Canaan Valley Sketches

I’m flying off to California tomorrow to teach my “Sketch Your Life” workshop at the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society, but before I go, I wanted to share a few of the sketches/paintings I did last week at Canaan Valley, West Virginia.

My friend Jane has a house that’s just a few miles from Canaan Valley State Park, and she invited some friends to visit and enjoy a few days of creative fun. The weather was wonderfully warm, and we were outside in the sunshine for hours each day. It felt so good, like winter was finally and truly gone.

The first day, we sketched along the Blackwater River. Last time I was there, I painted a river view (see a step-by-step tutorial of that sketch here) but this time I decided to draw a puzzling area of cobblestone-like rocks on the forest floor.  We all hypothesized about what they might be or what the geological explanation was for them, but in the end we decided we really needed to stop at the state park office some day to inquire about them. Any ideas?

Ink & watercolor in a Khadi 4.75" x 6" sketchbook with 140 lb. ivory paper
Sketching with my pals

The next day, I pulled out my oil paints in the morning and did this little 8″ x 8″ study from a painting by Mo Teeuw. I haven’t painted in oils for awhile and was feeling rusty, so it was nice to just play around and copy something that I liked. It still needs a bit of work, but I learned a lot by doing it.

That afternoon, we drove to Blackwater Falls State Park and walked the Elakala Trail, which winds through the woods…

over mossy rocks, and burbling streams…

to a pretty waterfall…

My friend, Carol, and I perched on our stools at the top of the cliff to sketch, and, because I was a tad nervous about the drop-off to my left, I made sure there were plenty of rhododendron bushes between me and the creek. My legs ached from the tension as I balanced there, anchored among the tree roots.

At one point, my stool suddenly gave way as one of the legs sank a few inches into the soft dirt alongside a root. I couldn’t help but scream! Luckily, it pitched me uphill against a tree, and I didn’t plummet to my death. 

10" x 7", ink and watercolor in a Canson journal

I love to paint, but next time I think I’ll choose a scene that doesn’t require my risking life and limb! 🙂

We enjoyed the full moon while we were there

Gotta run! It’s getting late, and I have an early flight tomorrow morning. I hope you’ll make time to get outdoors, too, this spring and do some sketching. 

Leslie Fehling's signature

14 Comments

  • Nice blog. Your photography is also very nice and your artwork is enjoyable. Thanks for sharing your story. How wonderful to have a friend who lives near a place like that!
    Maybe you can find out more about those giant stepping stones, or cobbles. Pathway for giants?

    Reply
  • The scenery and paintings are just lovely. So what was up with those flat rocks? Now I am curious.

    Reply
  • Your paintings are just beautiful! So glad you didn’t fall when your stool gave way.

    Reply
  • Hi Leslie,
    I really enjoy your posts. I, too, am curious about those strange rocks on the forest floor. I wonder what to google to get more information?
    As a fellow sketcher, I really, really admire your style.
    I’ve taken workshops with Shari Blaukopf, Jean MacKay, and Brenda Swenson, and would LOVE to sketch with and learn from you someday.

    Reply
    • I tried Googling it and saw that there’s a park ranger who does a talk about the geology of Canaan Valley. I’ll bet he has an explanation for the rocks. Maybe next time I’m at the park I’ll inquire about it.
      Sure hope we’ll have a chance to meet in person one day!

      Reply
  • The rocks remind me of ‘The Burren’ in the west of Ireland. (except there are a LOT of trees where you were). It is the strangest looking thing. I was surprised to see something so similar somewhere else in the world!!

    Reply
    • You’re right – I’ve been to the wild, windswept Burren, and it does look similar to the rocks at Canaan. I hadn’t made the connection until you mentioned it. Next time I go to Jane’s house, I’m going to make a point of finding out what the story is with those rocks.

      Reply
  • Leslie! Thank you sooo very much for sending the sketches of Canaan!!! They are absolutely stunning!!! Have a good trip to California!!! Saw your Mamma this morning over at Sew Together!!! She is always a delight!!!

    Most Sincerely, Nancy Hoffman

    Reply
  • My first visit to your site. Loved it.
    I have been painting for years. Some things turn out great and of course others not so much.
    Will be following your work now. It is beautiful.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Katherine Ryan
    Edgewater, Fl
    Mkatieryan@gmail.com

    Reply

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I’m Leslie. A painter, teacher, and lover of all things creative. A sketchbook artist who captures everyday life on the pages of my illustrated journals. I love sharing, connecting, and encouraging people to find their creative voice through sketchbook journaling. Read more about me, my art, and my life HERE.

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