I think I will stick with faces for awhile. The #sktchyapp is great motivation and there are so many expressions to choose from. I have always felt that drawing people was somewhat intimidating…so it seems like trying to draw a face a day might be a good way to get over that! Trying to stick with using my ballpoint pen.
I am really loving this new app that I discovered through #sketchbookskool. This is an iPhone app called #sktchy that the users can upload photos to and then anyone can draw them and then upload the drawings. Great way to find some interesting faces and connect with other artist. Drawing faces is a huge challenge for me. I am having fun finding some good expressions. I am going to try and do one a day…that should help me improve!
I am finally getting back to a little #sketchbookskool mini assignment. Quick drawings of dogs. I have a bunch of reference photos sent by friends that I am using to do some “quick” drawings. The Boston Terrier was under 15 minutes–the other one was closer to 30 minutes. I love starting these with no guidelines, just the pen. Forces you to really look and to commit! Super fun to draw dogs! Especially your friends dogs!
Quick study: watercolor and fountain pen
This weekend was super busy. We are planning on a sailing trip over the fourth of July holiday, so lots to do to get ready for. I plan on doing a lot of drawing during this trip…so I am trying not to feel sad that I didn’t get to draw or paint this weekend. Oh, wait, that isn’t entirely true, I just finished this quick sketch which made me late cooking dinner! This was drawn from a photo I took on a Maine island last fourth of July.
Looking forward to a sail in just a few days!
Single Daffodil. 5×7 cradled panel.
Sketch to painting. Imaginary color. Water-soluble crayon over absorbent ground–not sure about that choice. The background laid down very nice, but this is a difficult choice of medium. I think that I will try this one again with Casein. I like the softer background of the tulip, I think prefer a little less chaotic. But, all in all, an interesting experiment. I am working on achieving a series of paintings that will all work together–regardless of the medium chosen.
Fountain pen sketch for painting
Tulips on colored paper.
Quick experimental sketch for email sketchbook skool assignment. Orange colored paper stock with water-soluble crayon a sharpie and white marker. Absolutely something to try again! The colors are so different…not exactly what I was hoping for, but it’s fun to try something new. I really like using the white marker, and I actually picked the sharpie up by accident. Once I started with it however, there was no going back. I had intended to use a water soluble ink pen in order to get some funky shadow. I will have a do-over with that technique.
Really enjoying the extra bonus of sketchbook skool email assignment. What a nice surprise every Sunday to get them. I will tip this in to my ink only journal. #sketchbookskool, #art4all
Pitt Pen, brush style tip
Trying out new materials for my ink only journal. I am trying so hard to play by the rules and not add any color! Using a different style ink pen helps keep me away from the color! The brush pens are a great exploration, such a different feel. Heavier lines, and the ability to fill in more quickly. Next up, using a combination of different pens in one drawing.
Loved drawing my old friend Garth. I miss him all the time, he had a good long life. Nice to remember him with some sketches.
Difficult perspective
Goldfish in imaginary color
My 75 days of Ink only is still proving to be fun and even more educational than I realized. I am using all kinds of different references–my own photos, life drawing, magazines and books. I don’t normally use resources that aren’t my own, but I am just learning after all. I am trying not to take each sketch so seriously.
The fish resource is from a book I found in my studio, I forgot I had it. It’s called Animals 1419 Copyright-Free Illustrations of Mammals, Birds, Fish, Insects, etc. Selected by Jim Harter. It’s AWESOME! That is where the fish came from. They are all black and white. I did a quick sketch of this great fish–the book says its a type of gold fish. Then I thought–this might be fun with some imaginary color. A lot of fun!
I think that the first black and white only sketch is actually nicer, but I felt like adding the color from my imagination was a good experiment, one I will work on improving. I used a water soluble disposable fountain pen and inktense pencils. The water soluble pen offered up some nice surprises.
Goldfish black ink only. Quick sketch.
Pitt Pen size S
I like it–I am enjoying the ink only challenge that I am working on. I feel a little stifled with just the black or blue choice, but I am sticking with it. I have devoted one book to the ink only. This is my next project, devoted sketchbooks. I think that it will be nice to look back at a themed book. So far I have three going:
The book that I chose for the flowers I have been holding onto for a long time. It was a gift from my mother and I have been afraid to touch it it is so pretty. Of course, that is ridiculous. I did a cover/title page, so now It’s mussed up and I can move on to fill the pages.
After the ink journal is done, I might start an animals only journal. This was the last week for #sketchbookskool. As the first class, this was a great experience. I am not as sad to see it end though, mostly because I need to move on to do some finished work. I have plenty of ideas to work on.
black prismacolor drawn in moleskin sketchbook
Black and White. #AJChallenge for today was black and white…I decided to try my acrylic metallic silver as a light wash underpainting and then black prismacolor for the drawing. I have always loved this image that I took of fallen plumeria’s in Hawaii…I think that we were in Maui. Even on the ground these blossoms are so beautiful. We were on our way out and these had fallen under the tree in the parking lot. It was the last photo I took on the island that trip. I think it would be nice to do a graphite piece of this, not sure about the acrylic ground.
Day 13 was a mythological character, I took a stab at a mermaid. Super fun to draw, but not great proportions. The great thing about the challenge is that even if I don’t have the time to do the day justice, it gives me great ideas for the future. Mermaids are a subject I will come back to for sure.
Mermaid: ink pen
Art Projects 