Washington D.C. Capitol Watercolor

Illustration: “U.S. Capitol,” Watercolor and pen-and-ink on Arches CP paper approx 14″ x 9″ by Black Elephant Blog author (2018)

In July, tourists of many nationalities visit Washington, D.C.  On a short walk, one can hear Polish, Spanish, Chinese and other languages.  The nation’s capitol is a visitor-friendly place, with lots of sights within easy walking distance of each other, great restaurants, and good transportation.  Plus, lately, the weather’s been great too, making it fun for locals to join in the admiration of this beautiful city.  On such an outing today, I encountered a few very forward squirrels, who apparently wanted a closer look to make sure my paints were not edible.

Beach Scene

Our week at the beach has been lovely, with clear sunny skies, and a breeze to keep things cool.  But soon it’s time to pack up and head home, so all the family is making the most of the beach, gazing at the water, and enjoying the sound of the waves.

Illustration: “Cheers,” Watercolor on Arches rough paper (approx. 10″ x 7″) by Black Elephant Blog author (2018)

Lazy Days in Duck, N.C.

The week after the holiday week is proving to be a quiet one here in the Outer Banks.  People are enjoying the beautiful weather–breezy and sunny without humidity–by biking, going to the beach, or walking on the boardwalk on the sound side.  It’s been great to paint the scene below from a spot on the boardwalk in the shade of a tree conveniently located behind a popular pizza joint playing music from the ’80s and 90s: with a perfect breeze and a gorgeous scene, it’s obvious you can’t ask for anything more than this!  The tide is low and the kayakers setting out right below this promenade have to drag their kayaks across some muddy banks and reeds before being able to float.

Illustration: “Currituck Sound”, Watercolor and gouache on Arches CP watercolor paper by Black Elephant Blog (2018)