Kansas, Colorado, and Utah

Posted on May 12, 2021 by Sarah Sullivan

We drove home on Interstate -70, first through Kansas, then on through Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona, arriving home in San Diego after three days of early May travel.

I got a kick out of seeing the variations of this spring season along our route. Western Kansas had green fields but few leaves on trees. Climbing out of Denver, we saw skiers in the snow of the Colorado Rockies. Eastern Utah was striking in its canyon reds and dry grasses. And the green grasses and trees of the Southern Nevada landscape were lovely in their fresh green look.

Here are four ‘passenger sketches’ that I painted in my lap as we sped across the western states.

Western Kansas in Spring
Spring Between Golden and Rifle Colorado
Eastern Utah in Spring
A Southern Nevada Spring Day

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Happy Mother’s Day!

Posted on May 9, 2021 by Sarah Sullivan

We stayed two weeks with my sister and brother-in-law in Kansas City. It is wonderful to be with two people who love each other deeply and to be included in their warm and caring circle of grown children, grandchildren, and friends.

Their place is across the street from a park that is greatly enjoyed by families of all sorts, including the little family of geese. At first the goslings were fluffy little beings who swam and walked close by their parents. By the end of the two weeks, their long legs were taking them further afield and they were keeping their parents busy with all their running, diving, and fluttering. Meanwhile, in the nearby playgrounds, something analogous was going on with humans, from the smallest baby in a buggy to the most adventurous playground climbers, swingers, and sliders.

Here’s to parents everywhere, and especially to all the wonderful mothers, Happy Mother’s Day!

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Heading East Through the Lagunas

Posted on April 21, 2021 by Sarah Sullivan

We set out to drive east, this evening, on our way to Kansas City. It was nice to relax in the passenger seat with my sketchbook, after the hustle of packing.

I get a kick out of drawing while driving because it is an exercise in improvisation. You look down at your sketch for a moment, and when you look up, the vista has changed. It is kind of like cooking a favorite recipe while you change your mind about which ingredients to use.

I sketched this as we passed through the Laguna Mountains. There was just a bit of sun on the highest peaks and deep color in the shadows.

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Too Long Upon A Kitchen Stool

Posted on April 16, 2021 by Sarah Sullivan

The counter forces of good posture and the need to drift off seemed to be battling for dominance in our Tuesday evening Zoom model. As the evening progressed, I noticed the model slowly shifting forward on his stool. His shoulders drooped. He kept reopening his eyes wide even as his facial expression slackened. Having had many such struggles during meetings over the years, I was glad for the chance to capture it on paper.

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Carlsbad Flower Fields

Posted on April 14, 2021 by Sarah Sullivan

I gathered up my plein air pack and drove over to the Carlsbad Flower Fields, where Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers are blooming across acres and acres. The ranunculus beds follow the coastal hills’ contours, creating mesmerizing patterns, the kind you could spend a week painting.

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Reeds and Paths

Posted on April 11, 2021 by Sarah Sullivan

Last Monday, I painted at Batiquitos Lagoon, north of San Diego. Later that day, I posted a small sketch of two birdwatchers along the path.

I also painted a larger piece focusing on the patterns in the reeds. But my original composition was awkward. Because I painted what was in front of me, I ended up with two-thirds of the painting being about the reeds and one-third about the path. The parts did not harmonize. Today I replaced most of the trail with water and reeds and like the painting much more.

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Exuberance!

Posted on April 10, 2021 by Sarah Sullivan

I walked up to the college campus to make some quick sketches. Spring is in full bloom, the pandemic is receding, and the campus is regaining its previous energy. I like this sketch of two people laughing together because it has an exuberance that matches this moment in time.

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