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Thursday, August 30, 2018

Sketching Along the Way - Yosemite National Park

Morning Light, Yosemite Valley
Whenever I travel I always make room for my sketchbook and painting supplies. Here's a peek into my sketchbook from my recent trip to Yosemite National Park. The light in this awe-inspiring place was amazing! This first sketch shown above was started at about 8 am, as the light was cresting over the granite mountains into Yosemite Valley.
I'm really liking Strathmore's hard cover watercolor sketchbooks, you can find them at our local Michaels Store. I still use my Winsor & Newton travel watercolor set from college. It's held up really well, and when I run out of a color, I just squeeze more into the well from tube paints. My favorite brush for traveling is a 1/4 inch dagger brush from Princeton Art & Brush Company. If you've taken a class with me, you've heard be talk about this brush.
There's something about capturing the feeling of a place that makes the challenges of sketching in the great outdoors worth it.
If you love to sketch too, consider meeting up with our friendly Urban Sketchers Corning Group. The group meets every weekend and anyone is welcome to join us. Check out more, including upcoming meet-ups, here on their Facebook page: Urban Sketchers Corning

My set-up: sketchbook, folding watercolor set that fits brushes, pencil box, plastic container for water, paper towels.
 
Giant Redwood Tree in Mariposa Grove, pen and watercolor.
Quick pen sketch of a Ponderosa Pine Cone
Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, pencil and watercolor. 
Aspen Leaf, pencil and watercolor
Merced River, near Happy Isles, Yosemite. Pen and watercolor
I'd love to hear about your sketching adventures and any sketching tips or questions in the comments below.
Happy Sketching!
Bridget