Somewhere like here
Posted: January 27, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized 26 CommentsI travelled with friends last night, as we sketched together on Zoom and looked at different views on Window Swap. Collectively we sketched Norway, Nova Scotia, Italy and in my case, Innsbruck, Austria. I could have travelled somewhere green and exotic, but no, instead I chose something that looked like it could have been Montreal last evening — light snow falling and quite grey. I had gouache and toned paper on my studio table from teaching with gouache earlier in the day, so this is what I ended up with. A place somewhere like here.

lovely!
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Thanks!
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I love this !
On Wed, Jan 27, 2021 at 11:40 AM Shari Blaukopf’s Sketchbook wrote:
> Shari Blaukopf posted: ” I travelled with friends last night, as we > sketched together on Zoom and looked at different views on Window Swap. > Collectively we sketched Norway, Nova Scotia, Italy and in my case, > Innsbruck, Austria. I could have travelled somewhere green and exotic, ” >
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Thank Mary!
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Just lovely. I can j feel the chill. The limited colors, composition, and values are all super.
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Thanks Judy!
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It feels rather Andrew Wyatt-like!
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Wyeth uses a very limited palette, so that must be why it evokes that type of feeling!
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So pretty, Shari. This reminds me of Edward Hopper’s style of painting. Love it!
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Thanks Lois!
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This is just lovely Shari but definitely not Montreal as the light is so different.
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Definitely not Montreal!
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I love the mood of this sketch. Is there any difficulty using toned paper with the gouache? It seems pretty heavy medium for lightweight paper?
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Marion, toned paper is perfect for gouache, as long as it is thick enough. I use gouache fairly thickly so I don’t want the paper to warp!
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I saw the thumbnail and thought, “This is the view from my Uncle’s house in Austria’
I was so moved when I clicked on the post and saw you were indeed in Austria. Somehow that gives me comfort, knowing how beautifully you rendered a glimpse of something that is at once mundane and everyday, yet still beautiful.
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Wow, that is amazing. I wonder what it was that evoked Austria for you. I find that really interesting that your reaction was immediate. The colours, the shapes of the buildings??
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I think it was those things, but it’s maybe the way all those things combine. There’s a certain look to the way the building is shaped and sits on the block of land, the colour of the snow and sky…all those things together provide a sense of place that I think you captured so well!
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Lovely, lovely…the limited pallet, simple shapes and light snow falling….lovely!
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Thanks so much Bernadette!
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Lovely painting, and thanks for the “heads up” to Window Swap. Never heard of it before your blog. Amazing what we learn from you😀
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You should try Window Swap Denise. You might enjoy it!
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Nice view of Austria, is that a bit of grass in the foreground? I also really like how you handled the background, creating the impression of buildings behind the house. Also very wintry colours. Dont you find this time year is the best time to bring raw umber, and neutral grey out on your pallete, maybe a bit of raw sienna, van dych brown. What are some of your favourite neutral colours?
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I love using neutral colours all the time but especially in winter. There is not one favourite in particular because I usually mix them.
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Thank you so much for the Window Swap tip! I became obsessed with it immediately. It’s winter here too, yet most of my favorite scenes are the winter ones. I think because I really miss snow and we get so little of it in NYC.
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I can see how you can get obsessed with it. I feel a bit like that too!
And I hope you are enjoying the snow in NYC.
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Good Evening dear friend Shari,
Good sketch and very well drawn including the images at infinity.
Blessings
Uma
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