Snow Day

"Snow Day" 

Watercolor and pencil on 95-lb paper

8" x 8" (20.3 x 20.3 cm)

We've had some roller-coaster weather in St. Louis this month; 70 degrees (21 C) for highs, followed by cold and snow, followed by 70s again...  That's weather in St. Louis for you.

Smith St. & US 66, Cuba, Missouri

Smith Street & US 66, Cuba, Missouri
©2016 Steve Penberthy
Watercolor in Hand Book Travelogue Watercolor Artist Journal
8.25" x 16.5" (21 x 42 cm)
Spent an unseasonably warm February afternoon in Cuba, Missouri checking out the old downtown and the many murals there on the sides of buildings.  Had a delicious home-style lunch at Dotties and a cookie and latte at The Cuba Bakery & Deli.  This is a scene looking north on Smith Street, which intersects with Historic U.S. Route 66. I also took the opportunity to work in a new sketchbook I'm trying out, the Travelogue Watercolor Artist Journal, 8.25" x 8.25 size (21 x 21 cm).  The 95-lb CP paper takes a juicy wash very well.  I used binder clips on the side to keep the paper from buckling too much, but I felt really good about how the paper performed. 

Old Courthouse, St. Charles, MO

Old Courthouse, St. Charles, MO
©2015 Steve Penberthy
Watercolor in Strathmore Visual Journal, 140-lb CP paper 

9" x 12" (23 x 30 cm)

I decided to sketch the Old St. Charles County Courthouse in St. Charles, Missouri while out with the St. Louis Drawing & Painting Meetup Group.  It was a cloudy, overcast day and a short glimpse of sun gave way to some dark ominous skies to the west, which eventually brought some bothersome raindrops to my outdoor sketching experience.  I quickly headed back to Picasso's Coffee and finished the painting inside while downing a hot cuppa.

Urban Sketching: Kirkwood Amtrak Station

Kirkwood Amtrak Station
©2015 Steve Penberthy
Watercolor in Strathmore Visual Journal (140-lb CP paper)
5" x 7" (13 x 18 cm)
I met up with the St. Louis Drawing & Painting Meetup Group at this month's Urban Sketching outing.  We sketched the historic and picturesque Amtrak train station in Kirkwood, Missouri.  There were so many people out on this beautiful early fall morning; people walking dogs, shopping, and attending a nearby farmer's market across the street.  Several trains (both freight and passenger) moved through the station area while we sketched; the freight trains operated at deafening levels and seemed to take forever to pass by.  But very cool nonetheless.
I had intended to substitute out a few paints in my kit (Quin Gold & Hematite Burnt Scarlet) before heading out to the event, but forgot in my haste to get out the door on time.  Both of these pigments work well on my larger palette, but I feel that I like the weak opacity of a true raw sienna when I'm sketching on location, as I use it a lot for rendering stone, masonry, etc.  I have been experimenting with Quin Gold as a substitute for Raw Sienna, but again, seem to be preferring the Raw Sienna.  

Urban Sketching: West Port Plaza

On-location sketching with the St. Louis Drawing and Painting Meetup Group at West Port Plaza in St. Louis.

Both sketches are in my Strathmore Visual Journal (140-lb CP paper) and are approximately 5.5" x 7" (14 x 18 cm).

In both sketches, I'm experimenting with some new Daniel Smith Quinacridone Gold as a substitute for Raw Sienna.  I love the pigment, but I think it's perhaps used best to charge in some warmth rather than in large washes.  Will continue to experiment...

First Street Alley

First Street Alley

©2015 Steve Penberthy

Watercolor on Strathmore Gemini 140-lb CP paper

in handmade sketchbook,

6.75" x 10.25" (17 x 26 cm)

Morning at the Lake

Morning at the Lake

©2015 Steve Penberthy

Watercolor on Strathmore Gemini 140-lb paper in handmade sketchbook, 

6.75" x 10.25" (17 x 26 cm)