Vickroy: In search of artistic inspiration in the woods

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MVCC art teacher John Howard sets up his easel meadow grass near fallen tree demonstrate his students how work locatiHidden

MVCC art teacher John Howard sets up his easel in a meadow of grass near a fallen tree to demonstrate to his students how to work on location at Hidden Pond Woods in Palos Hills, Illinois, Tuesday May 15, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Students MVCC art teacher John Howard's class walk with sketch pads cameras hfor an inspiring walk through woods Hidden Pond

Students in MVCC art teacher John Howard's class walk with sketch pads and cameras in hand for an inspiring walk through the woods at Hidden Pond Woods in Palos Hills, , Illinois, Tuesday, May 15, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

MVCC art teacher John Howard shows his students how sketch locatiHidden Pond Woods Palos Hills Illinois Tuesday May 15 2012.

MVCC art teacher John Howard shows his students how to sketch on location at Hidden Pond Woods in Palos Hills, Illinois, Tuesday May 15, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

MVCC art teacher John Howard shows his students how use compositivalue tool when sketching or painting locatiHidden Pond Woods Palos

MVCC art teacher John Howard shows his students how to use a composition and value tool when sketching or painting on location at Hidden Pond Woods in Palos Hills, Illinois, Tuesday May 15, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

SonjKlePalos Park sketches locatiwith MVCC art teacher John Howard's class Hidden Pond Woods Palos Hills Illinois Tuesday May 15 2012.

Sonja Klein, of Palos Park, sketches on location with MVCC art teacher John Howard's class at Hidden Pond Woods in Palos Hills, Illinois, Tuesday May 15, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Nan Brummerstedt Burbank Tom Albano Alsip learn how use compositivalue tool locatiwith MVCC art teacher John Howard's class Hidden Pond

Nan Brummerstedt, of Burbank, and Tom Albano, of Alsip, learn how to use a composition and value tool on location with MVCC art teacher John Howard's class at Hidden Pond Woods in Palos Hills, Illinois, Tuesday May 15, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Yvonne Clifford OrlPark looks through compositivalue tool locatiwith MVCC art teacher John Howard's class Hidden Pond Woods Palos Hills Illinois

Yvonne Clifford, of Orland Park, looks through a composition and value tool on location with MVCC art teacher John Howard's class at Hidden Pond Woods in Palos Hills, Illinois, Tuesday May 15, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

MVCC art teacher John Howard creates value sketch locatiwith his students Hidden Pond Woods Palos Hills Illinois Tuesday May 15

MVCC art teacher John Howard creates a value sketch on location with his students at Hidden Pond Woods in Palos Hills, Illinois, Tuesday May 15, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Nan Brummerstedt Burbank gets down grass take picture while locatiwith MVCC art teacher John Howard's class Hidden Pond Woods Palos

Nan Brummerstedt, of Burbank, gets down in the grass to take a picture while on location with MVCC art teacher John Howard's class at Hidden Pond Woods in Palos Hills, Illinois, Tuesday May 15, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Light vs. dark. Sharp edges vs. soft ones. Perspective, balance and much talk of “saving the white.” It’s just after 9 a.m. on a gorgeous morning near Hidden Pond in the Palos division of the Cook County Forest Preserve District. Birds chirp. Lime green caterpillars …