19 replies to this topic

[Aquarellia]

I’m just back from a little astronomical voyage in the nice surrounding area in the north of my home village. 

I just want to share here that experience with you.

The first part of this little voyage was to go to the village of Mons.  From there, weather permitting, 750m up the sea level, we can observe the mountains of Corsica. 

 

Here the view of the village sketched from our B&B terrace during the breakfast

 

Once a year, to offer to the public a dark night, the municipality turns off the lights of the village. 

 

suite ==>

[Aquarellia]

The second part was near Clamensane, a very small village (150 inhabitants) where the ACF - (Astro Club de France) organize a national event, 3 full  weeks once a year.  Here as well there’s no light polution from the village.

 

Here a view of two Dobsons on the field.  I saw some common DSO objects, mainly in the 25” Obsession (a real whawwww scope) of Jean-Bernard, a friend of mine.  This giant dobson is here to the left.

 

during the colimation period, we saw a nice shootingstar

 

here follows the three “stars” of this period, however only one is a star but a “new” one.

 

The comet 21P Giacobini Zinner

 

The nova Scutum 2018

And last but not least the Mars tempest

 

 

Clear sky to you all,

Michel

 

[iainp]

Fantastic! And I never saw a painting of a big dob before! 

Iain 

[frank5817]

Michel,

 

These watercolors are just fantastic.

So glad to hear of your great trip to the Alps.

The observing and enjoyable times must have

been very energizing.

Wonderful that you shared this here.

 

Frank

[niteskystargazer]

Michel

 

Nice watercolor sketches.

 

Good sketch of Mars  .

 

CS,KLU,

 

,

 

Tom

[rerun]

Michel,

 

really amazing watercolor sketches . I have never seen a sketch of an observing scene before.Great with the red lights.

Thank you for sharing with us.

 

clear skies

 

Markus

[Randolph Jay]

Michel, I so love everything in this post, from your beautiful art work to your descriptions.  What a joy to hear of a municipality that turns out the lights for a dark sky night! Thank you so much for sharing this with us here on this forum!

Regards at ciel clair,

Randolph

[Special Ed]

Michel,

 

I love seeing watercolors of your little corner of the world--thanks for sharing your voyage with us.  

Edited by Special Ed, 17 July 2018 - 02:47 PM.

[Aquarellia]

Thank you all for your so kind words. 

Michel

[Uwe Pilz]

Dear Michel, I am fascinated by your watercolor work. Did you additional use chines ink? How do you sketch this in the filed? Do you use an easel?

[Aquarellia]

Dear Michel, I am fascinated by your watercolor work. Did you additional use chines ink? How do you sketch this in the filed? Do you use an easel?

Hi dear Uwe
Thank you for your sympathetic question.
Yes I use china ink to finish some quick sketches, but never an easel.  An easel is not helpfull for watercolor work because the inclinasion of the paper must follows the direction of the water holding the pigment, in other words the position of the paper while drying must change.
During this session on the French Alps I did a conference on "astronomical watercolor".  The night after some people wants to see me sketching on the field.  

This photo shows a part of the group looking at the material that I use.  Just a table, a sketchbook that I made with good watercolor papers and a few other classical items, such as a special china ink brush coming from Japan.

You can see the first sketch of this post during composition.

Making a sketch in public is also an experience 

 

Michel

Edited by Aquarellia, 31 July 2018 - 07:06 AM.

[Special Ed]

Nice pic!  Good to see the astrosketcher at work.     

 

"Making a sketch in public is also an experience"

 

True that--I have a really hard time sketching with anyone around.  I think it speaks to the concentration we fall into when sketching an observation.

[NMTECH1]

What a wonderful post.  I love that your traveling to small villages in France for special observing nights, awesome.  Beautiful sketches especially the second with the public area and scopes.  Thank you for sharing.  

[Aquarellia]

What a wonderful post.  I love that your traveling to small villages in France for special observing nights, awesome.  Beautiful sketches especially the second with the public area and scopes.  Thank you for sharing.  

Thank you a lot for your kind message !

Michel

[Mark Radice]

Lovely post Michel and beautiful art work.

[Aquarellia]

Thank you Mark

Michel

[Susan H]

Michel, your work is always amazing! I really enjoy it. Thanks for sharing. As always clear skies. 

[Aquarellia]

Thank you Susan!
Michel

[Marty0750]

Michel

 

In an age of obsession with expensive astro-consumer equipment and star parties all to often populated with cameras piping telescope views to computer screens glowing in the dark, it is refreshing to see enchanting paintings and sketches expressing the human experience of being out under the night sky.

 

Martin

[frank5817]

Fantastic work  Michel,
You are truly an Artist.
I know two other astronomical water color sketchers. This is a most difficult way to generate astronomical renderings in my opinion. But they are always beautiful.
I find that I cannot talk while I sketch but I can listen to others.

Frank