More details were added to my drawing of prairie light this afternoon. I think that June and September might be the two most beautiful months on the North Dakota grasslands.

Prairie Light

I got back to work on my “Land of Grass” drawing this morning. It kind of got set aside for my vacation, and has just been waiting for more attention. I went over the strip of sky and the background butte with blue and a little grey. It’s a balancing act, finding time to enjoy the summer, work in the garden, take pictures for new material, etc. As I looked over the artwork of Susan Hertel in a retrospective book last night, I saw many things for the first time, even though I’ve paged through it quite a few times. I guess it’s good to take your time and finish your work off just the way you want it.

Land of Grass

I ordered a book about the artist Emily Carr, which deals with her isolation as a painter in the northwest. Thought it might contain some useful tidbits! The title is Emily Carr: On the Edge of Nowhere. I’ll let you know if I learn something from it.

It’s very hard to drag myself indoors this time of year, as summer slips away. I managed to get something done on my “September Grasslands” drawing today, but it was kind of a challenge.

September Grasslands

I’ve been doing some yard and garden chores, organizing some household stuff, and getting more work done on a badlands drawing.

Prairie Light

That’s pretty much the essence of a prairie landscape, wouldn’t you say? I guess you woudn’t really even need the trees! These drawings of the badlands in September have a very pleasing combination of grey skies and saturated, colorful grass. I haven’t really done very much with grey skies in my landscape drawings until now.

I’ve received notice of a new art book about Sheila Fell, an English landscape painter who was inspired by the landscape of her childhood in rural Cumberland. It sounds like something that would be of interest to me, and I may have to check it out when it’s released.

Clouds, Trees, Grass

I’m enjoying working on images of the prairie in September, and made some progress on “September Grasslands” this morning.

September Grasslands

It was so windy today that it was very appealing to work inside, catching up on some household chores and another badlands drawing.

Prairie Light

I made some progress on my drawing “Clouds over the Grasslands” today. It will frame up to 30 x 30 inches, and is the first square format I’ve done.

Clouds over the Grasslands

I’ve made some progress on a couple of my drawings of badlands in September. That is one of my favorite months to be out in the great grasslands of North Dakota.

September Grasslands

Clouds, Trees, Grass

I put the finishing touches on my green grasslands drawing today. Yay! This will be the last post for a little while, as I’m going to take a break and go look at more country.

Grasslands in Green