Our first camping trip of the year took place at Prince Gallitzin State Park in northwestern PA last week, and it was a great way to start the summer season. We have a 34′ camper trailer, so we’re definitely not roughing it when we camp. It sleeps all 8 of us when my daughter and her family come along, and it’s fully equipped with a furnace, AC, a full kitchen, an outdoor kitchen, full bath, and everything else we need to camp in comfort no matter what the weather.
We bought the trailer so our grandchildren could experience camping together as a family, just like my parents did with us and we did with our two. There’s nothing like it for family togetherness and memory making. We love biking, hiking, and kayaking with them, and even on rainy days, we have fun playing games or drawing. Sitting around the fire in the evening results in great conversations and lots of giggles. And we always eat way too many s’mores!
I started a gridded sketch the first evening of this camping trip when my husband, Fred, was fishing from the dock at the campground. It was just the two of us, as the rest of the gang would be arriving the next day. Our two hobbies fit well together – I sketch while he fishes.
That evening, I did the paintings of the lake scene, the beaver-chewed trees, and the fleabane. The others were added the next day. My favorite is the one of Nicholas and Lilly skipping rocks. They were having so much fun messing around and laughing. Such good times.
This next sketch was done from a reference photo I snapped while I was working on the gridded page above. While I was sketching that evening, a pair of mallard ducks paddled by. The female was curious about me (or looking for a handout). She got out of the water and marched right in front of me while her partner kept his distance.
I’ve really been enjoying the loose look of continuous-line drawing this month, so I used that technique again for this sketch. Because I’m not an expert at drawing ducks (or any other type of animal!) I penciled in the main shapes before grabbing a light brown Zebra ClickArt pen to do my drawing. The ClickArt pen has a retractable nib that I like – it’s easy to just pull it from my bag, click the top, and start sketching.
The ink seemed to be slightly water-soluble with this sketch, but I noticed that it didn’t run at all when I used it for my gridded sketch. Maybe because the ink dried overnight on that one before I painted it?
This next sketch is a little nutty, and I almost decided not to post it, but I thought you guys might get a kick out of it…
My husband’s nickname should really be Mr. Professor, because he always has a scientific explanation for anything that happens, and he loves to educate us in the workings of the world, but in this case, his explanation (or wild guess) didn’t quite hold up….
You probably had to be there to understand why it all struck me as so funny the night I did this sketch. I just picture us all sniffing the air throughout the afternoon, trying to figure out what the burnt smell was that was wafting through the air, while the water heater, hidden behind a panel below the oven, was dying.
Needless to say, I did not get a hot shower that night!
But the next morning we were heading back home, where hot water and creature comforts abound.
When we camp in one of the state parks here in western PA, we usually go a day earlier and stay a day longer than the rest of the family. It gives us some time without all the pandemonium of having four kids, two extra adults, and occasionally even two dogs crammed into the camper. When it’s just us, it’s blissfully quiet and no one is clamoring for food or entertainment. I love the kids, but I love my quiet time, too.
Sunday evening, after the gang had packed up and headed home, Fred and I drove to nearby Pickerel Pond for some fishing and sketching during the golden hour.
There were several “bristly locust” trees in full bloom by the lake. It’s a new variety to me – I had to look it up on my phone to see what they were. The deep pink flowers were just so beautiful, I knew I had to sketch them. The pond, with its pretty reflections, would have to wait until our next trip.
I did a close-up view of a clump of flowers using a colored pencil with variegated lead. (The brand I happened to have in my sketch kit was “The Fine Touch” from Hobby Lobby. They are no longer available, but Koh-I-Noor’s Magic Pencil is basically the same product. Here’s a link, if you’d like to give them a try.)
I really like sketching with a variegated colored pencil. The subtle changes in the coloration of the lines makes a drawing more interesting, and it gives a softer look to a sketch than when I use an ink line.
These are not watercolor pencils, so the lines do not dissolve when I paint over them. They don’t blend with my paint but instead add a slight vibration of color to the painting.
I added one more camping-themed sketch after we got home from the trip. I once again tried the Jacquard squeeze bottles with metal tips, but this time I used the metal nozzle that had the smallest opening, and I filled the bottle with sepia Platinum Pigment Ink.
I had much more control using the smaller nozzle than I did with the chive sketch earlier when I used a larger tip, but the ink still came out in blobs occasionally. It was fun playing around with it, but I doubt that the Jacquard bottles will be a permanent part of my sketch kit.
For the title lettering, I freehanded a smushy, rounded, marshmallow-y lettering style and outlined the letters using a dip pen fitted with a rounded Speedball B-3 nib. Because I used the same sepia Platinum Pigment Ink that I had used for the line drawing, the title coordinated nicely with the painting, giving the page a cohesive look.
All of my posts this month show how wide the range of approaches is that we can take when sketching. Have you had a chance to try anything new lately? I’d love to hear about it.
5 Comments
I’ve loved every day of May with your art!?
Question: what was the black water-soluble pen you used for the stove,/water painting? I got to use one in Boone, but can’t see that I wrote down what it was. It made a very nice window on the camper stove.😊❤️
It was the Elegant Writer pen
What a delightful post Leslie! I loved all your artwork. I’m so glad you put in the one about the water heater. When you take the time to record a holiday experience on paper, it is imprinted in your memory forever. As the years pass you may have forgotten that exploding water heater. Now NO ONE in the family will forget it!
I am so excited about our trip to Provence in September. I can’t wait to capture some of my own memories of a lifetime.
Jude
You’re right, Jude. The silly pages often end up being among my favorites because they’re such a true slice of life.
Can’t wait to sketch with you in Provence this fall!
I’m new here…. But I am enjoying reading this blog! Love the paintings.
I have grands also, and do a lot with them.
Thanks!
Doris