Another day at the National Zoo. This is Kiko, a 23 year old orangutan. The Zoo has a series of 45 foot (~15 m) high ropes so that the orangutans can roam about.

Something a bit different: an illuminated poem by Tennyson. Schminke Calligrapher’s gouache for the color. Yasutumo watercolor for the dropped capital. The text is insular minuscule and uses Noodler’s ink. Normally I love their ink but this both bled and smeared when you touched it.

Apparently it’s Fall now. Oak leaves picked up during a walk.

Moai (Aka Easter Island Head) at Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. He’s right behind the guards who perfunctorily check your bag.

Quick San Antonio mini sketch (2.5′ x 4.5″) while at a conference. This is along the excellent Riverwalk. Water soluble graphite.

Images from the National Zoo in Washington, DC. Watercolor and watersoluble graphite in a new mini (7 x 11 cm^2) Moleskine I made for myself with Strathmore Imperial 500 paper (hence the black thread). The smaller size forces me to be quick. The prairie dog gave me ca. 15 seconds before ducking back into his hole. The Reptile building was a bit stiller…

A sketch from earlier this spring of a fallen tree along Pohick Stream near my house. My twin boys and I stopped for a snack. I sketched this while they sunk leaves floating down the stream.

More orchids! Watersoluble graphite pencil and waterbrush. One day I’ll find the time to leave the house and paint outside. For now, I’m happy the orchids provide a bit of a challenge and are amenable to the technique.

The jpeg compression lost the granulation that I really like with this technique so I may post a detail of the flowers tomorrow

Orchid in front of dark window. Water-soluble graphite pencil. I’m finally becoming happy with the larger area washes using just the graphite and waterbrush.

Poinsettias and vase at the National Botanical Gardens in DC at Christmas. Pencil and Primatek watercolors.