Summer sketch book round-up…

This spring I bought a couple of  6″ x 12″ sketch books. My last pocket sketch book was 6″ x 9″. I like this new larger, longer format.

Although I was initially unconvinced, mainly because it was getting away from my idea of a “pocket” book, the price was right …less than the smaller formats! I’m having no end of fun composing more extensive scenes. The “letterbox” format affords a more panoramic feel, taking you farther into the scene. Here’s a selection:

14 June 2013: Plein-air painting at Hogs Back Falls. The eagle-eyed will notice this sketch was included in an earlier post – the composition would have been more difficult on a smaller sheet.

8 July: My parents driveway in the UK. This happens to be my favorite.  Shortly afterwards, I was out and about sketching again. A couple of dudes came up to me to see what was doing on. I showed them this sketch and they immediately said, “oh an Optima”. ..that’s the car eh!

24 July, Somewhere in the Atlantic from the Queen Mary 2. France and I  debate as to  whether this is a “cruise” or a “passage”. It’s all a state of mind I suppose.

25 July, The view from our cabin. Technically this is an “Obstructed View”, but we weren’t complaining.

7 Aug: Jacques Cartier Park.  I sketched “The last bike” at the community bike loan building,  just as they were closing up. Then I ran like the wind to miss an approaching thunder storm.

Looking over the summer’s work, I notice that with this new-for-me letterbox format, I’m tending to place a strong vertical element in the center of the composition – effectively splitting the picture into 2 distinct zones: perhaps to lead a narrative, perhaps as design feature.

Our fine Fall weather just keeps on coming….I’m planning on keeping a sketch book handy for a while yet!