We took little 4-day break and drove to Jasper this weekend. The first day was not quite what we expected, as we got turned around at the gates to the park because of wildfires burning near the highway. We spent a very luxurious night in Banff, then got an early start back on the road north to Jasper. The wildfires were temporarily contained, so we were able to make it through in time to spend an afternoon rafting down the Athabasca River – a welcome respite from 35° heat!
Because of numerous forest fires burning in the area, smoke sometimes obscured the gorgeous mountain ranges all around us. On our drive back yesterday, I tried to sketch the mountains, but smoke had turned them into hazy silhouettes, erasing the fascinating details. So, I sketched the silhouettes:

©2014 Jennifer Georgeadis. 29cm x 24cm, graphite on sketchbook paper

Detail study from a colourful marsh near Peggy's Cove:

©2014 Jennifer Georgeadis. 20cm x 15cm, pastel pencils on toned sketchbook paper

I'm imagining how cool this spot on the Chester harbour would be as I sit in my extremely warm home tonight...

©2014 Jennifer Georgeadis. 20cm x 14cm, watercolour on sketchbook paper

I started this painting of Peggy's Cove village on Friday, but I didn't get beyond the sketch. Today I finished the colour:

©2014 Jennifer Georgeadis. 20cm x 15cm, watercolour on sketchbook paper

This is probably the last practice drawing of rocks that I'll do – for a while, anyway! This one was the trickiest so far. I find it quite difficult sometimes to properly describe the angles and planes of the rock's surface. But, that's what practice is for. There may be more rock sketches cropping up here from time to time!

©2014 Jennifer Georgeadis. 15cm x 15cm, graphite on sketchbook paper

Another afternoon of rock-drawing practice:

©2014 Jennifer Georgeadis. 19cm x 12cm, graphite on sketchbook paper

I'm always trying to improve my skills in sketching rocks, so that was the task today:

©2014 Jennifer Georgeadis. 14cm x 14cm, graphite on sketchbook paper

This was one of many spectacular views from the Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park on the Siksika Indian reserve here in Alberta:

©2014 Jennifer Georgeadis. 20cm x 16cm, graphite on toned sketchbook paper

I've had a lot of fun painting clouds for a variety of acrylic paintings in the past. Today I was trying out different tools for painting clouds digitally:

©2014 Jennifer Georgeadis. 5cm x 2cm, digital oils on gessoed canvas

With the disastrous Northern Gateway pipeline decision recently, I've been feeling rather protective about the natural beauty of my home, and truly thankful for all that hasn't yet been destroyed. In that spirit, this is a photo from yesterday's trip out to Banff and our visit to Tunnel Mountain:

©2014 Jennifer Georgeadis. Photo courtesy of Demetrios Georgeadis