cold-pressed d’Arches watercolor paper sheets. I’ve recently been indulging in Two Rivers mould-made watercolor sheets, and the unfinished maple drawing is on a NOT surface, 200# quarter imperial sheet.

Anything else?

Not really. So many sketches. So many colors. Moving towards December sketches with leafless structures. Packing my travel kit with some warm gray inks, cool browns, and harder leads for lighter lines. Keep practicing.