Beach Babe - Quick Sketch

This is the gorgeous babe I saw on the beach. I'm always nervous about photographing and drawing children because I don't want parents to think I'm a Creepy McCreeper... These parents were great, though, and let me take a ton of photos. This is quick sketch I did. She was so cute as she toddled in the sand, fell over, picked herself back up, and then plopped down and just played in the sand.

Netarts Bay at Low Tide

Here's a sketch of the same general scene as "Preparing the Kayaks". The angle and activity is a little different, but definitely the same time frame. I really enjoy the quick sketches - gesture studies - because I only have a few seconds, or minutes if I'm lucky, to capture something that takes me hours to paint. I'm not nearly as good at drawing as I am at painting, but every time I draw I become a better painter. And every time I take a photograph, I become better at drawing. It's all about learning to see. I have a student who, when I point out a trouble area in her painting will say, "Oh, what was I thinking?" and I often reply with, "It's not about thinking, it's about seeing." 

Testing the Waters

I ended up with a few extra hours on my hands so I went to Netarts Bay to check out an area where I'd never been. It was low tide and there were several people clamming and playing in the water. There was a family with boys who were having fun testing the water... in and out... in and out. It was fun to observe their interactions and the pure and simple joy that comes from playing in the water.