Plein air, and a little sketching

Last week the plein air group was hosted by Mary Lou out at Duncan's Cove. A very kind host, and a great place to work! This is the first time I've had a chance to work from the town side (usually I head down towards Ketch Harbor), but having a place to rest and retreat (and a bathroom) was wonderful. And lots of good artists to work with.
I settled on a view looking out on the gut between the mainland (to the right) and the island (to the left, I can't recall its name):

The fog was in and out all morning, which is an effect I quite like to play with.

Meanwhile, I've been spending a lot of time sketching - just heading out and drawing whatever targets of opportunity happen to present themselves. Most of the motivation originally came from specific problems in line and tone I have to address in my own practice. But it's also been strongly motivated by a quote from Picasso I came across - "Nobody has any real importance for me. As far as I am concerned, other people are like those little grains of dust floating in the sunlight."

Well, (and pardon my language here), he may have been an honest asshole, but he can still go fuck himself. (end of bad language). Declaring war on that sort of attitude - which seems so prevalent today - seems quite a useful enterprise!

I like doing difficult and challenging work, but there are times when one really has to look around and think about what really matters. What makes life worth living? You see it everyday when you wander around a place like Halifax - family, friends, children, dogs, flowers, the ocean and sky. Buskers and cormorants. Whatever.

I quite like trying to get a sense of these things when I can.

Arlene

Island at Duncan's Cove

Finn and Shorty

Young Cormorant at Sullivan's Pond

Finn and KC Waiting