Where did the year go?
2019 is almost gone. Time to plan for 2020. Although planning for 2019 didn’t achieve as much as hoped, at least there were some bright moments.
Started the year by enrolling in Sketchbook Skool, an online tutorial/klassroom. The klasses were weekly videos prepared by notable sketchers with assignments. At first it was interesting. Shared sketches with other students around the world, received and gave comments online. Quickly became tedious. The absence of feedback from instructors significantly reduced the utility of the activity. One goal was to sketch daily, which I never did. Another was to go out into public areas and draw people and things, which I did only occasionally. I still occasionally sketch, but would not recommend taking more that one of the offered klasses.
Took a couple of watercolor workshops sponsored by Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society (SCVWS). One by Sarah Yeoman in April and another by Keiko Tanabe in August. I have now attended a half dozen such workshops and have learned was does and doesn’t work for me. Some instructors are really good artists, but poor teachers. Some paint in a style I don’t care to emulate, but are good teachers. My favorites are the ones that start out slow, who develop skills and knowledge in a small scale with exercises, working up to a final integrated work at the end. My favorites were Joyce Hicks, Sarah Yeoman, and Frank Francese.
I went out several times with the outdoor painting group of SCVWS with mixed success. Most of the time we visited museums and other public areas with buildings and gardens. Once I went on a paint and hike outing to a nature preserve. I carry a lot more to the public parks and museums than on a hike, so most of the works done in the latter are sketches. Even the painting done at the parks were not completed onsite, but later in my studio.
A large part of my time this past year was devoted to orientation and integration into my new Rotary Club. I transferred my membership from the Rotary Club of Sunnyvale, where I had been a member for 22 years, to the Rotary Club of Cupertino. the new club is closer to home, has a rich social life and offers opportunities for international travel . After substituting for a club photographer at the annual Golf Tournament and for a few club events, I have become the official Portrait Photographer for new members. That resurrected my dormant interest in photography, which is another story.
Finally, I became interested in birds this year. I joined the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society and regularly go on week-end field trips to “hotspots” to see what shows up. I am constantly surprised to learn of nature areas within our city limits that are teeming with birds and wildlife. Looking forward to developing my skill in identifying the various species and building my “life list” of observations.
Nice. I keep nagging you and of course you don’t listen but one more time. Please post the sketch of the clock. I think it’s one of your best.