Moving on into April.....

March was a busy month. We had company: my sister, my high school BFF, then my brother and his wife. A blessing of guests.

We went and watched the crane migration. And I have sketched a tiny bit in my sketchbook; mostly experimental, trying out techniques and materials I haven't used before, as I'm a bit tired of my 'same old sketches.' This one was trying pastel pencils. I've had them for many years, but I am so messy with them, I never use them. I was afraid to put them in my sketchbook, because I thought they would just smear onto the facing page. But I used fixative, and so far, so good. However, I don't think this style or these materials suit me.

This was a lazy sketch, using watercolor and ink. But I wanted to 'document' all the time, and pleasure, we've had watching the live cams of "Mr. President" and "The First Lady" and their 2 babies on the eagle cam at the National Arboretum. Watch this amazing family here. We have watched them since before the eggs hatched.

My sketch was 'lazy' because I have, once again, done something terrible and unforgiving to my back, and pain is making me quite creatively lazy, I am afraid. It hurts to knit, to weave, and even to sketch. Which is why the 'December' tapestry has not progressed much.

I also did this simplified sketch of my beautiful granddaughter, getting a new hair color recently. She is a to-be-envied natural blonde, but she looks just as gorgeous with purple or bright red hair! 

Since her experimental bravery inspired me, I decided to try sketching her with a heavy black marker, rather than with the tentative pencil scratchings I usually use. I do love the simplicity of this style, and will try it again.