Sugar Ridge Hay Bales

By this point it had been some time since I last made art, and the stress was piling up. Back in Texas I was working nonstop in the chemistry lab. My feet ached from standing all day, I was skipping meals, and my experiments were still failing despite years of effort. I kept pushing through, making things work, but only with significant sacrifices. My defense was scheduled for June 13, and there was little time left to complete the most important experiment of my degree. It felt like the calm before the storm, with everything about to reach a breaking point.

I knew I needed one day to step away. Pride and Prejudice was being rereleased for its twentieth anniversary, and I had planned to see it in theaters. Tickets in College Station had sold out, so my partner and I drove to Ennis instead. On the way we stopped at one of my favorite spots to see the bluebonnets, which were in bloom. Time was short, but I managed a quick twenty minute sketch of the hay bales and the field around them. Even on an overcast day, the view felt peaceful. I never regretted taking that break. It turned out to be the best day I had had in a long time.

Micron pen and watercolor on paper. About 20-30 min. sketch.