FAST Sketch Outing - Victoria's Antique Warehouse

Our FAST sketching group met up at a local antique's warehouse yesterday.   There were four members who made it......Connie, Patricia, Lee, and Shari.  I wasn't able to go but had photos I could work from from previous trips.  Instead of sketching what's indoors, I decided to sketch the building itself.

KG sketchbook / Micron 01 / Holbein watercolors

Phone at Roosters

When we were at the coffee shop, I asked if they had any vintage telephones.  They showed me this one in the back of the shop.  Not sure with the cord and how it's attached if it's truly vintage but then what do I know :-)  The phone was different and looked neat regardless.

Worked in the KG journal using Lamy Vista fountain pen and Lexington Grey ink.

Very limited palette of colors needed for this using Raw Sienna for the phone and then I actually mixed my own brown rather than using Bt Umber for the shelf.

Because the Raw Siennas are different between the QoR and Daniel Smith brands, I used both.  QoR is brighter and used on the lighter areas whereas I used the DS brand for darker areas.

Touch of Neutral Tint and Quin Bt Orange.

Roosters - Continued

The page on the left I worked after the one on the right (I tend to do that for some reason in my books).  Working from various photos taken while at Roosters.

Grumbacher In and Out Sketchbook - nice being able to remove a page to work on, scan, and then return to the book

Sharpie pen and Daniel Smith watercolors

Today's Outing - Discovery Gardens

We had a gorgeous morning to meet up at Discovery Gardens which is an agricultural establishment in Tavares, FL.

There were four of us who met up with several others who couldn't make it due to health issues...Ella, Nancy, Susan, and myself.

This is a place I could go to repeatedly as there's so much there of interest to sketch.  And the people who work the grounds are all super friendly welcoming us and making our time there very pleasant.

I arrived about 30 or 40 minutes before others did walking around and taking a few photos.  Then came across this tree that just called out to me to sketch.  I love twisty / knobby trees!!!!  This particular tree is a Contorted Mulberry.

Worked the sketch to include a little watercolor while sitting there and then came home and touched it up a little with darker ink lines and a bit more color.

I chose not to paint the entire scene as everything is gray......paved stones, gravel, tree, the lawn ornament to the right of the tree (with a little yellow in it), and fence.  The only real color was the green plants up near the fence.  I thought about adding green for some color but then felt that would cut my scene in two halves so left it alone.  My main focus was the tree anyways.

Fabriano Soft watercolor paper (which my fountain pen doesn't care for) / TWSBI Eco / Urban Grey ink / Watercolor


Nothing fancy but worked this page as a recording of Rosemary cuttings that were given to us by one of the workers.  She shared how to cut the tips stripping the last few leaves off the cutting; dipping in Rootone, and then placing in a small pot of soil.

I couldn't find our Rootone and it was too late to go buy new so I looked up alternative ways to root Rosemary.  One place just suggested to cut tips, strip bottom leaves off and stick in a jar of water changing the water every couple of days.  Also suggested to keep in a warm spot out of direct sunlight until roots appeared.  Then plant in soil.  We'll try that to see what happens.

As for the rest of the cuttings, we will dry them and use as seasoning :-)

Stonehenge90 paper / TWSBI Eco with Urban Grey ink / Watercolor

Another Roosters Sketch

The rooster is from a figurine found inside the shop and not from their painted logo that includes a rooster.

The lettering is trying to follow their sign lettering style.  .

Fabriano Venezia with Sharpie pen. 

I found the lettering much more challenging than I did the rooster sketch.

Six Hour 10 to 15 Minutes Sketches

Today I decided to work some quick sketches each hour for six hours.  I used photos from yesterday's sketchcrawl at Roosters on Oxford as reference material.

Most were done within 10 minutes except the larger lamp looking gizmo that took about 15 minutes.  The ivy I started but was interrupted shortly after I began sketching so I didn't get very far. 

Although I consider this as quick sketching, I'm still taking care in my line work.

Didn't allow myself any erasing but instead started out with very light pressure and then darkened the lines once I was happy with how things were looking.

Worked in Fabriano Venezia with Wolf's Carbon pencil - B

Today's Sketchcrawl - Roosters On Oxford

Not too long ago, a new business had a grand opening that one of my sketching friends told me about and went to.  She told me that it would be a great place to sketch and the owner welcomed us any time. 

The place is a house converted to a coffee shop and vintage furnishing shop.  They sell organic coffee as well as baked goods.  Inside is beautifully set up with various antiques with tables and places to sit throughout the establishment.  Outside is a large covered porch also set up for people to sit and have coffee.

The owner and all who work there are artists and you can tell by the menu and advertisements in chalkboard art as well as murals on the walls.  Under one table is a painting of a carpet which we thought was really neat!!!  Wish I had thought to take a picture of that but we'll be back so I can do so then.

We had a great turn out with eight of us there plus a hubby who came with his wife. 

I didn't personally get any sketching done on location but came home and this evening sketched a couple of items I saw there (and took pictures of) in graphite using the Wolf's Carbon pencil B in the Fabriano Venezia sketchbook.

Rogers Park, Leesburg, FL

When we were out last Saturday at Venetian Gardens, I walked around a bit taking photos.  Across from where we were parked (along Venetian Park Drive), sits this newly reconstructed playground area at Rogers Park.  There's a splash pad, playground area with various structures for children to climb, as well as a covered building one can rent for events.

What grabbed my attention from where I was standing were the greens and angular shapes.  Keeping my sketch simple, I only concentrated on capturing the main angular shapes rather than including all the clutter around and under the canopies and climbing structures. 

Behind this area are oak trees providing lots of shade.  I chose to leave the background out as I didn't want the green of the trees (or the brown/gray of trunks and limbs) to take away or clash with the angular green structures.  Instead I decided to add notes to fill in some of the white space using Urban Grey ink which is more subtle than Lexy Grey or Black ink.

The greens I used are all from Daniel Smith while the other colors are QoR watercolors.

Sketch Outing Venetian Gardens

Our F.A.S.T sketch outing today.

First worked on Strathmore Imperial using the TWSBI Eco with Urban Grey ink.  

Second sketch worked in the Fabriano Venezia using my Platinum Carbon fountain pen with Platinum Carbon black ink that comes in a cartridge.

One more I worked at home from a photo.  I have no idea what type of flower this is.......it may be a weed for all I know.  There was a clump of several and this one off to itself.  This one grabbed my attention representing something personal to me.

Small spiral with Strathmore Imperial wc paper.  TWSBI Eco with Urban Grey ink.

Another Monthly Challenge - 12 Days in the Month Before Christmas

I had two monthly challenges this month set by two different friends.  One I've already done which was to sketch 12 things representing the Christmas Holiday season.  This second challenge, set by my friend in the UK, is to sketch 12 days in the month prior to Christmas something representing what we did.

Not sure I'll succeed working 12 days as I'm still struggling with motivation but I may surprise myself :-)

Yesterday's Sketch Outing

Yesterday there were eight of us that met up at Yahala Bakery to do some sketching.  There was live entertainment and many of the bikers who are here for Bike Fest happened to stop by as well.

We had a bit of excitement when two bikers collided with one leaving the bakery parking lot and another coming in.  I don't think anyone was seriously hurt.  And no one had to call the police either because there were six officers who had come in on their bikes and had just sat down at one of the outside tables when the accident occurred.  They all went running as did several other people there.

I chose to try and capture some of the folks that sat down to eat......trying to be real discreet as I don't like anyone seeing that I'm looking at them and sketching.  I always have this fear someone will say something to me that might deter me from wanting to sketch in public.  I definitely prefer taking sneak shot photos and sketching people at home!!!  They don't move and they don't see me actively sketching them :-)

Although we had a great time, it was quite noisy between the music playing, people trying to talk over the music, dogs barking that were brought there, and the noise of the motorcycles.  It was such a relief to get home and hear the beautiful sound of silence.

Last Week's Sketch Outing - Ferran Park

I'm a bit slow uploading photos from my camera.  Finally got around to doing so this morning.

It was a gorgeous morning........sunny but a bit breezy.  Not so bad as it helped keep the bugs down.

 

 

Today's Sketch Outing

What a gorgeous day today for meeting up sketching together at one of the nearby parks.  There were five of us this time out......Lee, Lyn, Susan, Shari, and myself.

The first page is in the Strathmore Visual Watercolor journal and I actually painted on the spot.  Normally I wait until I get home to mess with the paint.

This second is worked at home in the Fabriano Venezia sketchbook.  I didn't have quite the problem with pigment being grabbed like I did with the woodpecker.  I'm wondering if it's because the woodpecker was painted on the backside of a page whereas this one is the front of a page.  There might be a difference in how each side handles wet.  Anyways.....I prewet all my areas to help give me time to move the pigment around. 

Discovery Gardens, Tavares, FL Sketch Outing

What a fun day we had yesterday at Discovery Gardens.  It was a bit chilly when we met up but sitting in the sun made it tolerable.

There were five of us and at first we walked around taking photos.  Then we finally settled in to do some sketching.

Normally our sketch outings are two hours but we were having such a great time, that it was near three hours when we took notice of how long we had been there.

The first two were sketched on site with color added later at home.

One of the gals was taking photos the same time I was and I happened to catch this pose her and I later laughed about.  She said I needed to sketch it........probably just being cute........and of course I had to oblige......lol.  I laughed throughout the sketching process.  So much so that I had trouble adding ink to it after the initial pencil sketch.  As I worked, I scanned and sent to my friend and we had such a fun laugh over this.

I finally managed to finish the sketch adding color.

This is from one of the photos taken while out as is the graphite sketch following.

All were worked in a small Beta sketchbook except the graphite sketch, which was worked in a Strathmore Visual WC sketchbook.

2018 Wekiva Paint Out

Yesterday, several from our sketching group attended a yearly paint out sponsored at Wekiva Island, Florida.

This event goes all week long with artists from all over setting up around the area and painting in various mediums.  I believe they also provide classes during this time for those who wish to take them or at least watch the artist, asking questions, etc.  The final day there is a paint out competition where you have two hours to paint and then put up for display and judging.

There were eight judges that included other artists, art collectors, and just people in general who appreciate looking at artwork.

From our group of eight people who attended (Shari, myself, SusanF, Ella, Gail, Lyn, Vinnie, and Sharon), five participated in this competition where as the others chose to just sketch, watch others paint, and just enjoy the time out at this beautiful spot.

I was one who just worked a quick sketch in my journal and enjoyed the beautiful weather.  This time I actually pulled out my paints and painted on location.  I still prefer to do so at home where I have a solid structure to place my sketchbook rather than juggling everything in my lap.

I chose to work a bridge and why ..... I have no idea.  I find them quite overwhelming to try and capture so they look like they have two sides to them rather than one like in my sketch........plus all those railing pieces :-O ..... lol.   But it represents where I was sitting and the view I had :-)  What I should have zoomed in on instead are those two trees with the neat roots crawling down the bank.  Oh well............maybe next time as I'm sure we'll return to this place in the future.

This is our Vinnie working on her pastel for the competition