Revolve Project: Week 19
a Beautiful morning and light for a plein air sketch
After a whirlwind week of festive celebrations, this morning brought a welcome gift: no biting wind, no shrouding fog, just pure, crisp winter light. It was exactly what I needed for my weekly plein air sketching project, and just in time too – this was my last chance to complete week 19's sketch before rolling into week 20!
No video today - but I did snap a few shots to show the location and my progress!
My youngest son joined me as my location scout today, leading us to a familiar spot I'd sketched back in week 10 (see below). What a difference a few months make! Where October brought grey skies and limited visibility, today offered clear views stretching all the way to the Blackdown Hills. It was particularly special sharing this session with him as he chatted away, experimenting with his Christmas art supplies.
As usual, I kept my toolkit minimal. Starting with watercolour to capture the broad strokes and basic shapes of the landscape, I found myself appreciating how this approach forces you to simplify the scene before you. Looking at this initial layer now, there's something quite captivating about its rawness – sometimes less truly is more!
Still, I couldn't resist adding a few touches with colored pencils to bring out the texture of the winter-bare trees and the patchwork of fields. These finishing details helped ground the scene while maintaining the spontaneous feel of the piece.
After nearly 20 weeks of this project, I'm noticing real progress in my outdoor sketching technique. Standing to work no longer feels awkward, thanks to my trusty cutting mat as a support and a compact paint palette. It's amazing how these small adaptations have made such a difference in my comfort level.
Next week, I'm planning something special – a visual journey through all the sketches so far, from August through December. It's fascinating to see the seasons shift through these weekly captures, and I'm excited to share this collection with you all.
As we stand on the threshold of a new year, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported my work in 2024. Your encouragement means the world to me.
Wishing you all a joyful New Year filled with creativity!
With gratitude, Emma
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My other substack- The Sketching Sisters Substack
Lovely read Emma 😊
Beautiful Sketch!