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.

Prairie Girl's Food Journey Begins

I was frustrated with the stone paper that I was using for Brenda Swenson's 75 day challenge as my fiber tipped pens were running dry.  Quite a costly experience as a brand new pen was used almost every day.  I was on limbo for quite some time and did sketches here and there but did not post anything until today.  I am highly interested in food-aren't we all-but I love looking at cookbooks.  I have decided to learn more about food and have ordered two new journals from Brenda's Books on line www.brendabooks.com and explore food in her lovely handmade books. I love her hand bound journals which has hot pressed and cold pressed watercolour paper.

Brenda Swenson -Day 1

A new paper and sketchbook have been released into the market-stone paper. This paper does not use paper, paper byproducts or bleach. I received a sample some time ago and did a sketch with walnut ink and liked the effect. I have dedicated this entire sketchbook to do pen and ink for Brenda Swenon's 75 day challenge. I used brown and black pens to sketch the wooden shoe.

Every Day Matters #2-draw and lamp

I scanned this image in and because of the size of the sketchbook, it barely fits the scanner. I am learning so much in the last few days of my sketching experiences and I can feel my skills becoming stronger every day. As my yoga instructor who tells our class every day: "Practice, Practice, Practice and all is coming." Although I just started yoga once again, which I have been doing steadily since June, my body is slowly getting the strength and flexibility to do the poses. My yoga experience and journey is just a reminder that over time, my drawing skills, and observational skills are improving.

Every Day Matters#1 Draw a Shoe Ink and watercolour

It has been awhile since I have used watercolour with my sketches. I feel as though I have lost my mojo. I also am not sure if it is the paper from the sketchbook that I am using. I generally use hot or cold pressed 140 pound and I have decided to try out the Ink and Wash (watercolour) in a Nature sketchbook. I find that every paper has a different personality and it takes some time to adjust. Well this is it for runners. Tomorrow I will start Brenda Swenson's 75 day challenge and if I have time, I will do another sketch with pen and ink for Every Day Matters.

Every Day Matters#1 Draw a Shoe

Here is my first project for Every Day Matters. I have decided to dedicate one sketchbook for pen and ink and another sketchbook for ink and wash. The purpose? The pen and ink will focus on values, hatching and cross hatching effects and the ink and wash will focus on colour. I was very nervous when drawing this one because it was the running shoe that counts. There was no going back and no more practicing. Tomorrow I will be doing the final running shoe with watercolour and then I will do the challenges weekly while drawing every day for seventy five days for Brenda Swenson's challenge. The only thing with her challenge is that I will be doing in conjunction with pen contour drawings, shading with walnut ink or india ink. I have tried a new sketchbook for this one which is on stone paper. I am excited to start on Monday.

Runners

Yesterday I finished an entire sketchbook filled with drawings of running shoes. I really don't know what compelled me to do an entire book but I think it was due to the fact that I had a strong desire to improve my drawing skills. The sad thing is that as of 2008, I really wanted to participate with Every Day Matters group but did not have the confidence to show my work. How crazy is that? Last year in October, I began drawing a running shoe every day and by Christmas I could see my drawing skills improving. The funny thing is that I stopped drawing them after Christmas and my cat became sick thus postponing the completion that particular sketchbook. I began earnestly in September and was determined to finish before Christmas this time. When I closed this book, I was somewhat sad as I did complete my goal and now my morning ritual will be something else. I am highly determined to continue practicing drawing from life. It is an addiction with me as I absolutely love the challenge. I have completed today my first drawing for Every Day Matters as I have turned over a new leaf and opened up a new sketchbook. The other one will now be put away in storage and looked upon in the future as a testament to show my determination and perseverance.

Shared Memories

This sketch was done immediately after the previous one. I had already prepared the page and Minou sat on my lap for some time. I was able to create two sketches in this pose. One on with a white background and the other on the prepared surface. I will remember our times together as she was with me since the day that she was born. She has been through alot and I was grateful that she shared parts of my life and created many years of warm memories. In loving memory of Minou born May 9, 1993-April 25, 2011.

Does Time Go On?

A lot has been happening since my last entry. My cat Minou on January 26th had dental surgery and shortly after that, her kidneys started to give out on her. On April 1st she was her normal self and suddenly on the second, it went down hill from there. I spent as much time as I could with her, drawing her, filming her and taking pictures. The above picture was drawn with a glass pen using calligraphy ink. I gave her watered down skim milk as she loved it all through her life. I was getting frustrated with my drawing as I have failed to capture her essence and spirit. I started to cry out of frustration. I knew time was running out and to this day I could not draw her. Immediately after, she came and sat on me. This drawing will be something that I will cherish for the rest of my life. She fought hard to hang on. On Easter Monday, April 25th, it proved to be difficult battle for her and I had to make the hardest decision of my life and something that I feel extremely guilty over. Yesterday, it was her birthday. She would have been 18 years old. She was loved and is greatly missed

Jane Lafazio-lesson 5

Queen Susan's Horn and Reepicheep were drawn at a local Narnia exhibition on Hot pressed watercolour paper. Reepicheep was also painted mainly from memory as I ran out of time. Mr. Scarecrow was drawn on Strathmore's visual journal and did not mind the results. With this one, it was done relatively quickly as I was running out of time to sketch. Dropped in some colour notes and went on my merry way.

Jane Lafazio-lesson 3 Museum

These three were done on Strathmore's visual journal -140 pound. With two of them, there was a wash of watercolour paper and drawing with water-soluble pen. I did not like the results that were achieved on this paper. As a result, I went home and added some brown and black ink. The last one was done on unstained paper and did not mind the results as much on this type of paper as the pen responded much better.

Beach assignment #7-turtle

The weather out here has been gross practically all winter. Today it has been blowing and snowing all day. It can get slightly tiring after awhile and although this is perfect weather to stay indoors and do art-which I am extremely grateful for-it is difficult to keep up the positive spirits. I just keeping hoping that soon the sun shall shine....

Assignment #7-I believe for Laure's class. Again I had this lil guy drawn and painted it today. Tomorrow, I hope, I will do another one but on hot pressed paper. I am really enjoying working on that paper too.

I attempted to draw Minou today-which I am kind of use to while she is sleeping but I have been unhappy with my colour choices for Jane's class...I will just keep on every day and choose the best of the three and post them. Wednesday I am also hoping to go to the museum to draw for my final assignment.

Jane Lafazio-lesson 4 outside

I realized I never uploaded these sketches either! The cactus was done at a local greenhouse last Saturday, the landscape, I attempted three times at my parents house and the oil and vinegar was done at my parents house too. We were suppose to sketch outside but it has been way too cold and miserable. I just read that Jane will be having an autumn sketch course and I will definitely take that one. I really enjoy sketching from life and it is very difficult trying to see all those colours.

Beach Assignment #6

I am not particularly happy with this one but one must go on. Tomorrow, I will be painting some turtles-this assignment I will be doing twice, once on hot pressed paper and the other on cold pressed. Almost caught up in her course although this coming week, we will be getting another two assignments-the last two. It is always sad when Laure's classes come to an end because I really enjoy them and learn so much from each project and experience. She is a fantastic teacher.