Graphite Sketches

These two sketches were worked on Bristol Vellum.  The Bristol paper is in a small 6 x 6 sketch pad and I plan to bind these together in book form when all paper is worked.  I had forgotten I had this paper along with all kinds of other sketch pads, blocks, and loose paper (which I really need to start using).

Artificial Dahlias using a mechanical pencil and tortillion to smooth the graphite out.

With the bear I was wanting a little texture striving to achieve a soft feel so I used the 6B on the side of the lead in circular motion.

Next Best Thing to Hummingbirds

We miss our hummingbirds here in central Florida.  Back in West Virginia, we had so many flying around and keeping us entertained. 

Our entertainment now happens to be watching these little critters scurrying around.  Even more entertaining is watching the reactions of our two cats and one of our little dogs, Miya.

When we first moved here, it was difficult to walk Miya as she kept trying to chase these.  She's settled down a bit now as her sites have changed to all the squirrel activity in our back yard.

Here lately we've seen a lot of little ones about an inch or smaller running around.  Not sure what their breeding cycle(s) might be.

Worked in the Zeta sketchbook using palette mixes that were left from a previous painting session of W&N watercolors.

Only a small amount of pen and ink was used at the end to help emphasize a few areas.

Canna Lily at Four Stages

Little pen and ink sketch while watching TV the other night.

Zeta sketchbook and Lamy pen with Lexington Gray ink.  Touch of graphite for some subtle shading.

Material and Folds Study

This is another graphite study I worked using a mechanical pencil in the Zeta journal.  Just love graphite on this paper surface!!!  It blends well and for some reason my hand doesn't pick the graphite up as easily (smearing it all over the page) as happens with some paper surfaces I use.

My Go To Travel Palette

I have several different travel kits set up so far to grab and go but finding this one to be my first to grab (even while sitting at home).  Part of the reason is the fact it's so light and thin.  It has my favorite pigments of the three brands I use most often....Daniel Smith, W&N, and QoR artist watercolors.

This was set up before I left for WV to finish our move.  I forgot to write down what was what so I'm not exactly sure which pigment is what brand but I have a fairly good idea (if I can rely on my memory...ha..ha).  Most are W&N due to the transparency.  The orange, sap green, and purple are definitely QoR  I prefer QoR Sap Green because it appears to be closest to a natural green compared to other brands.

Cerulean Blue, Shadow, and Moonglow are definitely Daniel Smith.

Only a couple I'm not really sure (like the yellows) as I like yellows of all the brands I have.  If I were to take a wild guess, I'd say W&N but possibly Daniel Smith.....lol.  Oh well.......this teaches me to not forget to write it down at the time I fill the pans!  In any event, I like the choices I made and I guess that's what is most important.

Bottle Top

This is a little exercise I did today of a bottle top in three different positions. 

Mechanical pencil in the Zeta sketchbook. 

One thing I really like using the Zeta for pencil sketches is the fact it seems the graphite doesn't smear as easily as it can on other paper surfaces.  I worked bottom to top and with any other paper, the side of my hand and finger would have picked the graphite up and smeared it all over the page surface.

The bottle is a dark green color and what caught my attention was the bottle topper.  

Late Night Sketching

Last night through almost day break was one of those nights I just couldn't get sleepy enough to go to bed so I sketched as I watched TV.

Worked in the S&B Zeta sketchbook using Micron pens.

Trip to Disney

This past week my son and his family came to visit us here in Florida.  During their week here, we took them to Magic Kingdom............first time for my oldest son and our two granddaughters 9 and 12.  It was HOT and the lines were long but we had a wonderful day.

I managed two rides with everyone but sat out waiting while they rode other rides I knew I couldn't handle.  While doing so, I actually did a little sketching........even with all the people around me.  I'm doing better even though I did close my sketchbook a couple of times if too many were standing too close to me.

At one point I discovered a little girl standing behind me watching over my shoulder but that didn't bother me.  When I looked at her, she gave me this huge smile.  At another point there was another little girl and her grandmother watching with grandmother explaining to the little girl what I was doing.

These first two pages were sketched while at the park............S&B Zeta sketchbook.

This one is from a photo I took and worked this morning.......also in the Zeta sketchbook.

Bananas

Worked a couple days ago ............. Stillman & Birn Zeta sketchbook and Micron pen.

This pretty much explains it all in the notes :-)

Artificial Lily - Pen and Ink

This one was worked over two evenings while watching TV using a Micron 01 in the Strathmore Soft Cover sketchbook.

Practice with pen and ink only and hatching / cross-hatching.  It just kind of developed itself working the flower first and then just doing something to fill in the background.

Although the leaves are not this dark in reality, I chose to work them this way to help push the flower petals forward since I wasn't going to add color.

Meeting Place - The Villages

This page is also from yesterday's outing.  As soon as I parked, I took a picture with my cell phone just in case I wanted to do something with it later.  I arrived early thinking I might work a sketch but Kathy was already there sitting at an outside table.  So I took the photo instead.

Although I have worked all the front pages of the Strathmore Soft Cover sketchbook, I'm going back through and filling in a few of the back pages I had left untouched.

Used a Micron 01 pen except for the notes which I believe was an 03 point.

Watercolors from my grab and go palette made from a Neocolors II tin with mixed brands of my favorite colors.  Brush was my waterbrush.

The Villages with Kathy Kreidler

I'm on another high today following my second day meeting "live" someone I've come to know and interact with through Cathy Johnson's Artists Journal Workshop group on Facebook........Kathy Kreidler.

Moving to Florida is proving to be such a positive for me.  FINALLY meeting and getting to spend time with people who enjoy doing what I love to do and getting me out of the house!

This morning Kathy and I met at a place called The Villages.  It was like visiting another world.  I was in awe over the architecture of this particular part of The Villages as well as all the golf carts coming and going.  So much to see and experience ........... to sketch and paint.  A place I plan to revisit many times :-)

For our first time together, we sat where I think was like a central park area surrounded by shops.  Music was playing and Kathy and I chatted as we sketched one of the buildings.  We met early before it became too hot to enjoy being out.  We spent close to two hours together.

Pen and ink plus watercolor in the Strathmore Visual Journal.

First Day Out Fishing 2015

With all the trips back and forth between Florida and West Virginia with my Mom going into the hospital and our finishing our long drawn out move between states, we are just now getting out fishing and kayaking.  A bit hot this time of year but we still managed to have a good morning fishing and loved just being out on the water.

We finally registered our Jon Boat, which Travis took out using an electric motor.  Terry and I took out our sit-on-top fishing kayaks.

Travis first went out and then patiently sat there waiting for us to launch the kayaks.

Stillman & Birn Zeta with mechanical pencil and an 8B pencil.

Quick Sketching and Ink Doodling

A day of pen and ink only practice doodling various things around me.  All pages were done in the Strathmore Soft cover sketchbook using a Micron pen.  Either Micron 03 or 01.  The bunny was using the 01.

When I mention quick, that's subjective.  What I consider quick for me may be longer to someone else.

Often I go through a procedure where I sketch first in pencil (not necessarily erasing along the way) but more for getting a feel for the subject I'm journaling about.  Then I go back in with pen and ink....erasing everything after ink applied, and most often adding color after that.  It can take me awhile doing this.

Sometimes when I use pen and ink only, I'm very slow..........still hesitating to put that mark on paper.........crawling along the paper surface as I touch point or nib to paper.  With these pages, I was hoping for a more spontaneous feel so I made myself move quickly and go with whatever marks hit the paper.  In my mind I was just doodling............a mind game I play on myself so I don't get hung up in working slow.  And it's great practice should I work with pen and ink out on location when I don't have the time to work at my leisure.

I tend to work right to left (yes I'm strange) and these were the first two pages completed.

That night I worked this bunny.  Was fun with just scribbling the lines in which was perfect for this subject.  And it's not perfect........I made errors along the way but with the scribbling and hatch marks, those errors just kind of melded into the finished sketch.

Day of Indecision

This was one of those days where I struggled making decisions of any kind.  I couldn't decide what I wanted to sketch or paint..........too many ideas going through my head.  I get like that and I feel overwhelmed which can keep me from doing anything.

To help me through times like this, I will play this game where I close my eyes.........shift my position or turn my head..........open and my eyes and whatever I happen to see or focus on, I sketch.

This is what I saw this particular day and as I sketched, I left a box to write in.  Then procrastinated in finishing the page as I couldn't decide what to write in the box.  Finally just wrote about my day.

I couldn't decide whether to add a background or leave as you see it.  When in doubt, I do nothing and this is the way I left this page.

Strathmore Visual Journal (watercolor)

Day Out Sketching on Location

For many people, this is a normal occurrence but for me has taken a long time gaining the courage to do this.

A good friend came to pick me up this morning showing me various areas near where we live and then went to a place called Mount Dora, FL.  I've lived here almost a year and still do not know my way around or what's actually around me.........which I'm learning is quite a bit.

On Sundays, Mount Dora has a farmers market set up near the edge of one of many lakes in the county we live in.  I set up under a pavilion overlooking the lake and sketched this lighthouse across from where I was standing.

This was my opportunity too to use a messenger bag I had purchased months ago to carry my gear in.  It worked beautifully and so glad I chose this particular one.  It's small but holds all I could possibly need sketching and/or painting in watercolor.

The cardboard you see is from the back of a watercolor block.  It's thick and strong acting as the perfect portable table (I'll have to take a picture of how I used it and share in a later post).  Lee Kline (who I went out sketching with) shared this idea with me.  Although it sticks out of the bag as shown, it didn't get in my way at all.

Getting back to the sketching, I stood and first worked a quick pencil sketch.  Then using my TWSBI mini fountain pen and Lexington Gray ink, I went back over the sketch.  By that time Lee was finished with his sketching and painting and I waited to paint after returning home.

This was worked in the Strathmore Visual Journal (Watercolor) and mixed brands of watercolor I have set up in a Neocolors II tin case.  I chose my favorite pigments from W&N, Daniel Smith, and QoR watercolors.

This page is special to me because of what it represents for me personally and the wonderful time I had sketching with Lee.  I can't wait to do this again!!!
 

Two of Many Beanie Babies

Back when I worked at the hospital I used to visit the gift shop often watching for new beanie babies to come in.  I was into collecting them years ago as was my youngest son.  We've given several away to the granddaughters but still have quite a few left we'll probably save for my youngest son's children.

Grabbing two of my favorites, I worked on this page last night with pen and ink.  Today I finished it off by adding watercolor.

Strathmore Visual journal / Micron pen / Daniel Smith watercolors

Ready to Go!

Tonight I worked this quick sketch of my bag for tomorrow's outing with a good friend of mine.  He plans to take me around Lake county here in Florida.  It's been a long time coming my finally getting together with someone to go sketching.  There are two others I know of in the area and hope to get with them as well in the near future.

Worked in the Strathmore Visual journal (watercolor) with Pitt Pen #S.  Daniel Smith watercolors.

Winning Tat Sketch

After several more attempts, I finally came up with a simpler design my sister in law could use should she get another tattoo.

First is on the regular white of the paper and then using photoshop elements, I created a background to somewhat resemble skin color to see how it might look.

She loves it!!!

Zen Dragonflies

I bought this dragonfly sun catcher and was in the mood to doodle so sketched one on paper using pencil first and then a Pitt Artist pen........erasing the pencil marks.......and then scanned it.

From there I created a photoshop layout where I duplicated and resized to fit a few on a piece of copier paper for playing with zen patterns.

I was thinking about my sister-in-law who loves dragonflies and wants me to come up with something she can use as another tattoo. She's used one of my paintings in the past (stargazer flowers) for a tattoo on the calf of her leg. Talk about the ultimate compliment of my work!

I will probably work on more trying to simplify patterns considering it would be for a tattoo.  

Granddaughters Sketching Their Hands

Thought I would share what my granddaughters, Morgan and Madison, accomplished after showing them how to sketch an outline in graphite and using a paper stump to shade creating form and structure to their outlines

Morgan's Hand:

Madison's thumb, hand, and flower pot:

They really had a wonderful time with this new technique (new to them)  and I couldn't be prouder of both!  :-)

May 11 thru May 15 Journal Pages

It's been a busy week unpacking boxes, sorting what to keep and what to donate, and then finding a place for what we decide to keep.

We didn't unpack a great deal from trip #2 simply because we didn't have all of our furniture like cabinets and shelves.  The first load was primarily my middle and youngest sons' belongings most of which have gone into storage.

Now we're going through every box and tote from all trips making decisions of what we really want or need to keep and what goes........starting with what's physically here at the house (later we'll tackle the storage unit).  And we did this prior to packing before we started this move but finding now we can still let loose of quite a bit more.

What's funny............a large number of items packed in totes and boxes happens to be books and art materials/supplies.  Go figure.........LOL

Come evenings as I relax and during needed breaks, I have still managed to do some sketching and painting.  Here are the pages I've completed.

Corked Bottle and Grapes

This finishes up my Stillman & Birn Delta journal :-)

I'm showing a smaller version that shows how I finished off the 2-page spread.  QoR watercolors were used after a line drawing using a Micron 02.  Also used a white gel pen in some areas removing some of the black ink lines and adding a few halos around some parts.  The whites on the grapes are actually white of the paper.....I remembered to leave those :-)

Monkey in a Cup

This was a lot of fun to sketch and paint. 

Only 2 pages left before filling another sketchbook.  These pages are in the Delta journal :-)

Still Life Models

Lately I have been picking up a few items I can arrange in still life set-ups.  I've also included a set of frogs which were a gift to me by my Sissy, Darlene.

Painting with India Ink

Received my bottle of India Ink so I could work some more using Steven Reddy's technique painting with ink and watercolor.

The India Ink is a joy to work with.  After mixed in water and sitting over night, it does not separate like the Noodler's ink did.  With the Noodler's, you could see a definite separation of ink on bottom and clearer water above it.  With the India Ink, it might require a quick shake but it still looks mixed throughout with no clear separation of ink vs water.

The ink/water solution went down much easier spreading across the paper (same paper surface as previous post).

And it might be my imagination but just appears to look cleaner in the final results than what I achieved using the Noodler's Black ink.  Will know better as I continue to experiment.

Stillman & Birn Delta, Microns 05 and 005, W&N watercolors, #5 Round

Fantastic Course on Craftsy - Steven Reddy

I have been a big fan of Steven Reddy's work using ink and watercolor for some time....first discovering him on flickr.  And for the longest time I so wished I could see him in action as he composes his still life setups and how he goes about working complicated scenes with multiple items (he loves the challenge of cluttered scenes). 

Lo and Behold.......... my wish came true :-)  I received an email alerting me that Craftsy was offering a course by Steven Reddy and I immediately jumped on it.  What a fantastic course beautifully presented and extremely informative.  By far my favorite of the courses I've taken to date :-)

Craftsy - Steven Reddy - Dynamic Detail in Pen, Ink, and Watercolor

 

Now I'm hoping he can offer another course showing how he goes about working landscapes and buildings !!!!!

The one item I didn't have on hand was India Ink he uses so I had to improvise by using Noodler's Black ink.  I'm really curious to see how the India Ink differs when added to water for making up different value solutions.  The Noodler's ink settles quickly to the bottom of the water with one having to stir or shake it several times throughout the process to obtain the value in which the solution was created to achieve.  In any event, I still ended up with a water proof diluted ink mix and made it work for these exercises.