The Dreaded Dentist Visit

Over three years ago one of my back molars broke below the gum line.  Although it hurt for several days, the pain went away and I've gone all this time without any issues.........until last week.  After a week on antibiotics, this morning was the dreaded trip to have it dug out of my jaw.  That was NOT a pleasant experience and especially since they couldn't get me numb enough to make it tolerable.  Rather than being rescheduled to try again another day, I told them to do whatever and get the tooth out of my head.  The last thing I wanted was to put it off any longer.

While in the waiting room, I started the sketch of a girl sitting across the room with her parents and brother.  I was called back shortly after I started so didn't get very far.  Then while waiting for the first injection to start working.......then the second..........then the third..........I tried sketching the xray drape hanging on the wall.  I tried to sketch hoping it might help me relax a bit but I was shaky and struggled maintaining focus.  At least I did manage a little sketching.

Stillman & Birn Beta journal and Micron 01 pen.

Sketch Crawl Event December 19, 2016

Right before Christmas our group met up at the Spanish Springs Square at The Villages for an afternoon of sketching.  Unfortunately, I didn't make it.

Spanish Springs is one area of The Villages I had been to before taking a few pictures but really wanted to go back and take more so I could sketch about the event I would have liked to have participated in.  Terry and I drove out on Christmas Day, which was wonderful because there was very little traffic and businesses were closed.  We walked around taking lots of pictures.  We actually made an afternoon of it driving to various locations taking lots of photos for sketching ideas.

The first subject I chose to sketch was the statue of Harold Swartz........founding father of The Villages.  And with this statue I decided to try working a different way than I'm used to as if I were on location and wanting to speed up a bit (eliminating the pencil sketching to save time).  The idea is to use brush and paint first capturing the shape or blocking in and then fine-tuning and detailing with pen and ink.  Not sure this method is for me but it's early yet to really know for sure.  It takes me just as long if not longer to work this way but probably because it's a new concept.

For my example, I chose not to use pen and ink but instead dry watercolor pencils for line detail (until later when I went back in with a few light ink lines).

To complete the 2 page spread, I chose what stood out the most in my photos.  I used my normal method of quick pencil sketch, followed by pen and ink, and then dry watercolor pencils as the ink I was using is water soluble (as seen with a little shading taking a damp brush to the ink).  I would have preferred to use watercolor but wasn't thinking when I grabbed the pen to start inking.

Hand sewn journal with Fabriano Artistico WC paper, Albrecht Durer watercolor pencils, and the Sailor Fude 40 degree bent nib fountain pen.  Ink is what came with it in cartridges.

Desert Rose - Still Hanging in There

You remember the post where we received a desert rose that was damaged?  Well it actually bounced back and was growing really nicely until several leaves developed rust spots causing several leaves to drop.

Still trying the save the plant, I brought inside hoping the dryer air might help.  It's been so humid outside and the plant was already sick when it got here.  I've placed it in the Sun or Florida room with southern exposure.  I can only keep my fingers crossed now hoping this helps and not do it in for good.

Thought I would try something different after viewing a couple videos.  One was mixing color pencil and watercolor and one was about slapping on color loosely and then adding details and some texture using color pencil.  Well this is neither, actually, but tried a few concepts from both videos using watercolor and watercolor pencils.

With this I used a water brush loosely (if you can call it that) blocking in the main shape without much fuss.  The idea is to capture things quickly.............suggestions for those who go out and sketch and paint in the field like sketch crawls and urban sketchers.  Well..........I can't say I actually managed to be any quicker.  In fact I found myself working at the same pace or possibly slower (maybe because the concept is not one I normally follow).  I will probably have to practice this more before I can say it helps to speed things up.



Worked in my hand sewn journal / Fabriano watercolor paper.

Sketch Crawl Work in Color - Lake Sumter, The Villages

OK........so I ended up taking color to the two pages I originally worked in graphite and sprayed with a workable fixative.

Added the color using a dagger brush and after that was dry, I used my Lamy Safari with Lexington gray ink for inking.  I even tried wet in wet over the fixative and had no problems.

Working Watercolor over Spray Fixative

Wanted to share the results of working graphite with a spray fixative and adding color afterwards using watercolor.

Here is a section of the sketch crawl page I worked in graphite:

Using Blair, Very Low Odor Spray Fix, I sprayed the page with enough coverage to where I knew the graphite wouldn't smudge.  I spray lightly so not to get runs holding the can about a foot away from the surface.slowly sweeping back and forth.

Once I knew it was completely dry (which this stuff dries quickly), I applied light washes of watercolor.  Because there is a coating over that graphite, when I apply the watercolor, it doesn't turn all muddy like it would if applying directly over top without the spray.  The sprayed surface is like working on internal and external sized papers.

And, like painting on sized paper surfaces, if you go back over top a painted area, it could lift the previous layer back off.  Just need to use a light touch.  In my case I was using a dagger brush for this because it's soft.

Once the watercolor was dry, I went back in with my Lamy Safari pen and Lexington Gray ink.  I chose the Lamy because it has a super fine nib applying just enough ink without taking over the graphite (mainly to emphasize just a bit some areas).

Did the same thing with this guy at the table......

Boats at Lake Sumter Landing

This was actually done a few days ago from photos I had taken last year when Terry and I went to Lake Sumter Landing.  There are various areas with boats out in the lake anchored in place just for viewing.  All the boats have female names like this.  Not sure if there's any significance to that or just for show.

I used two pens for this one.  Used the Platinum Carbon pen for the initial sketch, painted with watercolor, and then went back over using my Lamy Safari as the nib is a dryer feed which works better for me when going over watercolor.

The day I took the pictures, it was very cloudy and dismal looking.  I worked this as if a nice sunny day with the brighter colors and tones.

Hand sewn journal with Fabriano Artistico 140lb Cold Press watercolor paper.

Sketch Crawl - Lake Sumter Landing, The Villages

Ohhhhhhhhh what a wonderful day this has been!!  Couldn't have asked for better weather too!

The group of about 12 today met up at Lake Sumter Landing at 9 a.m. this morning.  Had a little meeting and then everyone disbursed heading in various directions.  There is soooooo much in this area one could spend hours or days or even months capturing on paper.

Before the majority showed up, Alice came to sit with me and I shared with her one of my hand made spiral journals made several months ago as well as an accordion fold journal I had made.  She's new to working in sketchbooks and journals and thought she might like having a couple different type journals to try out.

After the meeting when everyone showed up, three of us (Tina, Kathy, and myself) headed for Starbucks (I believe that was the place) to get coffee and while the other two were in line, I waited at a table.  Grabbed my sketchbook and thought.......I only have a few minutes, what can I quickly sketch in that time.  I chose this guy half sitting in his chair at another table.  I was actually surprised I did as much as you see on the page as I'm normally slow.  (Working on that)

After they bought their drinks, Tina headed one way and Kathy and I headed in the opposite direction to sketch the restrooms that looks like beach bath houses.

At that point Carol arrived and the three of us headed back towards where we started along the boardwalk and water.

Kathy wanted to sketch a partially sunken rusty boat and I decided I wanted to sketch the tower in the opposite direction.

About an hour before it was time to meet up for lunch, I decided to walk around a bit.  Took a few pictures and then headed back towards the water and sat down sketching the lamp on the post and the no fishing sign.

At lunch we all sat and shared what we had done.  Ate and then everyone went their separate ways.

I still don't feel comfortable painting out in public.  I'm normally an introvert not feeling real at ease out in public anyways.  But that's something I'm working on using art as a means to help me through this.  I'm finally meeting people I can see face to face and spend time with who enjoy doing the same things I like to do.  I love my internet friends who share the same passion but it's really nice to have bodies to sit next to.....sketch....and have a conversation as well.

Ohhhh, and my art kit on wheels worked out beautifully too!!!

I chose my hand sewn journal of Fabriano Artistico 140lb cold press watercolor paper to work in.  Using a mechanical pencil, I worked these sketches in the numerical order shown on the pages.  My plan was to use pencil first, go back over with pen and ink later, and then take watercolor to the pages.  However, after I got home, I decided to go back over with darker pencil and leave as graphite sketches.  I may spray the pages and then at a later time use ink and watercolors but I'm happy with just the pencil sketches.

Sketchcrawl Art Tote on Wheels

We are having another sketchcrawl tomorrow morning and I've been working on what I want to carry with me this time.

The Darsey Field Bag is great but limits what one can take with them.  Plus after a few hours, the weight of the bag on my shoulder and neck starts bothering me.  And besides, this time I wanted to carry a few of my completed sketchbooks plus more than one not finished.  The Darsey Field Bag would not have accommodated my needs.

One of the ladies in the group brought a laptop case on wheels last time.  I thought that was a fantastic idea and started looking in maybe getting one.

Problem for me...........I just felt it might be too much or too big for what I want to carry.  My husband has one I played with plus I have an under seat luggage piece on wheels that was even bigger.  Just didn't do it for me.

Scrounging around through all my bags and luggage, I came up with the perfect combination.

I had a plastic folding trolley with wheels purchased years ago I'd never used.  And I used to carry my art supplies on vacation in a diaper bag which is probably 15 to 20 years old.  It's just the right size for my needs at this point.  Later I can strap on a backpack should I find I need a larger bag.

I put these two together using the straps that came with the trolley plus a few velcro strips.  I strapped it so I didn't have to remove the straps each time I wanted something in the bag and all pockets easily accessible.

The first few pictures show from different angles how I've set this up:

Rather than trying to zip the top of the diaper bag, I attached a piece of velcro that I can use to pull the front handle of the bag towards the back.  Notice the board hanging at top?  The velcro strips there are long enough I can fold the board over front to get out of my way for any reason.

 The diaper bag of course has a side pocket for carrying a baby bottle.  Perfect spot for my insulated cup or water bottle.  There's a mesh pocket on the opposite side as well.

This picture shows the front flap of a pocket open where I will keep my paint palette and pens.

Here is the set-up with handle extended for walking and pulling behind me.

Now I bet you're wondering what that board hanging from the top is for.........right?  It's a table using my knees/legs to hold one end while the handle set mid way supports the far end.  The velcro can be easily adjusted higher or lower depending upon the height I'm sitting (in chair, on step, etc.)

This way I don't have to hold the sketchbook in my hand while trying to sketch.

So what do I do if I want to paint?  Inside the bag I will also carry this thick piece of cardboard I cut from the back of a watercolor block of paper.  The smaller clips are to hold the cardboard in place in the back of my sketchbook and then the larger clips to hold my palette in place.

And rather than worry about a cup of water, I will probably just stick with using a waterbrush.

I'm ready to go!!!  :-)


UPDATE:  Had a chance to try it out and it worked out great!!!  One of the gals took these photos.......

2016 Inktober - Day 31 and Summary

It's funny but I really didn't want to commit to 31 days of sketching in ink only (my own personal added challenge of ink only).  Many folks worked the Inktober Challenge with ink but also with watercolor.

Except for only a couple sketches, I wanted to try and get my tones and shading with whatever necessary pen marks it would take using hatching, stippling, crosshatching, etc. rather than using a wash.  I did use an ink wash when trying out the Sailor Fude pen just to test out how the ink would bleed with a damp to wet brush.  But the majority have been worked with pen strokes only.

I still have a ways to go practicing in order to feel less anxiety taking that ink straight to paper without any pencil sketching first.  Not that using pencil first is bad.........I would just like to one day feel like I could pick up a pen and work a sketch like I feel when grabbing a pencil.  That might never happen and actually.........that's OK too :-)

Yesterday I sat and went through over 75 pen and ink only sketches I worked on Brenda Swenson's 75 Day Challenge back in 2012 comparing to the last 31 days of sketching.  I see a definite improvement, particularly with certain subjects and pen stroke methods.  That alone makes my working this challenge worthwhile.  And working this challenge did indeed pull me out of a slump...........until the next one.

31 Days of Sketching

2016 Inktober - Day 30

Today's sketch I wanted to do something that indicated what I used for this challenge to include the one pen I used most for sketching.

I'm not crazy about working hands..........not in pen and ink anyways.  Graphite I don't mind.  So with this one I had to just jump in because had I sat and thought about it, I might not have bothered.

It's a rough sketch  putting down lines even if in the wrong place and then just making corrections along the way.

The pen I used for this one is the Hero 578 Bent Nib Pen.  It's loaded with Lexington Gray ink which between a nib that feeds wet and the paper was a little slow drying.  I had to be careful not to rest my hand on the paper surface smearing the ink.  And the journal is so small that without a resting place for my hand on the page, my lines were definitely rough..........look at those fingernails!!!!  In bad need of a manicure, don't you think????.....hahaha.

Sailor Fude 55 Degree Angle Bent Nib vs Hero 578 Fountain Pens

Although I'm still waiting on the Sailor Fude 40 degree angle bent nib pen, I thought I would share my own personal findings and feelings between the Sailor Fude 55 and the Hero 578 pens I have.

First off, I love the Hero 578.  Have from day one; however, it's made of metal and can start feeling heavy in the hand after a period of time.  Sometimes my hand will start aching.

The Sailor Fude pens are plastic and much lighter.  They are also longer offering the advantage of carrying an extra cartridge right inside the barrel as backup.

NIB:  The metal piece on top that you apply to paper to make your marks.
FEED:  The plastic "gilled" piece directly under the nib that ink feeds through.

Looking at the Hero nib, I'm estimating it might be about a 40 degree angle.  Will be interesting to compare it to the 40 degree Sailor once it gets here.

I find holding the Hero at proper angles is much easier.  Just seems more natural to the way I would normally hold a pen.

The Sailor Fude I have to keep adjusting my hand and the angle I'm holding the pen to make any marks.  That can be a bit frustrating but I'm sure after a period of time, one could get used to that and it become easier.  Just doesn't seem to take the same effort with the Hero.

As you are looking at the nibs and feeds, notice the distance between the edge of the feed and the bend in the nib.

Not sure you can read the small print on the photo easily so I'll share here as well.

The Sailor Fude's nib bends right at the edge of the feed.  When applying pressure on paper, the edge of the feed can sometimes make marks as well as the nib on the paper giving a double line especially if you hold the nib horizontal  (barrel and pen held horizontal) to achieve it's thickest line mark.

The Hero's bend is further away not causing the same problem.

The plus (or minus depending upon individual and what they prefer) to the 55 degree angle nib is it creates a slightly wider line held horizontal than the Hero nib.  Will probably find the same thing with the 55 degree Sailor versus it's 40 degree sister.

The Hero has a longer (and a little fancier) nib but not sure if or how that would make much difference in anything.

The other thing the Hero has the Sailor doesn't........at the very tip of the nib is tiny bead shape.   I'm sure there's a reason some do or don't have that, but at this point, I don't know what that reason might be.

UPDATE:  Thanks to a good friend, Larry Marshall, I learned what that hard bead of metal is all about on some nib tips.  It's called "tipping" and used to make the rounded nib stronger lasting longer and writing smoother.  Straight edge nibs may not have this beaded tipping (like calligraphy pen nibs) but another art friend showed a music nib with the tipping (that has a straight nib tip).

So between the two pens, I like the Hero best.  It's just a nicer pen all the way around.  A bit heavy but smooth to work with sketching on paper with few problems.  And the angle of the nib is just better for how I hold my pens making it easier to adjust for line widths.

The Sailor is a good pen as well once you get used to how to hold it and taking care the edge of the feed doesn't hit the paper as you use it.  It's lighter which is a plus.  I'd take it out sketching on location before I would the Hero simply because:

#1 - I wouldn't want to lose my Hero pen
#2 - The Sailor is lighter which makes my gear lighter
#3 - You can carry an extra cartridge right inside the barrel
#4 - If you lose the pen, it's not that expensive to replace

Note:  Although you can get a converter for the Sailor in order to load your own ink and save on cartridges, a lot of people complain the ink capacity is not the greatest.  Also, the ink that comes in those cartridges are water soluble so not a good choice if you plan to take watercolor to your ink sketches.

Now for the arrival of the Sailor Fude 40 degree nib.  Will share another comparison once I've had a chance to try it out :-)

When Things Don't Go Your Way

With 28 days now behind me using pen and ink only, I was in need of some color and decided to do this ink and watercolor painting in my Hand Sewn watercolor journal using Fabriano Artistico paper.

Our group is meeting up next Friday for another Sketch Walk at Lake Sumter Landing at The Villages.  Terry and I have been there once......last year.......which I took lots of photos while walking around. For my painting subject today, I chose to go looking through those photos and decided on this building to sketch/paint.  I thought it would be a fairly easy subject to work..........ha ha.........WRONG

All was going ehhhh, OK, until near the end when I was working the pavement below the building.  My initial sketch was to add lines in the pavement as the photo shows.  It's not a smooth pavement but looks like a whitish gray to very light tan color brick, block, or rectangular stone pattern.  I thought I'd just suggest a few rather than add them all in with pen and ink.  The initial pencil sketch seemed OK with my idea.

I found as I took ink to the sketch that even the suggested few lines I put in didn't look right.........ink was just too stark and the direction of the marks were way off.  And of course once ink goes down.........it's down to stay if not water soluble.  And of course I was using permanent ink :-)

On top of that, I tried a light wash of Raw Sienna.  Didn't like it..........too yellowish or gold.  So I added some areas of light Bt Sienna.  It was looking OK but nothing like pavement.  And then there were those ink lines jumping off the page :-(

Besides those ink lines bothering me, the perspective was off and with all the variation of lines going this way and that between building, the wood plank walkway and stone walkway...........I just couldn't get it right......not trying to eyeball everything as I prefer to do.

Feeling rather frustrated but determined to complete it, I did something I've never done before.  I used acrylic titanium white and painted over the lines and a good part of that area with the plans to take watercolor back over it once that dried.

For me, this trick worked OK but definitely not something I'd want to fall back on as a fix.  I had thought to cut out a piece of watercolor paper the shape of that area and glue in place but thought that would be more trouble than it was worth.

Technically I should have just stopped and called it lesson learned but I continued on figuring why not just see what I can do.  I can't make it any worse than I felt it already was.

Ending results.....it only passes in my opinion..........definitely not what I was hoping to achieve.  The area looks nothing like it should as it looks more like dirt than a walkway.  What to do????  Use that area to write about the sketch.  :-)

My initial pencil sketch.

Pen and ink making corrections with some of the line directions that were way off (perspective.....one of those 4 letter words in my vocabulary).  Even though I came close with the planking.....compared to the building, my perspective is off.

And see what I mean about the suggested pavement stones???  NOPE didn't like.  Didn't look so bad in light pencil but ink........no way (at least to my eyes).

Persevering and trying to finish this one way or the other, this is what I ended up with.

2016 Inktober - Day 28

Today's sketch is of a bird I'd never seen until now.  After research of the color and markings, I learned the bird to be an American Redstart that migrates to Southern Florida for the Winter.

Cute little bird and neat calls.  The one I saw was a female with mainly gray coloring and the yellow streaks in wing feathers and the yellow pattern in tail feathers that distinguishes this bird from other types.  The males are much darker with the yellow really standing out when he flashes his tail (according to all I've read).

What was so neat about my first sighting was getting the opportunity to watch it take a bath in our birdbath right outside where I sit all day.  Then flew up in the tree to dry off (I suppose).  The one I saw was a little bigger than a Black Capped Chickadee.

My sketch doesn't indicate the coloring by any means, working in black and white only.  And I didn't shade all the gray in the bird either as I would have done had I painted this.  I was after the shape of the bird and the facial markings more than anything and just recording this new bird sighting.

Used two fountain pens - Sailor Fude and the Platinum Carbon desk pen.

2016 Inktober - Day 27

Today's sketch is my first practice with a giraffe.

Mark's brother in law has asked if I would consider doing a painting of a family of giraffes.  Before committing to a painting, I wanted to practice sketching them first.

Not knowing anything about giraffes, I contacted my dear friend in South Africa asking if she could send me photos from which I could practice.  She sent several photos and I chose a close-up of one to try the face first.

This was fun.......very interesting animal.....love their eyes!  I hope to sketch different angles of the face first and then will try the body and legs.

Sailor Fude and damp brush to wash a little of the ink out for shading.

2016 Inktober - Day 26

Today's is a quick sketch hoping I wouldn't let myself start feeling intimidated by the pen starting out.  Not sure that really helped but I can wish :-)  You'd think by now I'd start feeling less anxious jumping in with pen but I've not reached that point and wonder if I ever will.

Same journal as I've been using but switched back to the Platinum Carbon desk pen.

This is from a photo of a random person at Disney.  There were several others standing around her but she stood out the most to me so I chose only her to put on paper.  If I were working in a larger journal, I might have added more folks around her......then again, maybe not.....ha ha

2016 Inktober - Day 25

This particular sketch is from a photo taken earlier this year when my husband, youngest son and I drove out to Crystal River to check the area out for fishing.

Still using the Sailor Fude pen, I chose a section of the photo that had a lot of black area.  This pen sure made it easier to fill in all those dark areas.  And although the coverage might be streaky looking, I didn't find that so bad for the areas as it helped keep the door and windows from looking like a huge dark hole.  It kind of looks like you can see shapes inside breaking some of the black up a bit.

And with this one, I decided to take a ever so slightly damp brush to the ink lines to create a bit of tone washes.  Too wet and the ink will definitely bleed.

I'm often told I shouldn't point out my mistakes but in all honesty, I'd rather do so hoping others can learn from what I share.

I left something out and didn't realize it until after I had scanned the image and previewed the scan.  Of course there wasn't a whole lot I could do about it so I just call it a lesson learned.

I failed to add seating at the tables and yet I have a young boy sitting there to the left as you view it.  You can see his leg (dark area) near the base of the table but no seat.  It's like he's suspended in mid air in a sitting position :-)

Of course I could always say it leaves something to the viewers imagination they can fill in themselves but honestly............it was a goof on my part.........lol.

The one plus.........not many have taken notice in the groups I've posted it in.  Maybe the fact that the white umbrella takes center stage due to the contrast of it against the black helps the eye from really focusing on that little boy and the fact there's no seat for him to sit on.

Still Playing with the Sailor Fude Pen 55

This page was worked in the Global Arts "Hand.book" journal.  The pages have a slight toothy or vellum like feel to them compared to paper like hot press, bristol smooth or cartridge paper.

Using the Sailor Fude pen is really a lot of fun when working trees.....at least for me.  Even when I don't get the angle of the nib down just right, even the slightest mark on paper fits with the texture of trunks and branches.

I think the more I play with this pen, the better control I'll eventually achieve.  I just love the fact a single nib can produce all the variations seen here.

(From photo taken a couple years ago while still living in West Virginia.)

I Am Sooooo Bad!!

Yesterday my husband, one of my sons, and I went out on the lake boating and fishing.  We've been waiting to go back out on the water after the super hot weather and rainy season eased up.  A cold front moved in across the United States bringing snow up in the northern part of the States and helped cool things down as far south as Florida.

Due to this cold front, the last couple of nights the temperature dropped fairly low..........definitely for those acclimated to the Florida heat and humidity.  I personally welcome it but a few of my family members have been here long enough they tend to think 70s is cold.

Side Note:  Now granted........it WAS quite chilly but we had to tease him a little.   And I just HAD to do this little sketch I thought of while out on the water for his benefit :-)

Using my miniature bear as a model, I worked this quick sketch in my notebook representing my son as a memory of our day out.  And this only shows a wee part of what he did to stay warm as we skirted across the lake and fished all morning long.

Pen used - Micron 03

UPDATE:  I was able to remove the notebook lines using photoshop and printed this little guy onto copier paper and added watercolor to him to match the clothing my son was wearing :-)

2016 Inktober - Days 23 and 24

I'm working with a new pen that although fun to use, it definitely is creating a few extra challenges over and above the fact I'm using only pen and ink for the Inktober Challenge (no pencil guidelines).

In all honesty, I'm surprised I'm still at this but only about a week left to go.  Some people work well with committing to challenges like this.  They may welcome that "I've got to get this done" feeling to help motivate them.  I can't exactly say I feel that way.  I sketch or paint when the mood strikes and my brain and motivation has a tendency to shut down with the thoughts I HAVE to do something.

Anyways........I'm using a Sailor Fude which is a bent nib at 55 degrees.  Depending upon how you hold the pen (angle), determines line width.  Right now I'm finding it a bit of a challenge to control or know where the nib is on paper with the ink flow until it's too late and mark on paper.

Day 23 - From a photo taken back in 2010 during my two week stay with Clare and her family in the United Kingdom.

Normally I shy away from real dark values or areas like you see, but trying to take advantage and try it with this pen and the black ink that comes with it.  My problem is really knowing where to apply the heavier lines and it look right.  There's an art to Drawing and Inking (like with comics) and not something I know too much about.

Day 24 - (Worked this close enough to midnight to call it Day 24)

Sketched from a photo taken weekend before last while on the sketchcrawl at Brownwood Paddock Square.  Again using the Sailor Fude pen.  

All I can say is hmmmmmm............not sure how I feel about it and was relieved to call it done.  Seeing it on screen, I could go back and add some more darker areas (maybe to help balance it a bit more to my own liking) but this is one I just want to call it finished and plan for the next sketch.

I really missed being able to lightly sketch things in first with pencil but I'm sticking with my own rule with this Inktober Challenge of using straight pen and ink.  The challenges I dealt with on this one were:

1)  The sign and what's supposed to be a cows head (looks more like a poodle's head with horns) 

2)  Where and how much to put real dark heavy line marks, 

3)  Getting the right angle with the nib to paper to put down the thickness of marks at any given time, and

4)  I had trouble working over the gutter with the pen.  Either it grabbed the ink off the nib or it wouldn't do anything at all.

Seven more days to go questioning how on earth I actually worked Brenda Swenson's 75 Day Challenge (using pen and ink only) a few years ago!!  :-)