1 day short - Zermatt

Learned that even an impossibly tight schedule allows for some relaxing downtime with my sketchbook. And it is always better to bring the supplies and deal with the added weight, than to regret not bringing them when time and location present themselves!

Anyway, time and location presented me afternoon in Zermatt with a mild sunlight and cool -4C weather. No need for vodka in water, no need for gloves, just need a quick hand to finish stuff up before my fingers freeze. For that purpose, I was uncharacteristically rude to a fellow Asian tourist lady who was trying to start some small talk with me about my paint supplies. I just said, sorry but I really need to warp this piece up as fast as possible. 

I decided to do the same chuch again, from a different side, this time with the snowy hills in shadow. The humidity was perfect and allowed for ample working time. I was standing in the ground of the local Mountaineer's cemetery and out of the way of the main tourist flow. I kept on hearing some distant chattering from somewhere behind me but didn't pay much attention...turns out the perfect viewing point of the Matterhorn was only a few steps away...and I must have looked really odd standing with my back to it the whole time...there were also frequent booms from controlled avalanches...still scared me a little even after I realized what they were.

Did a quick one here, with the peak of the Matterhorn disappears in and out of clouds. It was almost like there was a cloud machine hiding below the peaks on the right. I would like to spend more time on this, but my colleague was waiting and my fingers are starting to lose feelings (and nose starting to get runny) so I kept to the most basic colours and trotted back to the cozy hotel to defrost! (I almost had a panic attack on the way back when I couldn't find my wallet in my jacket pocket! turns out I put it into my big black-hole-messenger bag earlier and totally forgot...all was well)

Since I was exactly at the last page of a sketchbook, I decided to finish it off at the end of the trip. The weather was absolutely dreadful at Zurich and I was exhausted after a 5am start (followed by a 3.5 hr drive) So I decided to stay in the airport and wait for my flight home in 6 hrs. I ate lunch (and devoured an orange from the hotel), took a nap, charged my phone, then found a Air Baltic plane surrounded by action to sketch. 

Thanks to Malaga and Lake Como, this sketchbook barely lasted 2 months. A new record!

Lots of snow, plenty of clouds: Donner Pass and the Sierra Nevada

After coming back from the 2-week work trip in Asia, I joined a small group of artists on their annual retreat at Donner Lake the following weekend. Since I already told my boss that I'm ready to leave my job, the trip was also a rare chance that I need not to think anything about work, which was on top of my mind since the beginning of the year.

I thought I left early enough on Friday afternoon, heading east towards Lake Tahoe, and boy was I wrong. I hit 5+ min solid traffic jams in at least 3 places heading out of the Bay Area, the worst of which was Walnut Creek, followed closely by Vacaville and Sacramento. At first I was driving hoping to catch dinner, after clearing Sacramento all I was hoping for was to reach my destination before nightfall. I grabbed a quick bite to eat in Auburn (quaint little town, but somehow the proprietor of the only Chinese restaurant in town refused to speak Chinese with me...) and barely managed to get there before the last light disappears. (A wise decision because the parking lot does not have lighting, neither does the uphill trail leading to the lodge) The lodge itself was nice and cozy. Despite the initial crisis of finding out the staff forgot to leave my key out, I settled in smoothly. The ancient heating system produces a thundering noise overhead, but heck I lived across from the I-280 for 2 years, so after a little getting used to the rhythm and I fell right asleep.

The next day was packed with unusual sceneries to admire. The old train sheds ran miles along the mountain. It was difficult to find my footing inside the dark (and wet) tunnels, but exploring it without artificial light and simply letting the eyes slowly adjust definitely felt like the right way to do it!

It was overcast most of the morning, and the sun just barely poked through the clouds close to lunch time. I quickly put the shadows on the cliffs in place before the sun disappears again (unfortunately along with its fleeting warmth)

Back in the cabin after dinner, I decided to give my newly bought casein a proper trial (I blended some in the first painting, but didn't go far with it) Unlike my normal sessions that are usually subjected to weather and constantly changing lighting conditions, drawing an indoor scene gave me much more freedom in spending as long as I wanted on a certain detail. Even more so that it is with opaque paint, because I'm often able to go back and paint over areas that I'm not happy with. Also the room was warm and cozy so why not take my time?

Another casein-dominated piece done while sitting next to the train track. A train actually came along and I waved back on the passengers. (Since it is a rare passenger amtrak train, I assume it is California Zephyr?)

A final one before heading back to the Bay. I wanted to do one with the classic lake-mountain-reflection and this tiny pond is located conveniently next to a parking strip.

And yes, I do need more hiking practice to aspire to be an artist.