Sunset along the Canyon Edge

Posted on August 1, 2018 by Sarah Sullivan
Sketch by Sarah Sullivan of a Canyon Sunset

Sunset along the Canyon Edge

We are camping on my brother’s land in the Colorado San Juan Mountains. I look forward to our annual family reunion here for many reasons, including the chance to paint this dramatic landscape. This week the skies in western Colorado are hazy with smoke from all the forest fires throughout the southwest, and hazy skies can make for spectacular sunsets. I really like how the evening sun illuminates parts of the landscape and dramatized the effect with this abstract plein air painting.

This painting is on a white quarter sheet of watercolor paper with a base coat of black watercolor ground. It gives a rough texture and allows the black to show through the gouache.

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Along the Galloping Goose Trail

Posted on July 27, 2018 by Sarah Sullivan
Sketch by Sarah Sullivan of the vista along the Galloping Goose Trail

Along the Galloping Goose Trail

Among the many gorgeous trails in the Telluride area is the Galloping Goose. It was built along the old railroad tracks and descends down through aspen, fur, and flowers, from Telluride to Illium. It was a perfect choice for my last biking/painting trip in this area. Although I tried to include too much onto my small 12 X 12 sketchbook, I still like this sketch because it captures the winding path, its vertical drop, and the distant mountains.

This is a 12 X 12-inch gouache sketch.

Here is a photo of my Telluride set-up for plein air painting. It is about 10 pounds of equipment, including water, and works for both hiking and biking. The large rock that served as a table was a much appreciated bonus.

Plein Air Painting by Bike along the Galloping Goose Trail.

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San Juan Mountain Path

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Sarah Sullivan
Sketch by Sarah Sullivan of a San Juan Mountain Path

San Juan Mountain Path

The sun was intense as I stood in the shade and sketched. Even through my dark glasses the shade from the pine trees that fell across the path contrasted strongly with sunny areas of the mountain path. When I got back indoors, I was surprised at the intense colors I had just used to depict this scene. Maybe I should paint while wearing heavy sunglasses more often.

This is a 9 x 9-inch gouache and watercolor pencil sketch on black paper.

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Telluride Town Talk

Posted on July 24, 2018 by Sarah Sullivan
Sketch by Sarah Sullivan of two people having a conversation

Telluride Town Talk

Sketch by Sarah Sullivan of two people having a conversation at the Telluride Town Talk

Telluride Town Talk 2

During the summer, the Telluride Science Research Center offers a weekly talk of general interest by a visiting scientist. I enjoy these talks because they are provocative- for instance, today’s topic was, Geo-Engineering a Climate Change Solution. But even better, the talks also provide an excellent opportunity to sketch the presenters.

For years I carried a newsprint sketchbook with me but had gotten out of the habit when I shifted to painting in gouache. Lately I bought a new pad and have been enjoying live sketching with a ballpoint pen and then later using Procreate to add a bit of color.

These two sketches show the presenter during the follow-up conversations with the moderator. I liked their expressions as they thought, listened and spoke.

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Two Fishermen

Posted on July 23, 2018 by Sarah Sullivan
Sketch by Sarah Sullivan of Two Fishermen

Two Fishermen

I went down to Elk Pond today to practice painting reflections. It was a beautiful morning and the colors of the trees, sky, and mountains were sharp and clear. However, I soon found that painting water reflections is similar to painting shadows. The shifting light and wind cause everything to move about and change. A pair of fishermen, possibly a father and son, were across the water and they kept moving around too.

This is a gouache and watercolor pencil sketch on a 12 X 12-inch sheet of black paper.

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Two Aspen Trees

Posted on July 22, 2018 by Sarah Sullivan

Sketch by Sarah Sullivan of Two Aspen Trees

Two Aspen Trees

This is a second version of the last sketch I posted showing the view from the window here in Telluride. In fact, it was my first try of this view but I put it aside thinking that I could do better. Later I put it back up on my easel and from time to time would add more color until it became heavily overpainted, mostly with gouache, but also with pen and watercolor pencil.

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View from a Telluride Window

Posted on July 20, 2018 by Sarah Sullivan

Sketch by Sarah Sullivan of the view from a Telluride window

View from a Telluride Window

Looking out the window here in Telluride, there is an almost overwhelming amount of greenery. It is framed against a grey sky and purple and blue mountains. The greens flow together and the tree trunks give it some structure. This is, more or less, what it looks like to me.

This is a gouache, pen, and watercolor pencil sketch in a 12 X 12-inch sketchbook with black paper.

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