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sketchbook

Ocean Beach line and wash scene

A recent watercolor sketch of the Ocean Beach San Francisco sand dunes, grass, and Marin headlands in the distance. I’ve recently been experimenting with line and wash style sketching. Starting with watercolor I will lay down shapes and introduce some unpredictability that I can build upon using a roll ball pen by adding definition and detail.

In this particular sketch I really like the way the foremost headland takes shape with the blue watercolor — lighter in value on the right with some negative space dry-brush toward the water line. A few subtle pen strokes provide definition to the hillsides. ‘

This is quite a nostalgic view for me, having spent countless mornings, afternoons, and evenings walking over the dunes to check the surf or walk the dog.