Back to the beginning

I was looking through my sketch book the other day and it made me realise that whilst I have fallen in love with painting, I had forgotten and discarded my first love; charcoal. 

So today I decided to pick up my charcoal (first time in over a year) and see what would happen... 

Honestly it wasn't pretty. I'm so rusty, I'd forgotten all technique and of course me being me I decided to try a sketch of a sleeping baby first up. None of this easing myself back in to it.... Needless to say the sleeping baby didn't quite work out and as you can see below I abandoned it half way through.

I decided then after that fail that I would try something a little easier, and because I have a love of dream catchers at the moment, that became my inspiration. It worked out ok for a fun sketch... But gee I guess it is true, if you don't practice to keep your skills polished you really do have to start from the beginning again....

Progress

I though I would share the progress I've made on my latest piece. It's still not where I want it to be and although the trees are looking better they don't feel or look quite right yet... I went on a walk this morning around Risdon Brook Dam and I found myself really looking at the trees, their colours and how those colours changed depending on the degree of light. I'm hoping that from studying nature in life it will help me find its beauty on canvas.

Anyway here it is... I hope you can see and like my progress.