Monday and Still Waiting

Each day I've been trying to concentrate on sketching as we sit and follow the hurricane updates.  It's so heart wrenching thinking what the people in the Bahamas are going through.  I just can't wrap my head around a storm of this magnitude sitting stationery or barely moving over an area and what it's doing to that location and the emotional toll on those going through it.

This has been such a long drawn out state of the unknown and for so many people, I'm sure, very exhausting.

To keep busy and as a break from the news updates, I've managed the following:

August 31st - Going through photos, I first decided on this Fuchsia flower.  We miss having them here in Florida.  Looking up what information I could find, you can grow the flower here but can be quite a challenge due to the heat and humidity.

I worked this by painting first and then going back and adding the ink lines using a Micron 02 pen.

September 1st brought on a new challenge between my friend, Clare, and myself.  It was her turn to choose the challenge.  Her and I both have what's called the Cuttlelola Dot Pen, so she wanted us to work a sketch using that pen.

Before prepping the pen (charging it), I decided to first use Procreate and the Stipple Brush Tool to work a rather large thumbnail that I would follow when using dot pen in sketchbook.  The advantage of working this in Procreate is the ability to control values and size of dots.

Once the dot pen was charged, I started working this sketch.  I had to recharge several times to finish plus take breaks due to the vibration and hand fatigue.

If I were to choose which I personally liked better, it would be the Procreate sketch.  I particularly like the cloud formations in the digital sketch plus the atmospheric feel to it versus the one done using the actual pen.

Once the ink was totally dry, I decided to add some color using watercolors.  Worked in the Zeta sketchbook.

After the landscape, I decided to work another sketch using the dot pen.  This is some sort of plant from a photo I had taken back in 2010 when we lived in West Virginia.  The challenge here was definitely in the long thin tendrils or whatever they are called using the pen.  I had to keep stopping...lifting the pen and then setting it down hoping I picked up right where I left off as I turned or changed direction with the pen.  It was a bit taxing on the eyes, to say the least.

September 2 - White Breasted Nuthatch.  From another photo taken back in 2010 while living in West Virginia.  A bird I haven't seen here in Florida.

This one is worked in the Hand Sewn journal with old stock of Fabriano Artistico 140lb watercolor paper.  Decided to paint and then stop before taking ink to it.  I've decided to leave as it is.

And for a change I actually remembered to scan along the way.

Still the Uncertainty

Saturday morning, August 31st and the path of Dorian keeps changing moving more off shore.  Now looks like states further north will now have to prepare for a possible hit.  No matter how much technology, it proves that we still don't have a good handle on predicting mother nature as one might wish or hope.

Just trying to sketch, I chose to go through my photos and picked Venetian Gardens to work a quick graphite sketch.  I chose water soluble graphite pencils for a wash effect and then went over with some watercolor.

I'd consider this more of a large thumbnail sketch.  Not feeling 100%, I'm not really into sketching but thought I would make myself do something while Terry goes to see if he can get the boys generator started.  It was purchased two years ago for the boys (Mark) when they lost power for about a week while living in Ocala.  It was only started once after being put together and has sat all this time.  Travis tried starting it yesterday and it just wouldn't do so.

Zeta sketchbook / Wolf's water soluble graphite 4B / Holbein watercolors

Comparing color to black and white

Anxiety of the Unknown

For most, I think the not knowing can be the most unnerving!  Here we sit for days glued to the news awaiting updates on hurricanes, their projected paths, where they will hit, and duration.  One sits and wonders what is reality versus excessive hype..........especially if you're new to dealing with hurricanes.  Does one leave or stay?  If you evacuate, will you be sitting in gridlocks along the way and make it out in time?  Will you be able to find gas if trying to evacuate?  What will one face when returning?  (At least we personally don't have to deal with evacuations.)  One looks around their homes questioning the safety of trees versus structures.  Scurrying around cleaning up yards of anything that can turn into flying missiles hoping you have room in a garage or outdoor building to hold the stuff.  For those along the coast, preparing buildings with plywood and other protective coverings, as well as packing and hauling sandbags.  Then there's the mad rush with people getting gas and other supplies/food.  Long lines, panicky/irritable people, and empty shelves adding to the anxiety.  If parents of young children, one has to try and put on a face of courage and faith so that the children don't panic.  And then there are the pets who are affected poorly by weather.  Finally, gathering important things inside the house and hoping you have a safe place to ride the storm out.

For us, every room (including bathrooms) has windows and closets we have are along external walls.  There are two very narrow linen closets but no way can one person spend any time in that small space.  There's one hallway between two bedrooms and a bath you can close off with a pocket door but overhead sits an attic fan you question whether it will come down on top of you or not.  That's the one thing about our house I do not care for..........not having a place one can feel safe spending any time in during damaging storms.

Florida was never tops on my list of places to live but here we are due to employment.  We had the choice of where in Florida and chose central knowing what the state faces every year.  My mom and several other family members lived/live in Florida and have for years.  Other family live near the coast in North Carolina.  And then there is my sister who lives across the Gulf in Rockport, TX that was devastated by Harvey and they lost so much.  So with family experiences with hurricanes, I find myself quite on edge and the worst is not knowing what to believe versus what to take with a grain of salt and still be prepared with as little stress as possible.

I don't do well with daily storms, let alone facing hurricanes or the chance of spin-off tornadoes.  So here I am going through purchased comfort food days ahead of the actual event, glued to the TV and news sites online, and packing on the pounds by the minute........lol.  I try to sleep but can't turn off the brain and I try to sketch but it's hard to focus.   I did manage this sketch during wee hours of the morning before finally going to bed at 4 a.m..............along with a bloated belly from the constant snacking.  I'm going to have to start rationing the goodies if I have any hopes of having anything left for when I really need it..........ha ha.

Sketch With Me 11th Event - Favorite

This weekend is the 11th Sketch with Me event initiated by Cathy Johnson.  Theme being "Favorite".

There are many things I would consider favorite but right off the top of my head, it has to be what's included on this journal page:

Coffee is #1 with the mug being special because it was gifted to me by my brother-in-law several years ago.  It's a Texas mug with Texas colors and on the opposite side of this cup is blue with the white star that represents Texas.

Mini bears and dog (Opal, Cinnamon, and Jake), which I often use as sketching models. 

Lamy pen - Funny thing about this pen is the fact I didn't like them at first due to the shape of the barrel.  However, now they are one of my favorites.

Latest hand-sewn journal.  This one in particular is my favorite as it's the first one I tried making with a two-toned cover structure........part cloth and part paper. 

HSFab01 / Lamy Safari with Urban Grey ink / QoR watercolors

Tufted Titmouse in Graphite

It's been awhile since I've worked in graphite, so tonight I decided to do so only using an HB. 

I chose the Staedtler Mars Lumograph HB simply because it doesn't smudge as easily as the softer grades and I wanted to see how far I could push the value on this paper.  Paper used is Stillman and Birn Zeta.

For weeks we didn't see the Black Cap Chickadee or the Tufted Titmouse and they both have started coming back around.  Another bird I haven't seen in ages is the Red Bellied Woodpecker and I actually saw one up in the palm tree.  He never came down to the feeders though.  At least I know they are still around.

First Bloom on New Potted Plant

We have several different varieties of Hibiscus growing around our house.......from the standard orange, double blossom peach, double blossom pink/red, Hawaiian Tropical, and the Peach Lion's Tail.

Two winters ago, the freezing weather that hit Florida took out our Lion's Tail but has been trying to come back from the roots......although quite weedy and scraggly looking.  Not knowing if we could successfully start new plants from cuttings, I ordered a small Lion's Tail plant online, which came in a small pot.  We transplanted it immediately upon arrival into a larger pot and it's already blooming.  Since then we've succeeded in starting new plants from stem cuttings from the weedy one in the yard .... several in water loaded with water beads and several in a pot of soil.  They are doing well except inviting snails that like to feed on the bark of the young shoots.

The Lion's Tail is a unique Hibiscus with flower within flower.  It's also known as Pom Pom Poodle Tail Hibiscus.  Being this is the first flower off the new plant, I had to attempt sketching it. 

HSFab01 / Lamy Safari with Document Dark Red ink / QoR watercolors.  For the peachy orange color, I mixed both Raw Sienna with Aliz Crimson and Raw Sienna with Quin Magenta.  The red is Pyrrole Red Light layered over Aliz Crimson.

American Redstart

Still combing through photos, I came across several of this bird bathing in our algae stained mushroom shaped water fountain.  This is from my favorite photo where she sat still long enough to get a really clear picture of her.  Loved how her tail feathers were fanned out.

I had to look this bird up and believe it's a female American Restart.  The photo was taken in August of 2017 and I haven't seen any like her since.....although I now sit in the front of the house rather than in the back where I used to sit looking out at the fountain.

What I really like about this bird is the multiple colors seen in the wings.  Her head is more gray and the feathers range from an olive brown/green to black with splashes of yellow.  It was a challenge to capture the colors in my sketch but I think I came close.

HSFab01 sketchbook / Lamy Vista with Document Brown ink / QoR watercolors

Nature Photo Walk

Anytime I go out, I take photos I can go back to for sketching ideas when something in front of my face doesn't appeal to me.

Last night I decided to go on a "nature photo walk" going through photos to see if anything jumped out at me.  One such photo included a particular tree I saw when out on the pontoon and the other is a lizard we don't see too often.

It was storming with Miya reacting so I was up till wee hours of the morning sketching until the storms passed and we could finally go to bed.

Stillman and Birn Zeta / Lamy Safari w/Urban Grey ink / QoR watercolors

Black Caps Coming Back Around

It's been awhile (earlier in the year) since we've seen Black Caps and Tufted Titmice around the bird feeders.  They've started coming back around joining in with the other birds that are normally seen every day.

HSFab01 sketchbook / Lamy Safari w/Urban Grey ink / QoR watercolors

 

Hummingbirds Still Coming Around

Capturing the hummer(s) while they happen to be in the area and coming around the feeders.  This shows three positions of the hummer's head as he/she kept checking what was around and taking a drink. 

These are from photos at two different times of the day.  Looking closely, they appear to be two different hummers.  The top and middle illustration is the same hummer whereas the bottom (later in the day)  has different markings under the chin and coloring on top of head.

HSFab01 sketchbook / Lamy Safari with Urban Grey ink / QoR watercolors

New Chair

Trying another chair hoping it's more body friendly than the ones I've been sitting in.

After the first day, I thought I'd be passing this new chair off on to another family member as it was causing me issues.  Rather than being too quick to pass it on, I added a memory foam cushion to see if that might help and so far, so good.

HSFab01 sketchbook / Lamy Vista with Urban Grey ink / QoR watercolors

A Bit of Nature

This first one is from a new Hibiscus we purchased and still sitting in a pot.  We have several type of Hibiscus growing around the house..........from single flower (orange), double (peach), Lion's Tail (peach), and exotic (yellow and red).  This one is a double with very large red flowers.......so large that the weight causes them to hang down from the stem.  They remind me of little ballerinas dancing.

HSFab01 sketchbook / QoR watercolors / Lamy pens with DeAtramentis Document inks - Dark Red and Dark green.

Glad I purchased the color inks for subjects like this.  I like the line work results better than when using black or brown inks.

This next one is from re-visiting photos I've taken.  It's a female Great Crested Flycatcher that came to our feeders last year.....along with her mate.  Haven't seen any Flycatchers this year so I'm very thankful I took the photos when they came around in June of last year.

Stillman and Birn Zeta sketchbook / Pilot VP with Document Urban Grey in / Holbein watercolors

Worked one more in the hand sewn sketchbook of a bunny outside my window where I sit all the time through the day.

DeAtramentis Document Brown ink / Lamy Vista / Holbein watercolors / HSFab01

Update:  Worked on this late at night into morning hours and finished this morning (Aug 7th).  Thought I'd add to this post since it is mentioned on the above page with the bunny.

I can still see the hummingbird in my head that hovered at my window as if looking in and wanted to record that in my journal.  HSFab01 / Lamy Vista with Doc Brown ink / Holbein watercolors.

Monthly Challenge and Daily Sketching

Can you believe it's August already??!!!  Where on earth does the time go?

So far I've started the new month sketching each day (or during the night as I often do to help keep from sitting up eating all night long)...

My friend and I had taken a break from the monthly challenges June and July but started back up as of the beginning of this month.  It was my turn to decide the challenge and I chose "Objects that hold other things together."

Stillman and Birn Beta journal / Pilot VP fountain pen / DeAtramentis Document Urban Grey ink / Holbein watercolors.

Terry was outside with Miya when our neighbor came out with cookie for Miya and clipped a small stem with two roses........one almost fully open and the other a closed bud.  This sketch is of bud as it was starting to open.

HSFab01 journal / Lamy Vista / DeAtramentis Document Brown ink / Holbein and QoR watercolors

This is of a Beanie Baby sock monkey I have sitting in a cup in my bedroom.  It is actually camo green but I chose to go with a different color scheme.  I chose the Florida Gators team colors of blue, orange, and green.  

HSFab01 sketchbook / Lamy Vista / Doc Brown ink / QoR watercolors

One of the Bubble Shooter games I play at night called Primitive Bubble.  

HSFab01 sketchbook / Lamy Vista and Lamy Safari pens / DeAtramentis Document Brown, Dark Red, Dark Green, and Fog Grey (Blue) / QoR watercolors.

Berry Color Changes on Pine Yew

Along either side of our house are Pine Yews or what we've also been told are called Japanese Plum Yews.  The leaves have a soft feel and the female plants produce fruit that are eatable.  We have neighbors who like to make jam out of the fruit if lucky enough to get them before the birds do.

One thing I noticed after I worked this page is that there is one other color stage and that's a green as the blue teal color changes before yellow.  I have the limb in water and is still alive days after the clipping.  At first clipping, I didn't see the green.

Lamy Vista w DA Doc Brown ink / QoR watercolors / HSFab01 hand sewn journal

Mistletoe in July

A sprig from a found limb of this after a few days of rather heavy storms in the area.  I have yet to see it when the berries are formed.  In fact I didn't even know it was growing up in the trees until now.

I was reading where all parts of the plant are poisonous; however, in some countries known to be used for medical treatments like cancer.

HSFab01 sketchbook / Lamy Vista with Document Brown ink / QoR watercolors

Memories

This month for Cathy Johnson's, Sketch With Me virtual outing, we are to sketch Memories of when we were growing up.

I chose when I first learned I was allergic to bees.  As young as I was, I still remember this incident as if it happened yesterday.

Bumblebees and Honey bees are the ones I react horribly to.  Wasps and yellow jackets, not so much.  But even with that, I am terrified of all stinging bugs.  The other tiny terror is the tick.

HSFab01 / Fab Art 140lb watercolor paper / DeAtramentis Document Brown ink / Lamy Vista

Ink Chart and Stippling Fun

This first is just a color chart of the five DeAtramentis Document Inks that I now have.  I first worked the outside lines and then with brush and pool of ink, worked the color wash.

I find with inks (just like staining watercolors), I feel a little intimidated but wasn't so bad with pre-wetting the areas before applying the ink.  I also toned down the ink on my palette with water so it wasn't real concentrated.  HSFab01

Last night was one of those nights where I laid down to sleep but was back up a couple hours later.  To fill the quiet time until I could lay back down, I turned on the TV and stippled these old fashioned rose flowers.  Stippling can be really relaxing to me.

I used the DeAtramentis inks Dark Red and Dark Green in the Stillman and Birn Zeta sketchbook and then this morning I decided to add a Magenta wash to them.

Dad had a beautiful plant wildly growing up a huge tree he had in his yard back in West Virginia.  We had taken an offshoot and planted it at our house (there in West Virginia) and it grew up a trellis and then across the bars of the railing on our elevated porch.  It was a beauty but have to say very thorny.  One had to be careful walking past because it just seemed like the vines would reach out and grab you.

Before the move here to Florida, we had taken an offshoot and planted in a pot.  Now five years later, here in Florida, it still grows in the pot but has yet to flower.  Not sure why and something I need to do some research on.  With the intense sun and heat (along with sandy soil), not sure the best place to plant in the ground.  In West Virginia it flourished under tree canopies to include our house by the porch.

String Angel Doll

Last night while watching TV, I worked on this string angel doll.  Although I had it on my board, my left and right sides of the brain battled for control.  It was really difficult following the strings by putting down what I actually saw.  Instead the left side won out and I just started adding strings starting with front and then adding different directional lines to look like those strings intertwined underneath.

Still trying out the Pilot Vanishing Point retractable fountain pen on various paper surfaces, I took out the Strathmore Visual Bristol Smooth sketchbook.  Not one of my favorites and mainly use it as a junk journal.  Although smooth like the S&B Zeta, this paper seems to have a coating on the surface.  I experienced some drag or friction as I moved the nib across the paper surface. 

At first I was only going to add color as seen on the first one.  Then decided to darken what was already down and add color to the bottom portion.

Florida during Summer

The idea to do this comes from an event I thought was coming up next weekend but then the event appears to have been removed.  So.......I thought I'd work the topic on my own.

This to me is what represents where we live this time of year.  Also gave me the opportunity to play with more color after several sketches using very limited or muted colors.

We are in the middle of the Wet Season where our days are mixed with sunny skies and daily storms....most often in the afternoon or early evening.  Often the storms go around our little area for whatever reason.  It can pour a mile down the road and maybe sprinkle here in the neighborhood....if at all.  But that's definitely Florida.

This is the last page in yet another sketchbook that I carry all the time in my small handbag.  It's 4 x 6 in size and I'm ready to make another just to be with me all the time  :-)

Checking Out Our Feeders

It's really unusual to see a family of four Sandhill Cranes.  Normally, from all I understand and have read (and personally witnessed), even if two chicks hatch, only one youngster makes it to fledging.  So this is exciting to see two instead of one.

They came into the front yard to check out our bird feeders.  They must have found something they liked as they hung around for awhile with one of the adults reaching the flat feeders and the youngsters working the ground.  Not sure if it was the male or female (I believe it was the male due to size) but one of the adults hung back as if on watch detail.  Then he or she checked out the ground beneath the feeders before deciding it was time to move on.

The adults started walking away together while the two youngsters hung back a few minutes before following suit.

Sketched these two as they were leaving to catch up with Mom and Dad.