Sketchbook School Assignment

I am currently enrolled in Danny Gregory's online Sketchbook School course.  Of course I am quite behind.  Currently everyone is in session 4 and well I am posting part of week's one assignment.  There are many things I haven't drawn before, and yes toast is one of those things.  I actually had to try "creating" actual toast twice as the first one I burnt quite badly.  I could have used it but thought all I would create would be a black mass.  Lots of intricate shapes to see.  A while back I purchased this sketchbook and the only thing it is good for is just pen and ink.  I did try pencils and the shading experience was quite frustrating.  Some people collect shoes, well I just happen to be a sketchbookaholic.  I buy sketchbooks.    I was sorting through my studio a little while ago and happened to organize four bins of sketchbooks.  More unused.  I guess when I purchase them, I do have good intentions but then I don't like the paper and try something else.....well er um....I have given away several which I just can't stand and will either use up the rest or just donate somewhere.  Due to the frustrating experiences with paper, I have made my own and I will post that soon.

 I used a Lamy pen with just brown/black watercolours.  I like drawing with a lamy pen.  However the only frustrating experience is the ink smudges.  It is good to use in conjunction with watercolours.  Here my experience was on a Stillman and Birn cold pressed 140 pound book.  Mixed feelings about this sketchbook but I will continue onwards.  I know many people like them.

This one, is done in the sketchbook I made with a combination of Fabriano cold/hot and arches cold/hot paper.  Attempting to mix primary/secondary colours to make an optical brown but the the above with the blue gives the effect of mould declaring its rights to the bread territory.  Ahh learning is so much fun!

Coloured Pencil Sketch

This apricot coloured pencil sketch is completely from life.  I spent most of last Sunday (five hours) and part of Monday morning working on it.  Truthfully speaking it is not even close to the original picture.  The scanned image above is more red and on the original more blue from the shadow is on the side of the apricot.  It was a good experience to try coloured pencils for sketching but it takes too long for my sketching purposes.  My favourite sketching medium is pen and ink.  Although I do experiment from time to time, I tend to gravitate towards what feels comfortable and those mediums just mentioned work extremely well in the time frame that I have to sketch with.
Today is a gorgeous day outside and although I will be working somewhat inside, I intend to go outside and try a new sketchbook out using pen and ink with watercolour.  I may even post it if it turns out ok.

Pen and Ink Nature Sketches

This morning before I went to work, I sat outside this chilly morning while the sun was attempting to warm the earth, to sketch nature.  I am finding bark quite fascinating as each one is quite unique in its appearance.  The extended tree branch sketch above was affected by the elements as parts of its bark on this branch is missing and there were a couple of holes made by the famous woodpecker.  I unfortunately was bitten by a menacing ant who crawled up my leg during my sketching experience.  Bugs really!  Well tis the season.

HBM.IMY.

From the Past

For the past couple of days, I have frequented the local historical museum.  Generally speaking, I have an annual pass and love to sit there after hours surrounded by trees, birds, and what not to be alone in this place and sketch without someone standing over my shoulder.  The old truck above was found abandoned on a hill, full of rust and character. Slipping into the grounds before closing, I brought my chair and went to the abandoned place to sketch the scene before me. Drawing a circle in perspective and accurate with a pen, at this point for me at least, is challenging but something that I am determined to get correct. It was a lovely evening as the gentle sun extended its rays across the historical site.

The previous day, Friday, I went to sketch the tractor.  I had tried it once during peak hours but too many people on location and too difficult to focus while drawing. After hours it is pleasant and somewhat quite. I tried a soluble pen by Staedtler, similar to the tom bow pens and tried to work fast as the light was changing over head.  Both sketches were done on Stillman and Birn's book.  One is the pen and ink sketchbook and the other is the Beta series.

A Variation of Themes

Last week, while trying to sketch an onion from life, I was frustrated beyond belief.  Frankly my onion renditions sucked! On Friday, I went to an art store and purchased a dipped pen by speedball and tried once again. Much better than what I was using last week and decided to post what I just completed yesterday. I still have much room for improvement but at least I am on the right track.

Since it was rainy yesterday, I decided to spend my morning at the local museum sketching birds.  Here I brought the Stillman and Birn's ink sketchbook and like how ink flows on top.  I am still grappling with sketching out in public as sometimes spectators stand over my shoulders and look.  So I close my sketchbook and wait until they leave.

I have also been trying out exercises in Bert Dobson's book and was having a hard time with eyes from life.  So I photographed the above eyes and practiced drawing them from a photo and finally the cat sketch is just what I finished a couple of minutes ago and thought to post it to share.  Regardless of sleeping, she does not hold still very long.

Every Day Matters 3-Drawing the Purse

Recently, while going through my stuff to do some spring cleaning (well perhaps now it will be soon summer cleaning), I realized how much I am a sketchbookaholic.  I actually have bins and bins of blank sketchbooks.  Truth be told, I am searching for the "right one", yet never find it. The results, accumulated blank books that are sitting there and are not used.  So I decided to use up what I have despite the results.  After all, I am learning to transcribe what I see from real life onto a piece of paper. I am learning to see, coordinate my eyes and hands and draw from life. Isn't life experiences the best type of teacher around? At this point who cares if I don't have in possession the perfect sketchbook and not get the results I am seeking.

 Some papers I can tell are way better than others and affect my results.  The first two sketches above, are done on a cream sketchbook by Canson.  It only accepts pen and ink.  Washes are a horrendous experience.  The last one, is a generic brand of sketchbook where I used ink and wash.  Truthfully I can't get it to do the kind of wash that I was hoping to. Oh well-I am stuck until this sketchbook is finished-(only 79 pageish to go!) On my left side, where the strap of the purse is darker, I actually put in ink with a brush.

With the first one, I used a brown pen to draw the purse and the second one was with a dipped pen that I purchased at a store called Lee Valley.

I am so inspired by Danny Gregory that I have decided to get back to exploring the topics from Every Day Matters. I have decided to try to do them with pen and ink (and/or ink and wash) before I do them in colour.  I am also taking myself through a book by Bert Dobson entitled "Keys to Drawing"  The key thing for me is drawing from life.  In future, I will be posting my results from Jane Lafazio's and Laure Ferlita's classes as I have just completed both.

Baking Powder

I am doing two types of food journals.  One of them is with basic food and this one will be going through Betty Crocker's cook book. Over twelve years ago, her cookbook was given to me from one employer as a going away present.  Intermittently or shall I say rarely I created the recipes inside this wonderful cookbook.  I would like to develop my culinary skills-twelve years later-and learn as much about food, preparing and of course cooking.  I picked baking/cooking ingredients to start off with simply because it was more interesting.  Who knows what will happen if I complete the entire cookbook.