Central California Visit

At the end of May I spent about a week along the central California coast. It was a relaxing visit to reconnect with friends, enjoy the coastal views, and catch some sun.

(Click any image to enlarge)

Waiting for the plane at SeaTac airport. I looked up from my sketch and these two peaks were gone in the clouds.

And from our plane looking through clouds at another WA beauty…

I accidentally used a water-soluble pen here. A dab of watercolor and it all ran! 

Another roadside San Luis Obispo peak…

And a barn!

Further up coast, just south of Monterey:

(5 x 3″ pen and watercolor on watercolor paper)
Displayed artwork © 2017 Kim Reading. All rights reserved.

Take Me Home

Good dog.  Stay.

(3″ x 5″ pen with watercolor)
Displayed artwork © 2017 Kim Reading. All rights reserved.

Cat

Good morning meow to you.

(3″ x 5″ pen with watercolor)
Displayed artwork © 2017 Kim Reading. All rights reserved.

More Squigglies

Just sharing a recent batch of ‘Squigglies” which I love to make because:

• they’re fast
• unpredictable
• make me laugh

Caroline’s Crazy for Carrots

Queen Mantis

Blue Jester

Einstein’s Green Eye

Little Drummer Cowboy

Freakishly Strange

Old Woman

Blue Dancing Girl(5 x 5″ mixed media in sketchbook)
Displayed artwork © 2017 Kim Reading. All rights reserved.

It’s a Matter of Orientation

Ask any kid — things look different when you stand on your head or roll on your side. So, it is with artists. But, we’ve learned it’s much easier just to flip our subject (and a lot kinder on our bods).

Try it yourself. Study your subject matter (say, a reference photo). Now, rotate it and observe it again. Your eye will decipher the relative shapes and negative spaces very differently depending on orientation. This is true for more than art!

Here’s a recent example from my sketchbook: “Bunny strut” becomes “Fish arabesque.” No magic. Just a matter of orientation.

(Click  any to enlarge)

 

or, with a 90° rotation

(5.5 x 5.5″ ink and watercolor on std. sketchbook paper)
Displayed artwork © 2017 Kim Reading. All rights reserved.

GM Truck: An Old Gal

I see this beauty around my neighborhood and always stop to admire her. She reminds me of my balloon tire bicycle from first grade (best bike ever). And the nostalgic sound of a solid steel car door slamming shut from the sixties. I’m guessing its a 1940’s era rig. She’s missing an “eye” and although I’ve never seen her in motion, I’m sure she can still turn over because she hauls—note the custom hand-made side rails her owner has lovingly installed.

If I ever meet her owner, I’m offering this sketch. AFTER I get a ride down the street!

(click image to enlarge)

(5.5″ x 3.5″  micron ink pen and watercolor on Moleskine®)
Displayed artwork © 2017 Kim Reading. All rights reserved.

Incoming

Thanks to Bill Maher, I’ll never look at an orangutan the same way again. But, this face has a genuine smile AND his orange hair is real.

(Click  to enlarge)

(5 x 3″ pen and watercolor)
Displayed artwork © 2017 Kim Reading. All rights reserved.