Baby Groot Flower Pot using Procreate

After working the first one in graphite (posted a day or so ago), I wanted to draw another using Procreate and in color.  At first I was dragging my feet picking up the Ipad but my granddaughter, Morgan, shared a digital drawing she had done yesterday and that was all the motivation I needed.  

Not only did I work baby Groot, I also helped Morgan with a drawing this morning where she was a little stuck.  I was able to use the video feature of Procreate to share with her how I would go about what she wanted to draw and let her take it from there.  We spent hours messaging back and forth and that was so much fun!!!

Anyways, after I finished helping Morgan, I went back to work on this drawing.  Although still waiting to receive the Air Plants I want to place in these pots, I took out a stem of artificial daisies placing on top for this drawing.

Procreate Brushes Used:  BJD's Streamline Inker, his Standard Inker, and Gouache.

For this one, I chose to use the line drawing as part of the ending results.  

 

Hibiscus

Was in the mood to sketch some flowers and I chose the sketch what's blooming right outside our kitchen window.

We have several hibiscus, most of which have the orange flowers.  Also have a Hawaiian Hibiscus my youngest son gifted me with and also a double peach hibiscus.  What I love is the fact these flowers basically bloom all year long.

Fabriano old stock Hot Press watercolor paper with TWSBI 580 (EF) and #41 Brown ink.  QoR watercolors.

 

Baby Groot Flower Pots

Yesterday I received four Baby Groot flower pots (all different poses) that I plan to stick airplants in.  For those who don't know who or what Baby Groot is, he's a character in Guardians of the Galaxy 2.

I was searching for unique flower pots and happened on these I find absolutely adorable.  I may keep one to store my pencils or pens at my desk, but haven't quite made up my mind yet.  I'll know once the airplants arrive.

Terry had taken Miya out for her last short walk of the night and during the 15 minutes he was gone, I worked a quick sketch.  Then I added a little shading plus the shadow before going to bed.

I placed a frown on my drawing as I had just read something that bothered me.  This reflects what I was feeling........lol

Stillman and Birn Alpha 9x12 journal using 6B and 4B pencils.  Not real crazy about the 6B.  Even though softer than the 4B, I didn't like how it felt going across the paper........really not as smooth as the 4B but instead a bit scratchy for some reason.

Continuing with Monthly Theme - My Diet

Lately I have been craving fruit and fortunately, it's the time of the year when some of our favorites are in season.  

Rainier Cherries are a favorite and they show up in Publix for only a very limited time.  I limit myself to only five a day.  

Another favorite is the Golden Kiss Melon.  It's the sweetest of the cantaloupe type melons.  Then there is the Watermelon and fortunately the season lasts for awhile.  Both of these I weigh in at around 50 gr each a day however, I will eat up to 100 gr of watermelon if that is all we have on hand.

Normally I would get Strawberries about now but we haven't had a lot of luck purchasing sweet strawberries or with any real flavor to them.  We feel we waste money on them more often than not.  This is one fruit I can eat more of when I do get lucky enough to purchase a good batch.

Gala Apples are my go to apple variety and I get them regularly throughout the year.  I only eat a quarter of an apple each day with just a little peanut butter for added flavor.  They are normally an evening snack for me.

Taking notice of the low amounts I eat, I have to watch my sugar and carb intake so rather than do without, I allow myself small quantities just so I don't feel deprived.

And besides zucchini, kale, cauliflower, and broccoli, which I eat regularly, I've been in the mood for tomatoes.  Our favorite being the ones sold still on the vine.  Even though technically tomatoes are considered fruit, I view them as vegetables.  

I like eating sliced tomato in a wrap or between bread with salt and pepper with a little mayo as it mixes wonderfully with the juice making a wonderful dressing.  

Page worked in the handsewn journal made with old stock of Fabriano Hot Press watercolor paper using the TWSBI 580 fountain pen with #41 Brown ink.

Grapefruit Buds and Early Formation of Fruit

For ink and watercolor this month, I chose to do these two pages first showing the initial buds and early fruit on our grapefruit tree.

Worked in handsewn journal using old stock of Fabriano Hot Press 140 watercolor paper, TWSBI 580 with new EF nib and #41 Brown.  I decided to use other than Sap Green for my greens...all Daniel Smith pigments.

Note about the TWSBI 580:  After working with the 580 and a F nib for a while, I purchased the EF replacement nib and definitely prefer the EF nib.  The TWSBIs I have all feed wet compared to other pens and the F nibs were feeding ink that took too long to dry.  With one sketch I worked even after 20 minutes smudged when I went to erase the pencil lines.  

Immature Ruby Red Grapefruit - Digital Drawing

This digital drawing has taken me quite a bit of time as I played trying to decide what to include and what not to include.  I would upload to my computer to analyze on a larger screen and from there would add or remove as I saw fit on my Ipad using Procreate. 

It was originally sketched as seen to include a weed stalk with thorns growing to one side (not showing as I removed it).  Point of view was looking down with only the ground showing and not the fence that stands behind the tree.

Originally the greens I was using were too much the same (to my eyes) so I made some subtle changes for a little variation but trying to stay close to how they truly look.

After I worked the progress sheet (I can refer back to), I made a couple more subtle changes to include adding a hint of a reddish tone to the ground and lightening the front grapefruit just a bit on the right side as I thought the color saturation was too strong hiding some of the texture I wanted to show.

Size of the fruit at this point are larger than a golf ball but smaller than a baseball.  They will continue to grow changing color and be ripe around the end of Fall into Winter.  The longer these stay on the tree, the sweeter they will be.  Once picked, they do not continue to ripen.  

 

June Theme - My Diet - Veggies Pen and Ink

Continuing with the theme of what foods I like and try to incorporate into my day to day eating habits, I worked this page of vegetable doodles.

Many of the dishes I create use cauliflower and sometimes broccoli.  I love garlic and adding a touch of jalapeno for a little extra flavor and heat with most foods I eat.  Green Beans with onion and bacon is one of my favorites along side of the Kale soup we make.  For healthy snacking, I like sliced cucumber and tomato as I can't handle celery and prefer carrots (not shown) either grated in a salad or steamed.  Another major vegetable (not included on page) that I eat a lot of is Zucchini either grated or spiralized.  

Worked in 5.5x7 Fab Hotpress journal using TWSBI Eco with EF nib and Lexy Ink.

June 2021 Monthly Theme - My Diet

Tonight I was in the mood to start my theme also using graphite.  Instead of a mechanical pencil, I chose to grab a regular 4B drawing pencil after a friend of mine shared his pencil sketches with me earlier in the day.  One of the things I love more about a regular pencil is being able to use the side of the lead.  The two big drawbacks, however, is the smudging using a softer grade pencil and the fact the lead wears down requiring sharpening.  

Monthly theme for June is "My diet" sketching/painting a minimum of three to six items that might fit the theme.  Not to mistaken "dieting" but instead foods I am eating at this point.....good or bad.  I'm TRYING to get back to eating healthier foods as I've been on a very long binge of eating comfort foods causing some health issues I'd rather not be dealing with.  It's difficult when one can't sleep and all those extra hours of being awake results in my wanting to eat....normally sweets or high carb foods such as bread and other highly processed foods.

One of the dishes I like to eat that is actually healthy is Kale...minus the bacon we use for flavoring.  Although it's actually not too bad with the number of slices used in the size pot of Kale we make.  We like making what some might consider a soup.

A very simple recipe using a bunch (as packaged at the store) of Kale, three to four slices of bacon, onion, and jalapeno pepper (just to add a slight kick but not too much heat) sautéed in the pan and then simmered together in about three to four cups of water.  I could sit and just drink the broth.   

With this latest batch, I decided to add grilled diced chicken giving the "soup" some extra protein and body.  Next time we want to try using chicken broth instead of just water for extra flavoring to see which way we like best.  We may also add spinach which we've done in the past and really liked.

9 x 12" Alpha sketchbook using Mars Lumograph 4B pencil.

Premature Grapefruit in Graphite

It's been a couple of weeks since I've done any sketching.  Instead I have been taking a little break I evidently needed until the desire hit to pick up my sketchbook.

Terry had brought in a premature grapefruit he had to pull as it was putting too much stress on a limb causing fear it might snap from the weight.  We were supposed to remove ALL fruit this year allowing the energy to go into the tree itself.  He pulled all but about 12.  As I was sitting here looking at this particular one, I had the itch to sketch it...showing the size relative to my hand.  

Alpha sketchbook with mechanical pencil and .7 lead.