March 2021 Recap

It's been another productive month meeting my personal goals, exploring subjects and techniques outside my comfort zone (like portraits), and learning more about my digital app, Procreate.  

Monthly Theme:  What's in My Bathroom

Goals:  One each of Ink Only, Ink and Wash, Graphite, and Digital

New Techniques - Procreate:  Importing and Exporting individual layers / Working with Split Screen with two apps side by side - Photos App and Procreate / Layer Color Blend Modes / Creating a source and grain file for making my own brushes / Creating a more opaque layer of base color so a background can be used and not show through other layers / Multiple ways of creating color palettes from color picking to understanding the app color wheels and picking different values of a single color / Creating my own pattern stamps one can use for backgrounds.

Other:  Besides the monthly theme subjects, sketching various subjects that grab my attention and pertain to my day to day (fruit trees blossoming and birds showing up in yard).

Started an online course through Sktchy on Portraits in Procreate.  Signed up for three others with two coming in April (also related to portraits but in different mediums).

Medium (and other) Counts:  I have started keeping tabs on the various mediums used and how many sketches I do under each medium.  Journal Entries - 4 / Pen and Ink Only - 1 / Pen and Ink Watercolor - 2 / Graphite - 1 / Digital - 10 / Projects from artwork - 2 / Personal Notes (not shared) - 1

End of Month Tasks:  Word Document of blog posts shared online and posts created I don't share/ Table of Contents / Contact Sheet of artwork files showing thumbnails and file names / Calendar Recap Sheets of illustrations only / Putting all together into a pdf file for viewing on electronics and/or printed out.

Another Portrait - Oldest Granddaughter

After working my youngest granddaughter's portrait, I jumped in to work one of my eldest granddaughter.  Both worked in Procreate but using different methods.  Same brush tools were used, however, for line and color application that were used with my youngest granddaughter's portrait.

This one didn't take as long as I decided to use the grid method, which I find to be easier and less time consuming.  I didn't struggle as much with adjusting and re-adjusting proportions like I did with the youngest's portrait.

I also chose to be more conservative in skin tone and shading.  I feel how I worked each helps to portray their individual personalities.  One is more outgoing whereas the other can be rather quiet and shy (at least how they come across to us....their parents may not necessarily agree with this.......lol).

Portrait of Youngest Granddaughter

After sharing the portrait of my husband's grandson with my eldest son, he sent me a photo of Morgan, his youngest daughter.  He never asked if I would work a portrait of her but I saw it as a subtle hint..........ha ha.  

After receiving the photo, I got to work on it.  I sat up all last night and throughout the day today working with this portrait starting with the initial sketch.  Then I played a bit with color blending before taking on the task of a full color portrait.  Some of that time was taking breaks to rest my eyes, stopping and creating these step sheets along the way as well as taking snap shots of my progress once I started the full color painting.

Brushes I used in Procreate were the HB pencil for the line sketch / Painting-Gouache brush tool for the color application / Gouache and/or Soft Air Brush for blending / Flowing Hair brush tool to help with texture in the hair / BJD's Denim brush tool / A special stamp brush I created to stamp on the background.

Initial Line Sketch:

Playing with different Layer Blend Modes adding a touch of color:

Full Color Portrait:

Comparing Line Sketch with Full Color Portrait

Screen Captures of Progress:

  

Portraits for Procreate Course through Sktchy

This month I am taking a course on creating portraits in Procreate called Portraits for Procreate.  With the fourth lesson in the first part of the course, there was a demonstration we could follow using a reference photo they provided.  The instructor is Lisa Filion and I love how she teaches.  I've learned so much already and I'm only maybe a third of the way through the course.

This is the results of my first attempt with a serious full color portrait using the app on the Ipad.  First my initial sketch and then using that as my reference, I produced the full color version with background.

Hubbie's Grandson, Zander

Wednesday I started a course through Sktchy called, "Portraits in Procreate," with Lisa Filion.  It's a 25 hour course that includes extensive instruction using Procreate along with portrait drawing and painting lessons that include animals.

After going through Lessons 1-4 and working the portrait exercise from provided reference photo, I decided to try one of a family member using some of the methods learned in these lessons but with my own way of doing things with laying down color.  Lisa works with heavy application of color creating opaque layers whereas I work with transparent layers.  Plus I really like monochrome as in graphite drawings versus "painting" with color.

While I was working this, I would not allow my husband to view what I was doing.  I wanted it to be a surprise and surprise it was!  When finished, he was in his room and I sent the results via text.  His reaction was priceless.  He was so excited that he immediately forwarded the picture to his son and daughter-in-law.

For a change I feel really proud of the results and I can't say that for everything I produce.  The likeness is spot on.

This is worked with BeeJayDel's Pencil 4B brush tool and instead of using the smudge tool for blending, I used the eraser to blend and soften edges.  The background is using the Painting / Turpentine brush tool (part of Procreate's brush library) as a "stamping" tool.  

More Color Blending Play

After working the color blend mode on my brother's pencil sketch, I decided to play a bit with the family grouping I posted about Sunday.  Using the same method as I did in the previous post.

 

Learning More About Procreate - Layers Color Blending Mode

 It is amazing what a $10 app can do and continues to advance with updates.  Procreate is by far my favorite drawing and painting app for the Ipad.  There is so much this app can do and I have only scratched the surface.

Today I have been learning about Gradient Map under Adjustments as well as the Blend Mode - Color.

Not sure when I might use the Gradient Map but the blending mode is another story with regards to my pencil sketches and adding color later if I choose.

This is an example using my brother's sketch I did a few years back in black and white only.  Then creating a layer of color and changing from Normal to Color blending mode.

The pencil sketch is on the bottom layer and then I add another layer over top with a skin color by dropping in the color covering the entire layer.  

Changing the blending mode from Normal to Color gives me a new look

Steps I took:

Our Neighbor's Amaryllis

Across the street at the left corner, grow these beautiful Amaryllis beneath our neighbor's tree.  These beauties circle the trunk and extend out about 2 to 3 feet.  One was cut for me and Terry was told he was welcome to come dig some up if we wanted as they need to thin them out a bit.  He plans to do so come Fall.

Procreate - Painting / Gouache brush tool.

This was quite a challenge to work.  The flower not so much but the vase was a bit tricky as I didn't want it to be too detailed taking away from the flowers.  The vase has a multi-ridged body and with this I only wanted to suggest that rather than render it in true form.  With the results, I'm on the fence and may re-visit after several days.  I kept going back and forth and finally got tired messing with it.

I am happy with the flowers, however, and decided to include a cropped version leaving out the vase altogether.

Full drawing:

Cropped Version:

Maternal Family History

Over the last few years, I have worked portrait sketches of each of my sons and my two granddaughters.  I even worked a self portrait that actually turned out OK (I've worked a few over time).

Today I decided to put them together to print off and put into an acrylic photo display.

I printed off on two different papers, one of which was very textured.  The other is matte presentation paper.  Also tried different printer settings with the textured paper on 720 px / High Quality / Premium Presentation Paper and on the actual matte presentation paper I used 720 px / Standard Quality / Premium Presentation Paper.  (I find the high quality to be too much ink on the presentation paper.)   I like the results of each for different reasons but think I prefer the smoothness on  the presentation paper for people.  The texture would look great for other subjects.

Presentation Paper:

Textured Art Print Paper:

Trying a Different Brush Tool - Gouache Brush Tool

An art friend who is using Procreate has been working on portraits and I've been amazed by her results.  Curious to which brush tool(s) she was using, I learned she was using the Painting / Gouache brush tool.

Normally I go for the Waterbrush but decided to try the Gouache to see what I could do with it with subjects I enjoy sketching.

For my first attempt, I went outside and clipped a few stems from one of our Azaleas to produce this quick sketch.  The initial line drawing was using the BJD Standard Ink brush tool and then switched over to the Gouache to add color.  This was just to play a bit and get a "feel" for how this brush tool applied color and also using it for smudging or blending. 

Next I decided to use my ballpoint pen sketch of an old fashioned rose I drew last year and scanned and uploaded to my Ipad to be used in the Procreate app.  I had worked this particular sketch into a digital drawing in September using different brush tools.  This time I wanted to use the Gouache brush tool creating a softer color version of the rose and without the pen and ink with wash look.

Young White Ibis

We had a flock of White Ibis visit our yard to check out what food source we might have that enticed them to our yard.  Those that attract my attention most are the youngsters because they have the brown.  

Worked in Procreate as mentioned in the illustration below showing basic steps I took to produce this.

This little video clip gives an idea of my work progress such as brush tool strokes used.  End was trimmed with all the back and forth fine-tuning with values and other smaller details seen in final results to save on time viewing and size file upload.  The fine-tuning for me is the most time consuming and I often close out the app and return with fresh eyes at least once if not a few times before calling it done. 

Various Fruit Blossoms Budding

Right now we have lemon and orange blossoms showing on our trees.  We discovered our young grapefruit has also developed buds nearly two years after being planted.  The grapefruit we will not allow to fruit this year but look forward to next year when we can allow it to do so.

Another discovery is the avocado tree that sprouted near the one we had to remove due to a disease it developed soon after moving here has sprouted buds.  

Daniel Smith Watercolors - Fr Ultra Hansa Yellow plus Cad Yell, Bt Sienna, Bt Umber, Cer Blue

TWSBI 580ALR with Lexington Grey ink

Fabriano Old Stock in handmade journal by Fay

Using the same sketchbook and pen and watercolors plus Quin Rose.

Although not flashy like the buds and flowers of other fruit trees, it's a big deal for us being this is the first budding and flowering of our Avocado tree.  Flowers are a whitish/Green and very tiny.  The only color that stands out is the yellow in the centers.  These little flowers do stand out against the green of the huge leaves but chose not to include in sketch.  I was primarily recording the new buds and flowers that have developed.

Same sketchbook, pen and watercolors as mentioned in previous journal sketches.

Monthly Theme - March 2021

For March, the number chosen ended up being, "what's in your bathroom."  What is in mine can be anything from your standard bathroom items to bookshelf, free standing wood cabinet, books, stuffed animals, plants, and even my pet bird.  Plenty of variety to sketch.

To start out with, I decided to sketch a few standard items and chose to work in pencil.  This also takes care of my "one graphite" sketch for the month.  Worked in the Stillman and Birn Alpha sketchbook using a Graphgear 1000 / .7 mechanical pencil.

This next represents where I moved plants from the sunroom to the bathroom when we thought my oldest son and his family were going to move to Florida and stay with us for awhile.  After family deciding not to move, I decided to leave the plants in the bathroom.  

There is a very large window over a garden tub I never use that has a ledge around it.  The sunlight is from the south and not as harsh as it is in the sunroom due to the thick hazy glass (can't think of the proper word for the type glass).  I find the plants are liking it better in the bathroom.  I lost almost all of my Lucky Bamboo plants but after cutting way back and placing in the bathroom, they are showing hope for revival.  My other plants appear to be happier to include the succulents I grow.

Sketchbook with old stock of Fabriano Artistico paper / TWSBI 580ALR with Lexington Grey ink / Daniel Smith watercolors.

Takes care of my pen and ink plus watercolor for the month of March.

This next is my digital for the month of one of several Beanie Baby Bears I have on hand.  The shelving unit (Secretary) is in the bathroom which holds bears, DVD cases, and books.

Procreate using BeeJayDel's pencil brush tools 2B, 4B, and 6B

Good thing my bathroom is large.  Another subject in my bathroom is Mango who's cage is quite large on a wrought iron rolling base.  I have it sitting near the Garden tub I never use with plants lined up all around the ledge of the tub.

Mango seems much happier although it took a few days for him to adjust to being moved.  Eventually, I'll return him to the sunroom but as long as I have wood burning projects going on, it's best I leave him where he is.

Procreate using Painting / Waterbrush brush tool and BJD's Standard Inker

Although I have a lot more I could sketch from my bathroom, this more than fulfills my monthly theme goal.  I may do more during March that fits the theme but for now I can relax knowing all my goals have been met.

Pen and Ink - Late Night Sketching

One of those nights where I just wasn't tired enough to sleep, so I sketched and caught up on a few TV recordings.

Things we find when out walking I often save (if possible) for sketching subjects.  This one is of a cluster of leaves and acorn caps still attached that have dried but still in tact.

This takes care of my one pen and ink for the month of March.

TWSBI 580ALR with Noodler's Lexington Grey ink worked in Fabriano journal made by Fay

A Different Way to Display Prints

Today I received these free-standing acrylic blocks that display two images (front and back).  They hold the photos in place by these strong miniature magnets in each of the four corners.  I wasn't sure if they would be strong enough to hold two back to back images printed off on thick artist paper but they held beautifully.

I love the quality of these.  No scratches and they come with a small microfiber cloth for finger prints.  An alternative to the expensive tiles I've been ordering through Shutterfly.

One I plan to give to my youngest son of his dog, Lola.....as a young pup and one I worked more recent.  The other is of my middle son's cat, Kiddo, and our little dog, Miya. 

February Recap of Illustrations Only

February recap of sketches and drawings for the month.  Includes a few I didn't post about.

It was a very productive month for me and after the Towhee post, I took a break so I didn't get burnt out.  Instead, I have been helping family with a game we all play on the Switch.

This is one of my end of month tasks I have set for myself.