Monday, November 16, 2020

Miya and Lola

After last month's daily cartoon challenge, it has taken two weeks to "recharge" with regards to my sketching.  I lacked motivation and nothing really inspired me until the weekend when my youngest son brought his baby to stay with us this week.

I first worked the drawing of his 2 1/2 year old Yellow/Chocolate Lab (Lola) and then tonight worked our little 12 year old Yorkipoo (Miya).

Procreate using BeeJayDel's pencil brush tools 4B and 6B  (LOVE his pencil brush tools!!)




Saturday, October 31, 2020

October Daily Challenge with BeeJayDel - Days 25 - 31

This finalizes the 31 day challenge following along with BeeJayDel's tutorials on drawing Halloween cartoon characters.  Anyone who's interested in learning Procreate and/or drawing cartoon figures, he has a great YouTube channel with all sorts of videos you can follow along with....not just Halloween.

He also has a Facebook page and a website where anyone who's interested can purchase his special designed Procreate brushes.  I have purchased most of them and have to say they are my go-to brush tools to use for sketching in pencil and for inking.  Love his texture brush tools as well!

For my other two blogger posts related to this:

Days 1-12

Days 13-24

Normally I work the yearly Inktober challenge but for some reason I just wasn't motivated this year to mess with it.  I'm so thankful I stumbled across this man's YouTube channel that gave me an wonderful alternative that was a blast to do each day.  I have learned so much from this...not just additional things my app can do but also a totally different subject and style!!  What a refreshing change!!!





Sunday, October 25, 2020

October Daily Challenge with BeeJayDel - Days 13 through 24

Finished yesterday's tutorial (the Witch) this afternoon completing another page of twelve days.

Only seven more days to go.  I'll work on today's tutorial tonight and tomorrow.



October Daily Challenge with BeeJayDel - Days 1-12

It's been days since I last posted as I have been engulfed in a unique challenge helping me learn the ins and outs of using Procreate.  

Although I've used the app for several years, I only touched the surface of what it offers people with digital artwork.  This challenge teaches techniques beyond the basics and I am grateful.  Such a fun way to learn too.

The challenge is presented by BeeJayDel on Facebook and his YouTube channel.  Instead of Inktober (which I normally work each year), he chose to produce a video each day of a Halloween cartoon character.  He invites people to draw along with him and then share their efforts.

Because I didn't come across his channel until well into the month, I have been playing catch-up working four (sometimes three depending on the complexity) each day.  I have finally caught up.

So far here are twelve of the days I have completed.  Tonight or tomorrow I should be able to share another twelve days.  Below image I share just what I have learned.



What I have learned:

1)  How to use Alpha Lock
2)  How to use Clipping Mask Layers
3)  Setting an ink drawing as a reference and adding color to fill within the lines on another layer.
4)  How to use a layer with drag and drop flat color and then a different layer with shadows and another for highlights.  Although I use multiple layers, I was not accustomed to using the drag and drop of colors into an area.  I just normally "painted" in with the apple pencil and chosen brush tool.
5)  How to use the selection tool to "draw" with.
6)  How Gaussian Blur can be used within a drawing/painting.
7)  How to group layers
8)  How to first use a loose sketch using basic shapes (something I don't normally do but instead jump right in with a preliminary pencil sketch almost as detailed as my inking) followed by detailed ink line work.
9)  Working with various texture brushes
10)  How to use the warp tool to reshape basic shapes like circles, rectangles, etc.

**I'm sure I could come up with other things but at the moment these are the top things I have picked up from working this challenge.

Although I'm not a cartoonist nor do I have much in the way of imagination with the work I do, this has been refreshing from my normal style and interest in capturing what I see in front of me....recording my day to day in journals.

This is a blast and I'm extremely thankful for stumbling on this gentleman and his tutorials.  And my eldest granddaughter has also been captivated by this challenge.  Her and I have been texting and sharing our efforts.  

Sunday, October 4, 2020

Partial Pattern from Cherub Lamp

Thinking back, I remember the unique furnishings my grandmother had in her apartment when living in West Virginia.  A few of her glass accents I remember being made of green or blue glass to include glass top end tables and a coffee table.   When she moved to Florida with my Mom, most of her household furnishings were sold but she did keep a few items, which includes an old curio cabinet I absolutely love, a green glass lamp and two off white or bone colored Cherub lamps!!

It is from one of the Cherub lamps I chose to capture a partial pattern to sketch.





Friday, October 2, 2020

October 2020 Challenge Between Friends

This month was my friend's turn to choose a subject for our monthly challenge.  The challenge involves drawing or painting a mirror up against a background (e.g. a wall) with a light over-head.  We also have to include reflections as our main focal point.

I chose to go with a corner in my bathroom with only some of what's being reflected on the right with more showing in the reflection.  I do not get into all the composition rules or elements of design but instead just try to record what I see without worrying about rules and guidelines.  Sometimes my results might fit the typical rules but it's not because I plan it that way.  

Honestly with this..........I doubt I achieved what my friend was hoping for with regards to the reflections being THE focal point.  Regardless, this was fun to do and quite a challenge with perspective with all the angles involved.  The fancy light fixture above the mirror was tricky so I basically just suggested it without getting too fussy for fear of feeling overwhelmed. 



 

Late Night Sketching

Seems like I'm on a streak right now with sketching.  I'm taking advantage while it lasts.

This first one was practicing John's method of drawing birds by first using shapes.  This is not my normal way of working but I like to try different methods from time to time.

The Black Cap is one of my all-time favorites.  Love their chatter!  This was worked during a late-night where I couldn't sleep.  I worked the bird first and then added the rest afterwards just to fill the white space.


This one was worked last night between midnight and 3 a.m.  I have this artificial arrangement sitting on my desk that replicates a live arrangement my husband got me years ago.  I had taken pictures of the live flowers before they wilted and found a bunch of artificial that was nearly perfect at Hobby Lobby.



Sunday, September 27, 2020

Another Gift from Our Neighbor

Yesterday hubby was out working in the yard when approached by our Neighbor.  He had two vases he wanted me to have...both made of marble.

Our neighbor who's family is from Taiwan used to own several stores that carried crafted Taiwan merchandise.  The vases are two such items he used to sell.  Both were in their original boxes he had stored after closing down the stores.  They are from 40 years ago.

One is a large, very heavy, two-in-one vase by flipping it...something I've never seen before.  The other is a small one with a very intricate design.  I love both but my favorite is the smaller one because of the size and design.

Worked in Procreate by first working a line drawing, completely filling in the black areas and then working over the black with white for the design.  Various brush tools were used for this one, to include:

Inking / Studio Pen, Sketching / HB Pencil, Airbrushing / Soft Airbrush, Charcoal / Carbon stick, Elements / Water (for marbling effect).

The berries are from last year Terry cut from a palm tree.  What's neat about the berries is the fact they dried hard rather than shriveling up or getting mushy.


This one didn't take as many different brush tools due to the simplicity of design.  They included the Inking / Studio Pen, Sketching / HB Pencil, and Airbrushing / Soft Airbrush.

When using Smudge or Erase as a technique, I match the brush tool to that I used to put down lines and color.




Thursday, September 24, 2020

Showing Back Up at Feeder

Although we have resident hummingbirds, there are months where we don't see them around the feeder.  We've noticed within the last week we are seeing quite a bit of activity...probably with the migration of those from the North.

Stillman and Birn Alpha / Staedtler Mars Lumograph 2B



Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Don't Walk Barefoot

This time of year our oak tree drops millions of these little acorns.  These little treasures hurt if stepped on barefoot and I'm one who hates wearing shoes.

Found this twig with acorn caps still attached after a night of gusty winds.

Quick pencil sketching using Staedtler Mars Lumograph 2B pencil in Alpha sketchbook.



Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Wild Rose and Memories

Not sure exactly what type of rose this is but I was told it fell under the wild rose.  This rose sends out long trailers that will climb anything near it.  Dad had a very large tree at the side of his house and it grew beneath it, sending it's trailers all around climbing up into the tree.  It was absolutely gorgeous!!!

While living in West Virginia, dad gave us a starter, which we planted at the front corner of our house.  We had a trellis made that it climbed and continued doing so up and across the railing of our porch.  Our porch was above the garage or what some might consider a second level of the house. 

When we moved, we brought with us a starter that is still growing in a pot.  We're really not sure if it will survive in the ground here in Florida with sandy soil or where exactly to place it due to the harshness of the sun, so we've left it in a pot.  After six years of being here, it's never flowered but continues to grow.  Unfortunately nothing like it did up north and the leaves tend to get black spot probably due to the high humidity here.  

I like sketching and painting this particular type of rose.  It's my favorite of all the rose varieties.  Going through photos I have from years back, I decided to sketch it again.  First in my sketchbook in ballpoint pen and then decided I also wanted to work variations on my Ipad using Procreate.  After I finished the digital versions, I went back to the sketchbook and added color using watercolor.

Here are the results:




Wednesday, September 16, 2020

My Characters in Two Separate ACNH Games

Having two accounts and playing two individual Animal Crossing games, my youngest son asked that I sketch my characters I created in each game.

One game is playing in the Northern Hemisphere (my first and main game) that follows our seasons (which is going into Autumn) and the other game is playing in the Southern Hemisphere which seasons are opposite (going from Winter into Spring).  I'm doing this so I can enjoy the various species of fish, bugs, and sea creatures based on the different seasons without having to wait all year long to finish my museum.

With my main game, my character is an older version of me showing where I wear my hair back all the time and gray in color.  In the second game, I set myself up as a younger version of me when I actually wore my hair down and before the natural highlighting started to take place.

Notice both show me barefoot and that's me.........I hate wearing shoes :-)

I had the younger version visit the older version in the game so they could sit side by side to work on this sketch.

Quick sketching in Alpha sketchbook using the 2B pencil.



Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Rose Using Different Brush Tools in Procreate

Yesterday I posted the graphite looking rose and made a change to the suggested table surface as I didn't like the angle I had it drawn at.

This shows the initial line sketch I worked and what I'm using as the base for each drawing using different brush tools.  I may do one more to render a color pencil look.

I'm finding the more I work with roses, the less intimidated I feel with all the petals.  

Monday, September 14, 2020

A Thank You for a Thank-You Gift

Using Procreate, I worked this rose using the brush tool Charcoals / Carbon Stick.  

Subject is another rose our neighbor clipped as a thank-you after Terry took over our thank-you gift I had made using one of my rose drawings from a couple of years ago.  I had uploaded it to Shutterfly along with a personal sentiment to be printed off on a tile plate that sits on an easel.  

  



Sunday, September 13, 2020

Swallowtail Butterfly in Graphite

Before I jump into my next challenge requested of me, I decided to draw this butterfly that showed up outside the window where I sit throughout the day.

I had no idea what kind it was until I looked it up on the internet.  Turns out to be a Swallowtail but not sure which one.  Might be considered an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail or maybe a Black Swallowtail (at least so far from what I've been able to find).  

This one was primarily brown (a reddish brown) with off white or cream "white" spots.  Also had suggested spots of powder blue towards the bottom of the wings and above the "white" spots.  In the photo there's a hint of orange just below the long segment of the body where one white spot is split in the center.

Worked in Stillman and Birn Alpha sketchbook with Staedtler Mars Lumograph 2B and 4B pencils.



Saturday, September 12, 2020

Special Requests from my Youngest Son

 A few days ago I sketched a fossil called a Trilobite from the game Animal Crossing New Horizons.  I shared with two of my three sons..........with my youngest who also plays the game.

Last night my youngest texts me saying he had a challenge for me.....sketching my house in the game.  When you start out, you reside in a tent until you go so far in the game and then have a one room house built.  As you work for and earn money, you add on rooms...one room at a time.  A complete house will have four rooms on the main level, a large upstairs, and a basement.  Later in the game, you can customize the outside of the house having several styles to choose from.

Accepting his challenge, I decided to sketch both the tent I started out in and how my house looks now with 1,825 hours of game play.  One might think I like this game......ha ha.  Truth be known, I now have two accounts and playing two games at the same time....one in the Southern Hemisphere and my original in the Northern Hemisphere.  This way I can play different seasons catching season specific critters I would otherwise have to wait forever to get to finish my museum.  My second game only has 395 hours of game play but I haven't had it as long as the original one I started.


Today, my son gives me yet another challenge...sketching my character in the original game, which I agreed I would do.

My son said he was going to share with co-workers who also play the game and when I asked him today if he had had a chance to share this with them, he said "they loved it...along with 7000 other people."  My response was "WHAT?  What do you mean along with 7000 other people?"  

I have learned he and my middle son are sharing my artwork on Reddit.  Reddit is broken down in subcategories and one is Animal Crossing.  My son posted it and within six hours had over 7000 upvotes (whatever that means) along with many comments.  A couple hours later it was over 10,000 upvotes.  One comment was a viewer asking if I'd sketch my character in the game and why my youngest son gave me this next challenge.

So this is what I worked on today.  In the game (depending on months in the year) you either are confronted with a scorpion or a tarantula during evening hours.  Most often they nab me but I've managed to catch enough scorpions to have a model made in the game, which I have set outside the house.  I set myself up with the model to sketch this little scene.




Both are worked in the Stillman and Birn Alpha journal using Staedtler Mars Lumograph pencils 2B and 4B.  I'm having a blast working in graphite!!!!


Friday, September 11, 2020

Science Lesson from the Game Animal Crossing New Horizons

In previous posts, I mentioned where playing a game can be educational.  This is another example sketching one of the fossils found in Animal Crossing New Horizons.  

Looking for a subject to sketch in graphite, this fossil called out to me while playing my game.  I just think it looks cool and loved the challenge with all the detail working the body structure.  As I was sketching, I started wondering about the history of the Trilobite and found the articles I read on the internet to be fascinating.  I hated science when in school but now at 60 plus years old, I find it more interesting.

Using Staedtler ML 2B and 4B pencils / S&B Alpha sketchbook



Staedtler Mars Lumograph Pencil Chart on Alpha Surface

One of the things I like to do are charts on various paper surfaces based on how I use or apply various mediums.

I worked this chart in the Stillman and Birn Alpha sketchbook using Staedtler Mars Lumograph pencils.  Two pencils are missing from the set and I will have to order them to complete the chart but I can always add those later.  Although honestly, I'm questioning whether I really need those two grade pencils.

What this chart specifically tells me is that I would probably get the most use out of 4B and 2B.  Maybe HB but I can always use my mechanical pencil or the F or H in this set if necessary.

This shows where I can obtain dark values as seen with 8B just using a 4B pencil.  Although I'm sure I could go darker using 5,6,7 or 8B pencils than what is showing in the chart, I only go so far with pressure so not to damage the paper.  I'm not crazy about how bad the softer (and darker) graphite smears or how difficult it can be to erase.  4B seems to be the sweet spot for me out of the set with darks and ease in erasing.  Smearing is slightly less than those softer grades.  2B used initially when lightly sketching and 4B to darken.

I can't remember ever using any of the H grades and not sure I ever will.



Thursday, September 10, 2020

Breaking in New Sketchbook - Banana Flower and Bananas

Over the last couple of weeks, I have finished two journals with a third journal almost finished (two pages remaining).  Wanting to work larger, I ordered two Stillman and Birn 8.25 x 11.25 journals......one Beta and one Alpha.  

After finishing one large Beta journal, I decided to start working in the Alpha and this is what I did to break the sketchbook in...a banana flower and small bunch of bananas cut down yesterday from plants we have in the back yard.  

We may actually have eatable bananas this year.  Those sketched were a small group of immature bananas on the stalk along with another larger bunch that were much bigger and fuller.  My husband had thinned the plants earlier in the year and fertilized heavily resulting in more and larger bananas.  

We didn't know until this year we needed to cut the bananas down while still green and hang upside down to start the ripening process.  With all the varieties out there, we have no idea what type these are.  Will be interesting to see how they turn out once they turn yellow.

Alpha Journal using Staedtler Mars Lumograph B pencil



Wednesday, September 9, 2020

The Rose

This is one flower that totally intimidates me when it comes to sketching so I decided to take it on while I was in the mood for a challenge.  Even after four sketches, I can't honestly say it helps with how I feel when approaching this type of flower.  Wild or Dog roses don't affect me in the same way as the other type roses.  It's that "ball" of wrapped petals that tend to make me feel a bit overwhelmed when trying to draw them.

I tend to do OK with rose buds and those partially opened, as well as wild or Dog roses (Examples 1, 3, and 4).  Number 2 was the most difficult for me.  Number 4 was the easiest as I feel more at ease when working in graphite.  Number 3, I made myself work the line drawing with pen only (no pencil) and it wasn't too difficult as it is fairly easy with only a few petals (Dog Rose).

Pens used:  Pilot Metropolitans with Dark Red and Dark Green Document Inks (F nib), and Pilot Prera with Noodler's #41 Brown (XF nib).

Graphite is using Wolf's Carbon pencil #2B







Sunday, September 6, 2020

Practice Sketching Birds

Over the last couple of days, I have been watching (and sketching along the way) a few videos on Drawing Birds by John Muir Laws.  Although I've sketched and painted birds for years, I never knew the anatomy of birds and thought by learning this, it might help me improve on results.  If nothing else, it would help to be able to identify which part of the bird I'm working on and learning what I can simplify and still end up with decent results.

I worked these as reference I can fall back on if necessary.  Fab Hotpress / TWSBI Eco with Urban Grey ink.



Using a model from the video, I worked this bird in graphite.  Then added ink and then decided to add some color.  This was basically playing with three different techniques within the same bird sketch.


While I worked the pencil sketch, I didn't think to scan the steps I chose to use from how John works his bird sketches so I tried to recreate those steps using Procreate on the Ipad.  I find using the circles or ovals like he does for head and body proportions throws me off.  I do better this way by focusing on the contour lines and how each curve or line relates in distance and placement to other areas around it.




Doodling with Ballpoint Pen

Yesterday I grabbed a new type ballpoint pen made by Uni-ball (Jetstream RT 0.7 mm) to see how it might work on two different paper surfaces.  I was interested in seeing if ink would build-up causing blobs like other pens I have tried.  Although I did have to wipe the point on paper towel now and then, the pen worked quite well on both a toothy surface and a smooth surface.

5.5x6" Journal made with Arches 140 lb Coldpress WC paper.  Added a little color with DS watercolors.




5.5 x 7" Journal made with Fabriano 140 lb Hotpress WC paper.  Chose not to add color.  No pencil lines were used as I wasn't sure how the ink would handle going over graphite.  It was also unknown if erasing would smear this type ink.


What I found is that I enjoyed using this pen for ballpoint sketching.....unlike BIC or a few other brands I've tried that tend to blob quite easily with a lot of stop and go dabbing the pen point on paper towel, which I find cumbersome.



September Challenge Between Friends - Design a Fishbowl or Aquarium

Inspired by the Switch game, Animal Crossing New Horizons, I came up with the idea to design a fishbowl or Aquarium.  

The challenge involves sketching individual components and then sketching everything together.

If working a standard fishbowl or other container like a jar, we are to sketch at least one fish and a minimum of three accents inside the container.

If working a larger aquarium, we are to sketch at least one fish and a minimum of four accents inside the container.

Not able to decide which medium I wanted to use, I chose to work my challenge in different mediums.

Digital:  Sketched using Procreate on the Ipad.  I chose to use minimum color leaving the rest black and white.


Graphite:  With this one, I just wanted to practice sketching fish and accents and not necessarily put them together in a fishbowl or aquarium.  This was using the Wolf's Carbon Pencil - B in the Stillman and Birn Beta sketchbook.


To finish the last page in my Beta journal, I worked this quick pencil sketch using a Pentel Graphgear 1000 mechanical pencil #7.

Pen and Ink plus Watercolor:  My primary contribution for the challenge I used the Kakuno fountain pen and #41 Noodler's Brown ink.  Worked in the Stillman and Birn Beta journal.  DS watercolors.



Friday, September 4, 2020

Cardinal Head Study

This started out as only a pencil study.  I was practicing the head of this cardinal as I learn the names of various areas of the face and how they relate to one another creating basic features.  After working the pencil study, I decided to add a little color.  

Worked in journal with Arches 140lb Coldpress Watercolor, Graphgear 1000 mechanical pencil #7.  Painted using Qor and DS watercolors.





Saturday, August 29, 2020

Miya Drawing Revisited

One of my favorite drawings of our Yorki-poo, Miya, has been nagging at me that something just wasn't right about it.  Today I decided to revisit and make a few changes hoping to capture her likeness better.

Original Drawing and evaluation:

Although this has been the closest I could get with likeness, I was bothered by the shape of her face and eyes.  They were off making this look like another dog.   Face appears too wide and eyes not large enough.  If I look at Miya, her eyes are closer to the size of her nose.  I also felt this lacked shading on one side of her face...making it look kind of flat.


Today's Changes and feelings with results: 

I think with the changes, I have come much closer to her likeness and I like the shading a little better.  I wasn't crazy about all the white in and around the eye that I left in the original drawing and definitely made her eyes too small.  With the changes, I felt I should leave the eyes a little smaller than the nose, keeping in mind the foreshortening with her snout/nose being closer.   

I might re-evaluate this again at a later time but for now I am pleased with the changes.  This definitely looks more like our Miya.





Friday, August 21, 2020

Sketching with WC Pencil versus Graphite

 A few people I know use a watercolor pencil to work their preliminary sketch before inking and adding color.  One I know normally uses a blue-gray and another uses a light brown.  My friend who uses the light brown chooses that color because she prefers to ink using brown ink.  

Out of curiosity I thought I would try using a brown watercolor pencil since I was planning to use brown ink.  I chose a Bt Sienna so I could actually see what I put down on paper.  A lighter brown would have been way too challenging for me to see.  

My goal was to compare using a WC pencil versus using graphite with regards to erasing the lines later, smearing as I worked, and how well the ink flowed over the pencil lines.  

What I found was the WC pencil did not smear like graphite would while working.  The side of my hand or finger did not pick it up like it would working with graphite.  I worked my little experiment on Fabriano Hotpress and found the WC pencil erased easily with a kneaded eraser.  The nib and ink covered over the WC pencil lines with ease whereas it doesn't always over graphite.  



I was encouraged by my findings thinking I might start using the WC pencil more often when working my light pencil sketches UNTIL I used the same pencil on Stonehenge Aqua.  My findings on a different paper surface showed just the opposite.

Looking closely at pencil lines using WC pencil, you can see they did not erase cleanly.  I not only used a kneaded eraser, I also went over with a plastic eraser.  With the remaining pigment embedded in the paper fibers, the WC pencil bled when going in with wet brush and color.

This was a great learning experience for me.  I have learned to just embrace my graphite pencil, smears and all.  At least that can be easily remedied either by using a tissue or paper towel while working or erasing later.




Thursday, August 20, 2020

Illustrated Adjectives Project

 As mentioned in previous posts, I've been playing a game Animal Crossing New Horizons since it came out back in March.  What I'm finding while playing are ideas that come to mind for sketching.  

While the game is definitely fun and relaxing, it can also spur a few other feelings as well, which gave me the idea of coming up with adjectives and illustrating what I associate them with most.

At first I considered this a monthly project between friends but I already have an idea for September and my next month is November.  I couldn't wait so decided to make it a personal project instead.

What I did was choose a minimum of six adjectives that fit with characters and/or objects within the game.  My chosen adjectives are:  Annoying, Cool, Irritating (for me a step up from annoying), Sweet and Adorable, Disgusting, Rude and Arrogant, and Favorite Things.

First I worked the illustrations in my journal and then a write-up within a simple word document, inserting the page scans, explaining each (as numbered on the journal pages).  Taking it further, I wanted to see how it might look worked as a brochure using three columns and inserting the illustrations individually within the description.

What I enjoy about doing these pages from the game is a recording in my journal of what I enjoy, which in this case is playing the game.  This one is particularly is special because of the other family members also playing and the fact we can interact with one another in the game by visiting each other's island.

Worked in journal with Stonehenge Aqua watercolor paper and using the Pilot Kakuno fountain pen with Noodler's #41 Brown ink.

Journal Pages:






**One additional illustration not included above is a Butter Churn.  I worked that by itself on it's own page as an exercise which will be in the next post.  It is, however, included in the brochure shown below on the last page.

Brochure Style with comments/explanations:

On the last page, I have "Added Notes" which I still plan to illustrate and then add to the document.  I could fill several pages with favorite things.  I might also do a few illustrations with Favorite Tasks I enjoy most in the game which #1 is fishing.  UPDATE:  "Added Notes" has been replaced with actual illustrations and explanation.