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copyright 2009, Judith Nijholt-Strong
"Stepping Out!", approx. 6"h w x 4"w
Colored pencil on Wallis sanded paper
*sold*
I love October and November! Pumpkins, gourds, fallen leaves everywhere; the beautiful warm, "gezellig" (cozy), colors adding to the mood in and around the house. The weather is changing to a nice nip in the air. I love it, as long as it stays relatively dry
(hah! wishful thinking, I live in Holland where it's never dry for too long - though parts of the east of Holland have been too dry, lately).
So, I'll be doing a lot of sketching/drawing/painting gourds and pumpkins this month. Some probably in France too, come next weekend. :o) and then it's Halloween again!!!
The idea behind "Stepping Out!"
(for those of you who like stories), is a sort of "changing of the guards" (gourds? lol) and the city in the distance is "sort of" Utrecht (ok, not really, but that's what I was thinking/imagining). The cherry hands over the season to the pumpkin/gourd - probably only makes sense to me. ha!
Colored pencils used: Prismacolor, Caran d'Ache Pablos, Faber-Castell Polychormos and one cream colored Derwent Coloursoft
(I don't really like Coloursofts - too opaque for my liking and they tend to form wax bloom worse than Prismas, but the cream one is nice enough).
Paper used: Wallis sanded pastel paper (very rough grained, sanded, surface). Not really a fan of this paper, though it does take a lot of abuse and layers. I just had a small piece of it lying around, which is why the drawing is so small - figured I'd give it a go. I prefer Sennelier's La Carte pastel board/paper, but I thought I'd just use up the Wallis I had
(ever the frugal one, me ... lol).
To finish this post off are some pics of Utrecht's old city center. I shot these pics this past Wednesday (last day of September) on a typically overcast, Dutch day. The views are of the Oude Gracht (old canal) that runs through Utrecht. For whatever reason, I rarely seem to be in the old part of the city when it isn't overcast ... just my luck, I guess. Never the less, I still love the city center.
View towards the city castle Oudaen; Stadskasteel Oudaen. The castle is located on the top part of the canal wharf where the street is ; it's now a restaurant and brewery.
photo copyright J. Nijholt-Strong
Despite the hanging planters of geraniums (pelargoniums) that are still in full bloom, it's definitely fall/autumn here.
photo copyright J. Nijholt-Strong
The Oude Gracht (canal) snakes its way through the middle of Utrecht's old center - the above is a view from Vismarkt straat (fish market street) towards Utrecht City Hall on the right of the picture.
Voorzichtig! (Careful!)
A warning sign on the railing along the upper level of the Oude Gracht. Click image to enlarge - translated in english below the dutch...as if anyone reads the signs!
photo copyright J. Nijholt-Strong
Don't worry, I always watch out for the bumps. ;o) The last thing I want to do, is fall in the Oude Gracht ... noooooo.
Oh! Yeah, I changed the blog colors just to keep the "warm mood" going - goofing around really. *grin*
Tot ziens,
Judy
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