Gray Skies at Torrey Pines II

Sketch of Torrey Pines Beach by Sarah Sullivan

Gray Skies at Torrey Pines II

This is the second of two sketches I started two days ago. It is very similar to the one I posted Thursday but has two figures in the foreground. In both cases, I used a limited palette of white along with two complementary colors, Ultramarine Blue and Cadmium Orange for the first and then Phthalo Blue and Pyrolle Orange for this one today. It is interesting how the change of colors also changes the mood of the sketch.

Posted in Landscape | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Really?

Sketch by Sarah Sullivan of a Woman with attitude

Really?

I sketched this morning with the San Diego Watercolor Society’s weekly life drawing group. I particularly like this model because she projects a range of attitudes. This 20- minute pose was towards the end of the morning, and we were all running out of steam.  As I considered the way she put up her feet and sternly looked at us, I felt that her inner voice must surely have been asking a rhetorical question along the lines of, ‘Really, this is the best you can do?”

Posted in Body Language, Facial Expression, Telling a Story | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Gray Skies at Torrey Pines

Sketch by Sarah Sullivan of Torrey Pines with Gray Skys

Gray Skies at Torrey Pines

It was overcast today at Torrey Pines, and the hill in the background seemed to be part of the sky. After a bit, the light changed, and I put this sketch aside to work on a second sketch. Now I think I like this one best, even though the part of me that wants to cover all the paper with paint is not satisfied with the black areas in front.

Posted in Landscape | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

Wave Watcher

Sketch by Sarah Sullivan of a beach scene

Wave Watcher

I spent the morning at Torrey Pines State Beach and sketched this figure sitting out by the waves.

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

Posted in Landscape, Telling a Story | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Beach Soccer, Two On One

Sketch by Sarah Sullivan of a Beach Soccer Game

Beach Soccer, Two On One

I worked from photos again today, trying to capture multiple types of movement. I wish I had left more of the background unpainted, it would have strengthened the focus on the figures

Posted in Groups Interacting, Landscape, Telling a Story | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Run, Run from that Wave!

Sketch by Sarah Sullivan of Children Playing in the Waves

Run from that Wave!

Today I used some photos from my nephews’ recent visit and worked at capturing their delight in the waves.

This is an acrylic and gouache sketch on an 8 X 12 -inch black paper.

Posted in Body Language, Landscape, Telling a Story | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

What’s a Great Place for Visiting Nephews?

Sketch of two small boys at Torrey Pines Beach by Sarah Sullivan

What’s a Great Place for Visiting Nephews?

My two great-nephews, along with their parents and grandparents, are in town for spring break. Of course, we went out to Torrey Pines State Park, checked out the nature center, hiked the beach trail and played along the shore. And I had the opportunity to sketch these two amazing kids as they shoveled sand, threw rocks, and poured water.

This is an 8 X 12 -inch gouache sketch on black paper

Posted in Groups Interacting, Telling a Story | Tagged , | 1 Comment