NEW HOPE WITH WATERCOLOR PENCILS By R.L.Huffstutter

IT HAPPENED THAT I BECAME UNHAPPY WITH MY WATERCOLORS. THE OLD METAL BOX AND THE TUBES JUST DIDN'T DO IT FOR ME. RATHER, I DIDN'T DO IT FOR THE WATERCOLORS. I MIGHT AS WELL HAVE BEEN PAINTING ON BROWN PAPER SACKS. THERE WAS NO BRILLIANCE IN MY WORK. MAYBE THERE NEVER WAS, BUT HAVING VIEWED SO MANY FANTASTIC WATERCOLORS ON FLICKR PHOTOSTREAMS, I KNEW THAT I HAD SOME WORK TO DO. I HAD HEARD THAT WATERCOLOR PENCILS MADE THE EFFORTS REWARDING. I HAD BEEN TOLD THAT THERE WAS A LOT LESS SMUDGES AND PUDDLES TO CONTEND WITH WHEN WORKING WITH WATERCOLOR PENCILS.

IT WAS, I REALIZED, A SIMPLE LACK OF TALENT. NOT ENOUGH EDUCATION IN ART. I KNEW I SHOULD HAVE GONE TO THE ART INSTITUTE INSTEAD OF JOURNEYING OFF TO THE WEST COAST. TO HELL WITH IT. I HAD FUN.

I HAD HEARD ABOUT WATERCOLOR PENCILS. SEVERAL OF MY ONLINE FRIENDS TOLD ME TO TRY THEM. I DID. I LIKED THE NO MESS EFFECT. THE NEED TO RUSH AROUND WAS GONE. THERE REMAINS A CHOICE WITH WC PENCILS: YOU CAN WET THE LINES AND COLORS AS YOU GO, WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE FINISHED--OR FORGET THE WATER AND CALL IT A SKETCH.

THE FLEXIBILITY IS FANTASTIC. FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO PAINT AND SKETCH OUTDOORS, THE PENCILS WORK PEFECTLY. WHEN I AM IN THE MOOD TO SKETCH OUTDOORS WHERE IT IS WARM, I TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY. IN THE SUMMERS IN THE MIDWEST, I CAN SETTLE ON THE DECK AND PAINT FOR HOURS, GIVING THE GRANDCHILDREN A FEW LESSONS WHEN THEY TIRE OF THEIR FREINDS OR FIND THAT THEY ARE BORED. WHEN I NEED TO GET AWAY FROM THE MIDWESTERN WINTERS, THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AS FLEXIBLE AS THE LOCATION.

THE VENICE AND SANTA MONICA AREA HAVE BECOME A BIT TOO CONGESTED FOR MY IDEA OF PLEIN AIR PAINTING. MY CREATIVE MOOD SUFFERS IF I AM SURROUNDED BY TOO MUCH NOISE AND TOO MUCH CONCENTRATED SEMI-NUDITY ALL AT ONE TIME.

THE SOUTH BAY AREA IS A BIT MORE CONSERVATIVE; THE LAGUNA AREA IS PERFECT BECAUSE NEARLY EVERYONE IS AN ARTIST OR CLAIMS TO BE. SO, I FEEL REAL COMFORTABLE IN AND AROUND LAGUNA, BUT THE PROBLEM THERE IS THAT IT BEGINS TO LOOK ALL THE SAME: THE PERFECT BEACHS, PERFECT EVERYTHING. THAT GETS A BIT TIRING TOO. THE CASE FOR WC PENCILS IS THE BRIEF SPACE IT TAKES TO GO PLEIN AIR PAINTING. A CANVAS GROCERY BAG WILL HOLD ALL I NEED, INCLUDING A FEW CANS OF REFRESHMENTS.

OFF ON ANOTHER WATERCOLOR ADVENTURE DOWN THE COAST WHERE THE PARKING IS NO PROBLEM IN CONTRAST TO THE SANTA MONICA MESS. SOUTH OF LAGUNA, THE BEACHES ARE FAIRLY DESERTED FOR THE MOST PART AND THE AREA OFFERS A CHOICE OF TERRAIN. I AM NOT ONE TO SET UP AN EASEL AND THE WHOLE ARTIST BIT; I WOULD RATHER LEAN AGAINST A RAILING ON A PIER AND SKETCH WHATEVER APPEALS TO MY EYES AT THE TIME.

JUST BEING OUT ON THE BEACH IS A JOY; SKETCHING OR SHOOTING PHOTOS IS THE BONUS. AGE DOESN'T REALLY MATTER SINCE I AM NOT JOGGING OR IN A BODY MEET. IF A GULL LANDS CLOSE BY, I'LL TREAT IT TO A FEW BITS OF BREAD. IF I CAN GET SOME GOOD SKETCHES OR A FEW GOOD PHOTOS, GREAT. NOT BEING ONE TO DWELL ON PERSONAL SCENES, I MISS A LOT OF ROMANTIC SCENES, BUT PRIVACY IS A RIGHT. IF THERE'S A COUPLE WHO WALKS BY, I MIGHT PUT THEM IN THE PICTURE LATER.

TO CONCLUDE, WATERCOLOR PENCILS WORK WELL; THEY ARE EASY TO CARRY AND THERE'S NO WATER TO SPILL OR WIPE AWAY IF YOU SPILL IT. JUST MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SOME SHARPENERS, THE BETTER QUALITY THE BETTER OFF YOU WILL BE. THE CHEAP ONES CHEW THE PENCILS UP IN NO TIME. SEE YOU SOUTH OF LAGUNA OR SOMEWHERE ON ANNA MARIA ISLAND SOMETIME.