Cathy and I spent a day in Jerome. We were there a number of years ago and got there by mistake pulling a large fifth wheel - a bit scary. So we decided to take another look with our little motor home.
What an interesting and unusual place at 5200 ft - a "living ghost town". Great old buildings full of colour and character. What stuck me was the great opportunity to work on linear perspective.
I just could not resist making a plein air start - chose acrylic . Made a few thumbnails and sketched out with acrylic marker on linen board 11x14 - then glazed over with transparent red oxide - having seen a lot in the buildings. Started to block in and the wind came up from the valley with a heavy gust and sand filled my sta wet palette and my face. Held onto my equipment for a few more minutes and then gave up.
Probably just as well as I broke one of my cardinal rules for plein air - pick a battle you can win (from Robert Watts, Watts Atelier). In this case I chose a very complex subject , on a wind day and a busy street. I would have got more out of it by just sketching and playing with perspective. But nothing lost- learning form the losers.
Jerome is an amazing array of small streets and old buildings that would make a great study in complex perspective drawing.
Photos don't do it justice. Now off to Sedona
Did you make it out to the old mining camp? Painted in Jerome just last month. Great place to spend a day painting.
ReplyDeleteHi. The winds came up to 60 mph - had enough trouble hanging onto the RV never mind my easel. Would love to have spent more time. Great spot. Cheers.
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