The past few days I have been working on a commission. I've been spending time near the ocean to create a measurements piece that will be installed at a beach house. Being near the ocean in late september and early October is very informative. The weather conditions can be incredibly different from morning through evening and from one day to the next.

These are two images I took on two consecutive days. There was also a day where the fog was thick right through noon. I experienced so many states of light and texture so close to where the land touches the ocean.

This past week I spent some time on a barrier island listening to what the sand, sea, and sky had to say.

I've been commissioned to create a piece for a beach house. I'm planninga couple of sketch trips to capture some rhythms and a color samples that will be used in the drawing. The feeling of late summer was in the air everywhere I went.

Took this little snap on my visit.

Looking forward to my additional trips.

I was organizing in my studio and came across three drawings I made a couple years back at the Jersey shore. I often go to the ocean to make drawings. I love sitting on the boardwalk or even in the car if it is raining and making marks that feel like that moment. I often create a series of glphs or make repetitive lines that define the consition of water or grasses, sand or sky. These drawings reminded me that I hadn't made any plein air in several months. I need to get outside and to look and listen to the rhythm of my surroundings.

Today I packed up my sketchbook, pens, and colored pencils to draw at the shore. There was a strong wind off the ocean all day. The sky and ocean were so dramatic. I only made one drawing but took about a dozen of so photographs. I was much more interested being in the moment instead of drawing — I absorbed every ounce of the moment that I could.

A quick capture of my road kit.

I carry several sketchbooks. Three Molekines, one for ink drawings, a watercolor book, and a journal. Last but not least a Fabriano with multiple color sheets.

I like having the aqueous pencils on the road gives me lots of options. I can use one of my nifty Japanese nylon water color brushes to blend color or I can leave them alone.

This time along I brought a new India Ink brush marker. Love it. It helped me keep my little sketches very loose.

Back in the studio — finally.  It was a most excellent day of drawing on Sunday. I lit the incense, put on my ipod, and drew almost nonstop for five hours.

Stepping back into the groove with a limited vocabulary, ink drawings and iconic marks, made it easy to lose track of everything else but the memories of the ocean. I could taste the salt and feel the breeze blowing off the water. My mind was empty and the drawings came.

I was able to complete four drawings. Here's one.