Many times I have displayed work from On Location trips. To me this is a bit different than actual plein air painting. The On Location sketches capture the spontaneity of the moment…your are right there trying to relate the flavor of everything occurring then and there - the people and their moods, activities; the environment and it’s colors, moods, time of day and weather. The great film director, David Lean referred to location as character - well, that is an element On Location sketches try to capture. Obviously the sketches can also serve for further exploration back in the studio with other types of mediums.

Here is a watercolor first- pen later sketch from last Saturday

I have to give Glenn Vilppu full credit for opening my eyes to the tools I now use. As with his sketches, I do not use any kind of pencil under sketch, I begin either with watercolors and lay in light values, leaving plenty of while areas and add pen later.

This sketch began with pen and the watercolor was added later.

Or, I draw with pen first and add the watercolors afterwards. Either method is good and they lend different looks to your sketch/paintings.

Here’s what I use for ON LOCATION work - sketch pen, brush pen and watercolor set.

My main tools are the sketch pen, the brush pen and my small Cottman watercolor set

A closer view of the water brush and sketch pen (a Waterman, I bought in the town of Apt, Provence.

This is a close up of my brush pen (bottom right) and my sketch pen- EF nib (extra fine). This is a Waterman pen I picked up in Apt , Provence.

And…I add Velcro to everything! I attached it underneath my watercolor set and onto my sketch books, watercolor paper books…almost everywhere! It has become a bit of a joke to my current students at the Jepson Center.

AND don’t forget WATER- it’s hot out there!

On Location sketching/painting is invigorating, rewarding and just plain FUN.

The Savannah area is rich with wonderful locations to draw and paint!

The past few Saturday mornings have been spent at various location around Savannah - in the oak shrouded squares, the City Market, down on River Street and across the River on Hutchinson Island - we observe, we draw and we paint. EVERYTHING is reference!

We work in various medium- pencil, ballpoint pen, ink pen, watercolors with a brushpen.

The brush pen is a handy tool for On Location sketching. The water is contained in the body of the brush which makes it easy to use with a dry watercolor set and/or an ink pen. With an ink pen, you just paint over the lines of the sketch to create values.

Armed with our pens, pencils, watercolors, a selection of papers, a sketchbook, bug spray, a packback and a water bottle, we set out to discover the environs of Savannah.

Here is last week’s sketch from City market. City Market is a very lovely pedestrian shopping area with art galleries, shops and. cafes. It’s a great place to watch people. And, it is also the area where the horse drawn carriage tours pick up their passengers.

The completed watercolor sketch at City Market.

This sketch is drawn in ballpoint (no pencil under sketch) and is a compilation of two sketches. The horse and carriage was one sketch and then I added information from an earlier sketch with the trees, gazebo and other background elements.

As I mentioned…EVERYTHING IS REFERENCE!

Beat me…make me go out to a city like Savannah and draw and paint!

With the Games fast approaching, Ty B. Bear has been hard at work preparing for his events.

Ty carries the lighthouse torch for the Games

Okay, so he’s a cartoon character…and he lives by the beach…and maybe he’s not even an athletic cartoon character, but…he can get into the spirit of the Games.

If there is an event for ICE CREAM - Ty takes the gold!

Here are a few more sketches…for these I use ball point pen without any pencil drawing. I just go to it and see what appears on the sheet of paper. But, I am not crazy- i do thumbnails before each…

One of Ty’s events would have to be surfing…what, it’s not in the Games?

Because of my participation in the Olympiad of Animation (Los Angeles 1984), the games have always been a reminder of what can result when folks are determined to celebrate through animation.

Back in 1984, the selfless efforts of Fini and Bill Littlejohn created a unique event that has never been paralleled. I t was a thrill to see Rupert’s Olympic Feet on the screen at the Academy. There was also a selection of animated shorts considered the best of all time.  I dare say their artistry and  themes would hold up even today…animation doesn’t age like other  artforms.

Yes, the rumors are true…Ty B. bear is running for President in 2008

Yes, it’s true! Ty B. Bear is again running for President. In 2000 he garnered 9 votes and in 2004, he doubled that tally with 18 votes. In 2008, who knows…the sky’s the limit!!!