Armand Bayou Nature Center

The Group

This month we had a great turnout for our trip to Armand Bayou Nature Center.  The center is a 2500 acre preserve in the Clear Lake area south of Houston. We welcomed one out-of-town visitor and several new sketchers. It's always nice to see new people.

Luckily, we were there on the weekend that the Houston Area Blacksmiths Association was having their get-together at the Martyn Farm. The Martyn farm reproduces farm life in early Gulf coast Texas. It includes a forge. This drew the majority of the sketchers as it was fun watching young people learned the skills of blacksmithing. You can see Martha's sketch of this scene in the blog header.

Joel's sketch

Her dad, Joel, also set up across the road and took in the wide perspective. 

Amy's sketch

New sketcher, Amy, zeroed right in on the people and the action.

Susan DeCourcy

Susan also sketched the broader view, but she points out that she managed to sketch the sketchers. That's Joel and Martha at the bottom right.

Robert James

Robert originally thought he'd sketch the same scene, but he was drawn back to the buffalo enclosure where he struck up a conversation with this big fellow.

Jason's sketch

Our visitor from San Jose, Jason, found a tranquil spot along Armand Bayou to do this watercolor.

Chris

I was determined to draw people. I started out with the sketch at the left of the smith working on his piece. But I remembered a quiet spot near the bayou from a previous visit. I set off down one of the trails and soon found myself in the woods. A black cloud of mosquitos descended. The mosquito repellant didn't phase them. Quickly, I took shelter in the interpretive center to rethink my plan. There was a platform nearby overlooking an algae-covered pond and a hungry heron.  Just maybe....But as soon as I settled to sketch the mosquitos were back. I took some essential photos and finished my work in the interpretive center. Sometimes you have to go with Plan B.

Carlos

Back at the forge, Carlos did a lovely watercolor of the men at work.

Michael

Michael used gouache to capture the smoke rising from the fires.

Linda's sketch

Linda liked the water tank and windmill which are part of the Martyn Farm complex.

Finally, we gathered for the throwdown.

the throwdown

It was very hot by the end of the morning and we were glad to find a cool lunch spot.

Next month we will be sketching indoors at the Menil Museum. Join us!