Snow on Old Hackberry

Today finds me painting the second largest hackberry in our winter wonderland!  Relatively close to the house on this cold 11 degree afternoon, I took a warm up break in the middle.  I made the mistake of taking off my painting hand glove briefly, and those fingers got cold fast.  When it is this cold, it is so important to layer up, including a neoprene layer.  I keep a sherpa scarf over my face, reducing skin exposure, ending with a heavy  hooded down coat and tall rubber boots.  I don't like painting with a glove on my paint hand, but I have to when it's this cold.  I'm looking for good neoprene gloves for just this.  My fleece lined leather gloves are fine for a while, but don't keep my fingers warm towards the end.  I know that if they start to tingle, it is time to warm them up!  Painting number 2954 in 2954 days 

Hackberry

Oh my! What a bitter north wind for today's pen and ink drawing!  Keeping my back to the wind, I was somewhat protected as I sketched.  Starting with ink, I thought several times of adding watercolor.  Still unsure at the end, I decided to do another with ink and watercolor.  I love the nostalgia of ink alone, especially for such an ancient tree as it lends a timelessness to the scene.  Using my favorite TWSBI Diamond mini fountain pen loaded with Levenger's Raven Black ink, I draw the sketchy lines that fill out the composition. Using a water brush pen, I coax those mid-tones to life, and add a few more touches of ink at the end. My working hand is very cold and my fingertips are stinging by the time I finish - I should have worn my fingerless glove with a hand warmer inside!  Painting number 2945 in 2945 days and day 31 of the #stradaeasel challenge!  Hooray!