75 Ink Only Challenge

As mentioned in previous post, I have decided as one of my yearly challenges to work 75 ink only sketches but not necessarily in 75 days.  Some days I feel like working more than one sketch and some days I can't or don't feel like sketching.  OR, I may want to work any given day in another medium.  This will not include the Inktober challenge in October where we sketch in ink for 31 days.

For this challenge, I'm going to use this little 3 x 4 inch sketchbook my dear friend, Shari, gifted me with from her recent trip to Chicago.  With this little book, it looks like my best bet with pen is using either a Micron or Sharpie pen as fountain pen ink will bleed through, I'm afraid.

For the most part, I'll only work quick sketches using a pen and some days I might actually take a little watercolor or color pencil (paper may not take wet medium) to the sketches.  But for me, this challenge should be practicing creating form, texture, and value with ink lines/strokes and not using color to achieve that.

This Past Week

It's been a busy week with Terry and I bringing things over from storage to finally close it out.....after four days of non-stop moving and going through boxes and totes, we are half way there.  I think what's left now are empty boxes, odds and ends furnishings, suitcases, and camping gear.

As we go through everything, we're making the hard decision whether to keep or donate contents of these boxes/totes.  We meant to do this when the boys moved out 3 years ago but kept putting it off due to not wanting to face the task we're now involved in.

And while doing this, I'm also rearranging three rooms in the house for better organization as well as taking an inventory of my arts and crafts I've acquired over the years.  Some I will keep and the rest I plan to gift or donate to other people.

In all this chaos, I did manage a little sketching to include yesterday when our sketching group met up at the Library for quick sketching of people.

Pencil sketch of amaryllis bulb

Procreate sketch of amaryllis flowers cut and sent over to me by our neighbor, Jan

Quick Sketching (timed) at Library 4/16/19

And last night I started a 75 Ink Only challenge.  I'll post that separately.  I've decided instead of the 75 DAY Ink Only challenge, I'm making it a 75 sketch challenge using ink only. 

Gift from Neighbor - Rose Bud

Along the property line, our neighbor has several different type rose bushes.  Every now and then, they will cut a flower (in bud stage) and send over to me.

My husband is the social butterfly knowing names and faces of half the subdivision, whereas, I don't get out and about and know very few.  I wave if out and see people but outside of that, I've yet to have a conversation with anyone, including our next door neighbor.  For them to think of me like that is quite the surprise and really very kind.

One of the rose bushes produces very small little roses.  They don't last long at all........even shorter than a larger type rose, which if you're lucky might last two or three days cut.  This one didn't make it 24 hours.

First worked in watercolor with pen and ink added later and then a quick pencil sketch ....... both in the Grumbacher In and Out sketchbook (watercolor). 

I'm really trying hard to like this sketchbook but having trouble doing so.  I like a paper that allows for easy lifting but I have to say that this one goes too far making it difficult to paint on (unless you get your values the first time without having to add layers).  It streaks and lifts the previous layer even with a soft brush and light touch. 

Water Oak Removed

From the time we purchased the house we're in, we've had to clean up the lot (which is about 1/2 acre) where the house sits by removing MANY trees and shrubs just stuck growing all over front, back, and sides.  You couldn't see the house from the street, mowing was a true pain in the backside,  and was a real eye sore to the neighbors.

The house was a rental for many years so it's no wonder the property ended up so unsightly.  And many of the trees were planted too close to the house causing issues with roots and branches with roof, windows, etc.

We lost count after 30 the first year after we purchased the house.  And we've continued little by little shaping what's left and having more removed if considered unhealthy or a risk during hurricane season.

This week we had a huge water oak removed at the front corner of our house/driveway.  A large camphor tree near our garage right up against the concrete driveway, and heavy trimming of another camphor in the back that was top heavy on one side leaning in towards the house.

Next week we will have another type oak trimmed of two very large branches that grows over the driveway and house and a bowl depression at a fork that could rot from water and bacteria filled in with concrete.  The tree is in a healthy state so we don't want to have it totally removed.  Plus it provides us a great deal of shade we appreciate.

We love our trees but due to the risks we face each year, we had to do something.  And we still have plenty still standing.  Looks like a totally different place and our neighbors love us for what we've done.

Anyways, as the guys worked, I sat and watched as the oak was being taken down.  Amazing how they do it and safely without damaging anything around the trees or harm to those working below.  We were willing to move our pontoon and cars but they said not to worry about it.  And the orange tree and lemon under the oak was left untouched by falling debris.  The lemon tree was suffering from lack of sunlight so we should now see a major improvement.

April's Challenge Between Friends - Five Senses

This month was my turn coming up with a challenge.  I was playing an Ipad game when this one ad for another app popped up between rounds.  The app that was being advertised was "Calm" with an example when feeling anxious to stop and name 5 things you see, 4 things you hear, 3 things you smell, 2 things you feel, and 1 thing you taste.  I thought............what a cool idea for our next challenge.  (Just goes to show ad popups aren't always bad)

Using a 9 x 12 Stillman & Birn Beta sketchbook, I worked up the grid.  Perfect number of boxes at 2" square to evenly distribute across and down a page for the number of illustrations needed to fulfill the challenge.

Worked in ink first and then added the watercolor.

This layout also fits what several other friends are doing lately with their "smallies" and "littles" as they call them. 

I wouldn't be able to do this too often as it's a major strain on my eyes but was actually a LOT of fun just working on bits and pieces of subject matter to fill a small box. 

Simple Shapes Perspective Practice

Perspective if one of those four letter words in my vocabulary I often struggle with.  But I do practice off and on when in the mood hoping eventually one day it comes easier for me.  Especially when we're talking on the spot viewing without the use of rulers and guidelines visualizing the horizon line that's not always evident due to the surroundings (at least to me).

Wanting to practice, I went through my photos and came across a good example to try and capture on paper.  Simple rectangular shapes without a lot of detail.  I liked this because the boxes are stacked changing the perspective from top to bottom.  Some areas I think I did ok and others not so much. 

I started out with pencil and then adding the watercolor before the ink lines.  To the right, however, I ended up with the ink first and then the watercolor.  With a Sharpie pen, it doesn't seem to matter which is first but when using a fountain pen, the ink lines following color always look super stark to me. 

Who Wants a Hug

Maybe I've worked through the worse of my slump.  Here's another sketch I finished a little while ago.  Using one of my miniature bears as my model.  His name is Cinnamon. 

I pose him in various ways sketching at different times.  This pose just says "hugs" to me.

Fabriano Soft watercolor paper and Sharpie pen.  So I don't forget my color mix........Perm Aliz mixed with Sap Green.  Ground is an unknown mix that was on my palette.  Don't remember what colors I used :-( 

Late Night Sketching

It was one of those nights where I just couldn't sleep.  I was up until about 6:30 a.m. before I finally tried again.

Nothing was on TV that interested me so I worked this pencil drawing of my Orchid where the buds are starting to open. 

This makes year five for this orchid......the first I've ever attempted to grow.  It sits out in the sun room.

Grumbacher (back side) using Mars Lumograph HB pencil and tortillon. 

**Still in the mood to draw rather than paint and mess with color.

Sons Moving Back

This weekend was spent with two of my sons moving back from Ocala.  

They started packing the truck on Friday making one trip and then again on Saturday with those odd pieces of furniture and whatnot that you can't fit nicely in a truck.  Both days started early morning and ending at midnight or later.  Then yesterday was Day 3 returning to mow and finish cleaning what was started on Saturday.  They finally finished at the place they were moving from and started last night getting their new place set up.

My youngest texted me a photo of the room they were working on and it happened to be the kitchen.  No surprise being both the boys have taken a real interest in cooking and baking.

I worked this simple color sketch of the kitchen using a 1 inch flat.

Grumbacher watercolor sketchbook

Give a Dog a Bone or Not - Part II

During the time I was sketching, Miya kept trying to inch her way to the bone I was sketching.  I'd tell her no-no and she would sit and stare and at times give me her little "I want" whimper she's known for.

She was preoccupied for awhile with her walk and feeding time but she came back.  This dog has a memory that's unreal and when focused on something, doesn't let up.  You should see her when we play with a laser light and stop playing.  She'll sit forever watching for it to show back up on the wall......lol.

Since I was done with my sketch, I sat back and watched her as she decided to try again.  This time I had my cell phone ready to take pictures and just let her take it if she chose to.  And here is the sequence as she very cautiously went through the motions that led up to her finally getting her prize........that didn't even belong to her :-)

 

 

 

Give a Dog a Bone or Not - Part I

This was fun to do trying to sketch while one of the pups wanted my sketching prop..........ha ha.

With the knots on either end, it was easy to get lost in concentration following curves, dips, and folds.  I particularly like the colored areas, which are red, due to bacon flavoring in this particular type purchased.

We found pork chomps to be a great alternative to rawhide for dogs and both of our dogs absolutely love these.  Most of the ones we get are straight stick shaped wrapped in sweet potato but there are other flavors as well to include bacon, chicken, roasted, and peanut butter.

My son had found this bone-shaped type for his dog, Lola (who's staying with us right now), so thought I'd sketch it before it was demolished.

Worked in the KG journal and only an HB pencil.

In a Slump

Looks like I've fallen into a slump lacking incentive and motivation to pick up a pencil or pen.  This slump, however, is not only affecting my desire to sketch/paint, it's filtering over into everything I do on a day to day basis to include interaction with our sketching group, and Facebook art groups I'm in.  I'm trying to work my way out of it as quickly as I can, but it's a bit slow going at the moment.

Slumps are normal and I understand this.  And although at times I may not know the "why", there are times like now that I'm very much aware of the reason and trying to remedy it.  Then maybe I can move forward until the next time.

Some people say to just accept these times and relax by taking a break, while others say to try and push your way out of it.  For me, I have to push my way through because otherwise if I let too much time slip by, it becomes more difficult to get started again.......finding excuses not to do anything.

In my attempt to push through what's going on with me, I worked this little sketch but definitely didn't have my heart in it.  It did feel good to at least manage what I did.  And again last night I tried to start another but I ended up not getting very far.  We'll try again today.

I feel like a worn out starter in a car that's trying hard turning over to start the engine.  At least a starter can be replaced.....ha ha  However the engine has its own issues with components not in sync or running smoothly that needs attention (contributing to the starter becoming worn) and not sure I'm the one to fix that or can without assistance.

Stonehenge 90 / Mars Lumograph 3B pencil

Statue at Lone Oak Cemetery

Still haven't been in the mood to paint so I worked another pencil sketch over the weekend after I worked the self portrait for the sketch with me event with Cathy Johnson.

Mars Lumograph 3B pencil on Stonehenge 90 paper.

Sketch With Me - Self Portrait

I don't mind working portraits (when I'm in the right frame of mind) but I am NOT crazy about doing self portraits.  Just feels super weird!!!

For the 6th Sketch With Me event by Cathy Johnson, this is the topic set for us to do.  The event is for today and tomorrow.........which I started wee hours of the morning and finished after I got some sleep. 

Worked from a photograph.

This is one of those subjects I could go on and on indefinitely with adjustments but doubt I would ever be satisfied.  It's amazing how a single line or shading can make such a huge difference in how close you get to likeness.  I finally had to have my husband take a look and he said it looked like me so I called it done.....flaws and all.

In the Mood for Graphite

Last couple of days I've been more into sketching with pencil than painting.

Worked this one early morning from one of my photos when our group met up at Simon Seed Gardening Center in Leesburg early last year.

First I worked a quick sketch trying to get the main shapes down.  Then I went back and refined adding other items, more detail, and shading.

Worked on the back of Grumbacher watercolor paper, which is extremely smooth. 

3B Mars Lumograph

This next one is worked on Stonehenge 90 paper following an assignment in a book I've borrowed from one of my sketching pals from our group.  Also used the 3B pencil.

I really like this paper for graphite work as the slight tooth shows texture that I like.  Love the feel of the pencil moving across the surface.

The book is called Ernest W Watson's Course in Pencil Sketching (Four books in one).   The author shares various techniques with examples and then shares a photo as an assignment with similar subject matter for the reader to practice.

From the photo I tried my hand at, I only worked a small section of the building rather than the entire street scene and building.

Brief Visitor - Bluebird

We see a lot of birds of different varieties depending on time of year.  This is one we don't see too often. 

Earlier I was outside and thought I saw one fly into one of our trees and then flew off.  When I came back inside and was sitting just looking out the window, this one stopped for just a few minutes sitting on top of our hummingbird feeder pole.  Then he was gone. 

Small purse sketchbook / Fabriano Soft / Lamy Al Star with Lexington Grey ink

The pinkish/brown mix is Aliz Crimson, Raw Sienna (as if mixing for skin tone, and a touch of Bt Umber.

Blue is Fr Ultra and Indigo (DS) / Green is DS Sap and Qor Sap mixed.

Discovery Gardens - From Wild Rose Bush

With this one, I chose to sketch what remains after the rose petals have fallen.  I guess these are called rose hips??  Although I always thought they were red.

This comes from one of the rose bushes considered a wild rose, which I prefer over other type roses with multiple layers of petals.

Strathmore Imperial 500 watercolor paper
Platinum Carbon desk pen with same name ink
Daniel Smith:  Rich Green Gold / Green Ap / Serpentine / Hookers / Sap Green / Aliz Crimson / Mixed brown from Aliz Crimson and Sap Green, Warm Sepia from Old Holland

Another Unknown Plant at Discovery Gardens

Today is mid to upper 70s starting out sunny but now cloudy with a few showers late afternoon / early evening.  We need the rain.

Listening to and half watching Forensic Files and looking through photos taken when Shari and I went by Discovery Gardens to see how the flowers were on the Prickly Pear Cactus.

While there, this plant grabbed my attention due to the little twirled flowers or petals growing among the larger petals (rosettes?).   I just thought that was so neat.  I like the yellow in the smaller flowers against the coral red of the larger petals.  Leaves are very long so only added a few around the flowers.

KG journal, Lamy Vista with Lexington Grey ink and only three colors.

Pencil sketch first, pen and ink, and then added color. 

More on Grumbacher Watercolor In and Out Sketchbook

The more I work in this sketchbook, the more I realize it's not going to be for me.  There are too many other sketchbooks I like better that work best for how I work.  Plus I can also make my own with much better paper choices than what most journals out there offer.

Personal Notes / Findings:

Although you can lift, the paper does damage even with light brush work.  It really shows when applying pigment over that area after it dries. 

It's too easy to end up with a blotchy look since the pigment just sits on top of the sized paper and it's not something I would want to happen with many subjects. 

The surface sizing also feels like or appears to not be consistent over the entire surface.  Some areas  blotch or bead more easily than other areas.  Now that might also be attributed to possible oils on my hand as I sketch and work the ink lines but I try to be careful making sure my hands are clean.  It's more apparent working on a larger scale like this page versus several little illustrations on a page.

Fountain pen ink tends to take too long to dry (for my liking) so I've been using a Sharpie pen instead.  Not a huge deal but I like using various pens and inks.

Pencil erases very cleanly unlike some other papers.......at least the HB pencil I've been using.  Haven't tried softer or darker lead pencils.

Definitely not what I personally consider top quality art paper..........more on the line of student grade.

The ability to remove and replace pages is a really nice concept but for me not worth the other less desirable characteristics as mentioned above.

This paper might work very well for other people depending on how they work but I honestly am not that crazy about it.

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.