Today Jack and I went to our local barbershop. The only problem is that this is an old fashioned place, and my barber is well into his 80s, and Jack was not prepared for the amount of hair the kind gentleman would remove (despite my asking for a “trim”, etc). I like getting all that stuff out of my eyes, but to a 12-year-old it’s an entirely different deal. Oh well. Live and learn.
I have been inspired by Laura of Laurelines to do more color sketching, so I bought one of those little 3″ x 4″ moleskine cold-press watercolor sketchbooks. For years I’ve avoided cold-press paper, not liking the “bumpy” texture; but I think my drawing style is evolving to a place less controlled and more into accidents. I like cold-press now.
One of the cats caught a lizard, its tail already missing from a previous feline entanglement. Jack saved it and put it in a plastic bucket. We went to the hiking trail about a mile up the hill and released it back into the wild. The kids discovered sap in a nearby tree and started playing with it, so I sketched them.
Jack took the bucket and put it on his head and asked me to sketch him too!
After a tiring day of helping Joan put up Halloween decorations and recovering (still) from my thrown-out back, I started to sketch another Buddha — coming down to the home stretch on that series — when I turned around and saw the entire family reading quietly in our bed. The Buddha picture wasn’t coming out that well, and this looked more interesting anyway, so I started on the right side, making my way over left. Unfortunately the youngest one nodded off before I got to her. The girl’s are reading novels and the boy is reading a comic book.
Joan and the kids were watching a movie the other night that was too scary for Lily (8), so she asked me to draw pictures with her in the dining room instead. She chose, as our subject, to draw some of the many “bobble-head” toys she’s got. She handed me mine to draw while she drew hers. This was way more entertaining than watching a movie!
We took a hike along with three other families yesterday to Switzer Falls. It was great, probably 10 kids in all, hiking along the creek and up over a 100 foot ridge (a little scary). At the end of the trail is a small waterfall that empties into a pool. We had lunch and a little swim. I did some hasty sketching.
There was a big, fallen tree leaning against the rock wall near the falls. The highlight of the hike came during the walk back. There was a three-foot rattlesnake that slithered off the path and into the stream! I’ve never actually seen one outside of the zoo.
The campsite (click to enlarge). Our tent on the left, sister-in-law’s tent in the middle, nephew George on the right. The Big Sur river was directly behind me as I drew this.
Well, I’m off to go camping, just like this time last year. The kids and Joan have already been there a week. There won’t be any posting for a while – until next weekend. Hopefully I’ll have some sketching to post!
Another good use of chopsticks.
Anthony Zierhut 