Latest Sketching Bag / Handbag

As most sketchers can relate with, I'm always looking for that "perfect" sketching bag.  I have several for various occasions..........some carrying more or less depending upon where I'm going, how far I have to walk from the car, etc.  I'm still looking for one I can carry all the time that also works as a normal handbag.

This so far comes the closest but wish it were about another inch larger all the way around.  Not too big but bigger than this one, which is 9 x 7 x 3.

Although I can carry my 5 x 7 hand sewn journal in the main compartment, it competes for space with my overly thick wallet (I use a man's tri-fold).   Recently I found a "mini" wallet I can carry one card, my license, and a few dollars cash which should work out beautifully but haven't used it yet.  I bought that for when I know I'm going out sketching a head of time and only want to carry the bare minimum in case robbed (and yes I think about that after my youngest son was robbed a few weeks ago).

I don't carry a lot of garbage in my handbag.....wallet, IB, keys, maybe lip balm, cell phone, and camera at times.  I wanted a bag large enough to where I can carry at least a pen, pencil, and small sketchbook with me at all times.  This works beautifully for that just mentioned.  But then it starts getting quite crowded with extras like folded paper towel, tissue, several pens, waterbrushes and palette.

For now this will work but I will continue to search for that perfect bag :-)

Urban Sketching - One of our Neighbors

I was suppose to go to a class this morning on Zentangles but had a bad night and never made it.  Instead I just sat around and looking out my window captured this scene of my neighbor at his truck and RV.

Went straight in with pen and ink capturing our neighbor first knowing he'd not be there very long.  Worked the rest of the scene after he had gone inside.

Platinum Carbon desk pen with Lexington Gray ink in S&B Beta journal (small)

Heather Oaks - Maria and Sheep

This sketch is from one of the photos taken during our first trip out to Heather Oaks Farm in Lady Lake, Florida.  It captures Maria (owner of the farm) calling the sheep trying to get them over closer to where we were standing.

Pencil sketch first followed by watercolor and then ink.  Lamy Safari used with Lexington Gray ink.  Stillman & Birn small Beta journal.

Opal from Logo Design to the Real Deal

For those who know me and follow my blog, Opal is a miniature bear I often use as a model for sketching and painting.

After I worked a possible sketchers' group logo, I wanted to find a way to actually dress this little bear wearing a hat and backpack.

A dear lady (Steph) at "In a Nutshell Miniatures" shop in Tavares, Florida, specializes in miniatures from doll houses to furniture to accessories and food.  When I mentioned what I was hoping to do, she had me come by the shop and we worked on making my wish happen.  I sat across from her as we looked at various fabrics and she created the miniature backpack and dressed up a miniature raffia hat.

I also bought a miniature composition book, plain journal book and pencil to the scale I needed but haven't quite figured out how I want to attach without making it permanent with glue.

Watercolor Demo by Lyn Smith Worked in Procreate

Yesterday we had a wonderful watercolor demo with a great turnout at the Leesburg Art Center presented to us by Lyn Smith.  The purpose of the chosen subject and results was to teach us how to use two colors to produce the painting.  With Lyn's demo example, she used Coblt Blue and Burnt Umber.

She shared how she mixed a thick sticky base mixture of her two pigments and then adding water for the various values needed.  She shared how to lay down a small amount of dark color and fade it out creating soft edges like you see in the petals.

Take note of what she used here to mix her two pigments together.  I would never have thought to use a mini whisk like she is using here.  What a fantastic idea and it would save on the hairs of a brush most people use for mixing.

Initially, Lyn used two other color choices (I believe Aliz and a Phalo  Blue) for her original painting she completed taking a watercolor class.  For a different look and using non staining pigments she had us go for a blue tinted painting instead.

Well Susan being Susan, she decided to try her hand at seeing what she could do using Procreate instead.  Using methods of laying down a color stroke and blending..........trying to achieve a similar look using an Apple Pencil instead of a paint brush.

Although not the two colors as used in the watercolor demo, a very limited palette was used here.  A single blue was used and the values achieved either by light or heavier pressure and/or blending or fading out.  Two different values of green were used.......a very light and a very dark almost black was blended together for the background.  Then a bit of pink was added just for added interest.

One thing I could still do is go darker with my values in some areas of the petals nearest the center.

Thank you Lyn for a wonderful presentation and fun time we had :-)

Two More from Heather Oaks Farm

Two more sketches to share that I worked yesterday and today after our outing at Heather Oaks Farm in Lady Lake, Florida.

First is the owners' home.  There are technically other building structures around their house but I elected not to include them.........instead filling in with trees.  And I thought I would handle the trees differently from what I normally do for a different look.

This next one is of a lamb that the Mrs. has been bottle feeding.  I believe was an orphan the mother wouldn't have anything to do with.  He's precious to say the least and Maria holding him and how relaxed and at peace this little fellow was is what captivated me.

Rooftop in Procreate

This is from another photo taken while we were at Disney Springs for the USK 24 Global Sketchwalk.

This one was worked using the grid method with photo on computer with grid lines and grid on Procreate with layers added above it as I sketched the lines.  Removed the grid and added color.

Raggedy Ann Using Procreate

The more I play on my Ipad using Procreate, the more I'm enjoying the change and different challenges involved with digital sketching/painting.

I'm sure there are various ways to apply color........many of which are faster than what it takes me but I have found a method I really enjoy.  It's very time consuming like graphite can be for me when I get into putting down marks and blending.

My subject is a new miniature Raggedy Ann doll I found at a local shop in Tavares, FL.  I've always wanted one of these dolls and finally after 61 years, I finally bought one.  She comes in a matching fabric basket.  I had her sitting on my table and included the interior background which I chose to leave plain (no color).

Below the finished sketch I am sharing several steps.  This is about 21 or 22 layers total which includes a cold press watercolor texture background, date, signature, and a splatter layer.

These four screen shots show how I work the color.

And here are the steps from line drawing, adding hatching for shading, to finished results with color.

USK 24 Hour Global Sketchwalk - USK Orlando

Yesterday was my first time out with a recognized Urban Sketchers' group out of Orlando Florida.  I had been invited to attend this big event which for us was at Disney Springs, Florida.   The USK 24 Hour Glbal Sketchwalk is in honor of Urban Sketchers' 10th anniversary as mentioned on Facebook.

Was also honored to meet James Richards.....author/artist of "Freehand Drawing & Discovery - Urban Sketching and Concept Drawing for Designers.....who recently moved to Florida.  Mr. Richards also offers a course on Craftsy called "Essential Techniques for Sketching the Energy of Places."

Noga Grosman heads the Orlando Urban Sketchers group and had come to Leesburg to give a presentation with our Leesburg Sketching group on Urban Sketching concepts.  It was through her I learned about and was invited to the global sketchwalk.

What an exciting time we had meeting up at Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida.  We met outside the Coca Cola shop and then dispersed to find a subject or spot that grabbed us.  We had about an hour or so to sketch and then had to meet back up where we started to "throw down" our sketchbooks to share with one another what we had done.  At about 11:45 photos and video were aired on Instagram. 

It had started to rain so we moved under cover and placed our books back on the ground standing in a circle.  Each of us took turns telling a little about ourselves and showing which sketchbook was ours.

My husband came with me and once I found a place to sketch, he walked around taking photos for me.  I chose Starbucks because it's one of Terry's favorite places.

The line sketch is all I managed on site (at least I managed to finish that much as I'm a bit slow and was also nervous on this outing) and then this morning I added color.  The third photo below is another watercolor sketch I did from one of the photos Terry took for me.  He knows I like building toppers like this.

Disney Springs is a place I want to return to!!!  :-)

Unwanted Hitch Hiker

This is from our Heather Oaks Farm sketch outing last Friday. 

Picture yourself walking along and all of a sudden you feel something sitting on your nose.  You look cross-eyed to see what it is with this staring back at you.  Would it creep you out?  It sure would me!!!  LOL

Fortunately this time around, it did not happen to me but I have been known to walk into many a web with spiders like this.  I tend to look down at my feet when I'm walking around........especially here in Florida so I don't step in red ant mounds.  Not sure what would be worse.......stepping into an ant mound or having a hitch hiker like this end up on my nose :-O

Before and after color applied.......using QoR watercolors on Epson presentation paper.

Various Works the Last Several Days

Here I'm catching up with what I've been doing the last several days.  Some digital, some watercolor, some graphite and ink.

This first was done in a small S&B Beta journal using a mechanical pencil.  It's a scull seen at Heather Oaks Farm Friday when our group met there to do some sketching.

Also from Heather Oaks Farm - graphite first and then mechanical pencil in a large S&B Beta

After sketching the chickens, I went online and sat and viewed Travor's video on painting hens and roosters.  I followed along after viewing a couple of times.

Digital sketch worked in Procreate and printed off on Fabriano 90lb Cold Press paper.  Then used watercolor.

One of the lady's in our sketching group last Friday.  From photo and using gridding method, worked this sketch.