In the Meadow

Posted on July 11, 2017 by Sarah Sullivan
In the Meadow by Sarah Sullivan

In the Meadow

The first two times I sketched this meadow I stood up above it and could see the mountains beyond it. This time the view is from within the meadow and the surrounding mountains are no longer visible. I added a figure to give context and a focal point. 

This is a gouache sketch in a 5 by 8 inch black Moleskine sketchbook. 

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Clouds Build Over A Colorado Meadow

Posted on July 10, 2017 by Sarah Sullivan
Clouds Build Over A Colorado Meadow by Sarah Sullivan

Clouds Build Over A Colorado Meadow

This is the same meadow that I sketched on July 8, but the view is looking to the south towards Colorado’s Sneffels Range. The colors seemed cooler today, perhaps because the monsoon clouds began building midmorning and it never got hot. I love the shape of the cedar trees that ring the meadow and left white pastel lines to emphasize them. 

This is a gouache and pastel sketch on a 12 by 17 inch sheet of Derwent black paper. 

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Morning Comes Again to the Old Snag

Posted on July 9, 2017 by Sarah Sullivan

Morning Comes Again to the Old Snag by Sarah Sullivan

Morning Comes Again to the Old Snag


Thirty-five years ago the snag, a dead but still standing tree, was the tallest ponderosa pine in the area. Its broad branches dominated the sunlight so there were no other pines nearby. After a lightening strike burned most of it, other pines shot up all around. But the snag still stands and is gorgeous with its twisted yellow, orange and red wood, especially in the morning light. This is a gouache sketch on a 12 by 17 inch sheet of Derwent black paper. 

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Meadow Below Horsefly Mesa

Posted on July 8, 2017 by Sarah Sullivan

Meadow Below Horsefly Mesa by Sarah Sullivan

Meadow Below Horsefly Mesa

In the spring it is a pond but by midsummer it is a meadow with a soggy center. Even in the heat of July it is lush and full of life. In the morning some of its grass is crushed where animals slept for the night. Standing in it you can see Sneffels Range to the south and Horsefly Mesa to the east, as in this sketch. I regret including the shadow in the lower left and will try again in a few days from a different vantage point.

This is a gouache and pastel sketch on a 12 by 17 inch sheet of Derwent black paper. 

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Under a Blue Tarp

Posted on July 7, 2017 by Sarah Sullivan

Under a Blue Tarp by Sarah Sullivan

Under a Blue Tarp

The part of the San Juan Mountains we are camping is waiting for the summer monsoons to come. The grasses are turning brown and yellow, there is a lot of dust and heat, and the rains will be welcomed when they arrive. In the meantime, we campers have put up tarps for extra shade and spend a lot of time discussing the cloud formations as they build in the afternoons. 

This is a pastel and gouache sketch on black paper. 

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Bill Is a Builder

Posted on July 5, 2017 by Sarah Sullivan

Bill Is a Builder by Sarah Sullivan

Bill Is a Builder

My brother Bill is a builder. He builds homes for families and builds our extended family through sharing his cabin and land with us. This week many of us are camping on his land in Colorado for an annual family reunion, as we have for most of the past 34 years. Imagine what closeness his 80 acres of wooded land has fostered in all of us over the years. Our very large family has been very fortunate to be able to play, hike, read, talk, reconnect and rest up for the coming year.  

Now he is remodeling his small cabin into a large home with indoor plumbing to better support his aging siblings and their families. I watched my brothers working together today and thought how the leadership of Bill has shaped all our relationships. I wanted to suggest some of this with this sketch. 
This is a pastel, ink and gouache sketch on black paper. 

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Sweet Caroline at the Pond

Posted on July 4, 2017 by Sarah Sullivan

Sweet Caroline at the Pond by Sarah Sullivan

Sweet Caroline at the Pond

Although I am no longer at the ranch where I did the basic drawing for this sketch, I liked the drawing of the figure sitting on the float and wanted to finish it. I liked the way she looked off across the pond, and the way her leg dangled in the water. I was able to use some photos I took for reference for the reflections in the pond.

This is a pastel and gouache sketch on black paper

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Posted in Body Language, Landscape | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments