Gifs vs Jpgs

I just learned something today.  The .gif format sometimes changes the color of an image.  I just posted a .gif of a sketch I did  this morning and saw that the reds were dulled down.  I looked at the jpg of the same sketch and it retained the reds.  Something to consider when posting sketches.
Here are the two versions.

JPG Colors are more true.

GIF format dulled down the red and yellow colors.

Early Morning Light

During spring time the light in the early morning is fantastic.  It is bright with strong shadows and you have the colors of spring.  I found this view when I walked my dog this morning. So I had to get back there to sketch and do a quick watercolor.  I drew the underlay in pencil and then added watercolor after.  Working in pencil, you have to depend on value and color to separate shapes.  Lines will disappear.  It is a good way to force working in values.

Washington Park Arboretum in morning light. 

Walking in the Arboretum

Along the trail through the Arboretum in Montlake.

After a rainy weekend the sun decided to come out (of course during the workweek).  I took some time to take a short walk in the arboretum today, brought my chair, sketchbook, ink pen and water....then looked for the watercolors and realized I forgot it.  So I jotted down notes where areas were dark, light  or mid tones and painted this from memory once I got home. 

Japanese Tea Garden

Thursday some students from the UW and I went to the Japanese Tea Garden to sketch.
It was a challenge to sketch landscape instead of building and urban spaces. I will have to try that more.