Practice Sketching Birds

Over the last couple of days, I have been watching (and sketching along the way) a few videos on Drawing Birds by John Muir Laws.  Although I've sketched and painted birds for years, I never knew the anatomy of birds and thought by learning this, it might help me improve on results.  If nothing else, it would help to be able to identify which part of the bird I'm working on and learning what I can simplify and still end up with decent results.

I worked these as reference I can fall back on if necessary.  Fab Hotpress / TWSBI Eco with Urban Grey ink.

Using a model from the video, I worked this bird in graphite.  Then added ink and then decided to add some color.  This was basically playing with three different techniques within the same bird sketch.

While I worked the pencil sketch, I didn't think to scan the steps I chose to use from how John works his bird sketches so I tried to recreate those steps using Procreate on the Ipad.  I find using the circles or ovals like he does for head and body proportions throws me off.  I do better this way by focusing on the contour lines and how each curve or line relates in distance and placement to other areas around it.

Doodling with Ballpoint Pen

Yesterday I grabbed a new type ballpoint pen made by Uni-ball (Jetstream RT 0.7 mm) to see how it might work on two different paper surfaces.  I was interested in seeing if ink would build-up causing blobs like other pens I have tried.  Although I did have to wipe the point on paper towel now and then, the pen worked quite well on both a toothy surface and a smooth surface.

5.5x6" Journal made with Arches 140 lb Coldpress WC paper.  Added a little color with DS watercolors.

5.5 x 7" Journal made with Fabriano 140 lb Hotpress WC paper.  Chose not to add color.  No pencil lines were used as I wasn't sure how the ink would handle going over graphite.  It was also unknown if erasing would smear this type ink.

What I found is that I enjoyed using this pen for ballpoint sketching.....unlike BIC or a few other brands I've tried that tend to blob quite easily with a lot of stop and go dabbing the pen point on paper towel, which I find cumbersome.

September Challenge Between Friends - Design a Fishbowl or Aquarium

Inspired by the Switch game, Animal Crossing New Horizons, I came up with the idea to design a fishbowl or Aquarium.  

The challenge involves sketching individual components and then sketching everything together.

If working a standard fishbowl or other container like a jar, we are to sketch at least one fish and a minimum of three accents inside the container.

If working a larger aquarium, we are to sketch at least one fish and a minimum of four accents inside the container.

Not able to decide which medium I wanted to use, I chose to work my challenge in different mediums.

Digital:  Sketched using Procreate on the Ipad.  I chose to use minimum color leaving the rest black and white.

Graphite:  With this one, I just wanted to practice sketching fish and accents and not necessarily put them together in a fishbowl or aquarium.  This was using the Wolf's Carbon Pencil - B in the Stillman and Birn Beta sketchbook.

To finish the last page in my Beta journal, I worked this quick pencil sketch using a Pentel Graphgear 1000 mechanical pencil #7.

Pen and Ink plus Watercolor:  My primary contribution for the challenge I used the Kakuno fountain pen and #41 Noodler's Brown ink.  Worked in the Stillman and Birn Beta journal.  DS watercolors.

Cardinal Head Study

This started out as only a pencil study.  I was practicing the head of this cardinal as I learn the names of various areas of the face and how they relate to one another creating basic features.  After working the pencil study, I decided to add a little color.  

Worked in journal with Arches 140lb Coldpress Watercolor, Graphgear 1000 mechanical pencil #7.  Painted using Qor and DS watercolors.

Miya Drawing Revisited

One of my favorite drawings of our Yorki-poo, Miya, has been nagging at me that something just wasn't right about it.  Today I decided to revisit and make a few changes hoping to capture her likeness better.

Original Drawing and evaluation:

Although this has been the closest I could get with likeness, I was bothered by the shape of her face and eyes.  They were off making this look like another dog.   Face appears too wide and eyes not large enough.  If I look at Miya, her eyes are closer to the size of her nose.  I also felt this lacked shading on one side of her face...making it look kind of flat.

Today's Changes and feelings with results: 

I think with the changes, I have come much closer to her likeness and I like the shading a little better.  I wasn't crazy about all the white in and around the eye that I left in the original drawing and definitely made her eyes too small.  With the changes, I felt I should leave the eyes a little smaller than the nose, keeping in mind the foreshortening with her snout/nose being closer.   

I might re-evaluate this again at a later time but for now I am pleased with the changes.  This definitely looks more like our Miya.

Sketching with WC Pencil versus Graphite

 A few people I know use a watercolor pencil to work their preliminary sketch before inking and adding color.  One I know normally uses a blue-gray and another uses a light brown.  My friend who uses the light brown chooses that color because she prefers to ink using brown ink.  

Out of curiosity I thought I would try using a brown watercolor pencil since I was planning to use brown ink.  I chose a Bt Sienna so I could actually see what I put down on paper.  A lighter brown would have been way too challenging for me to see.  

My goal was to compare using a WC pencil versus using graphite with regards to erasing the lines later, smearing as I worked, and how well the ink flowed over the pencil lines.  

What I found was the WC pencil did not smear like graphite would while working.  The side of my hand or finger did not pick it up like it would working with graphite.  I worked my little experiment on Fabriano Hotpress and found the WC pencil erased easily with a kneaded eraser.  The nib and ink covered over the WC pencil lines with ease whereas it doesn't always over graphite.  

I was encouraged by my findings thinking I might start using the WC pencil more often when working my light pencil sketches UNTIL I used the same pencil on Stonehenge Aqua.  My findings on a different paper surface showed just the opposite.

Looking closely at pencil lines using WC pencil, you can see they did not erase cleanly.  I not only used a kneaded eraser, I also went over with a plastic eraser.  With the remaining pigment embedded in the paper fibers, the WC pencil bled when going in with wet brush and color.

This was a great learning experience for me.  I have learned to just embrace my graphite pencil, smears and all.  At least that can be easily remedied either by using a tissue or paper towel while working or erasing later.

Illustrated Adjectives Project

 As mentioned in previous posts, I've been playing a game Animal Crossing New Horizons since it came out back in March.  What I'm finding while playing are ideas that come to mind for sketching.  

While the game is definitely fun and relaxing, it can also spur a few other feelings as well, which gave me the idea of coming up with adjectives and illustrating what I associate them with most.

At first I considered this a monthly project between friends but I already have an idea for September and my next month is November.  I couldn't wait so decided to make it a personal project instead.

What I did was choose a minimum of six adjectives that fit with characters and/or objects within the game.  My chosen adjectives are:  Annoying, Cool, Irritating (for me a step up from annoying), Sweet and Adorable, Disgusting, Rude and Arrogant, and Favorite Things.

First I worked the illustrations in my journal and then a write-up within a simple word document, inserting the page scans, explaining each (as numbered on the journal pages).  Taking it further, I wanted to see how it might look worked as a brochure using three columns and inserting the illustrations individually within the description.

What I enjoy about doing these pages from the game is a recording in my journal of what I enjoy, which in this case is playing the game.  This one is particularly is special because of the other family members also playing and the fact we can interact with one another in the game by visiting each other's island.

Worked in journal with Stonehenge Aqua watercolor paper and using the Pilot Kakuno fountain pen with Noodler's #41 Brown ink.

Journal Pages:

**One additional illustration not included above is a Butter Churn.  I worked that by itself on it's own page as an exercise which will be in the next post.  It is, however, included in the brochure shown below on the last page.

Brochure Style with comments/explanations:

On the last page, I have "Added Notes" which I still plan to illustrate and then add to the document.  I could fill several pages with favorite things.  I might also do a few illustrations with Favorite Tasks I enjoy most in the game which #1 is fishing.  UPDATE:  "Added Notes" has been replaced with actual illustrations and explanation.

Trying Out New Pen - Pilot Kakuno

 Just for kicks and giggles, I decided to purchase this inexpensive fountain pen that is marketable for children and those new to the world of fountain pens.  Through Jetpens, I purchased mine at $13.50.  In addition to the pen, I also purchased a few converters.  I now have three different styles that work in several of my pens and wanted to do a comparison.

The pen I purchased is the Pilot Kakuno with a FINE nib.  It has a cap with three air holes...a safety feature with regards to children and choking.  The nib has an actual smiley face engraved or stamped on it.  Shape of barrel is hexagon which helps keep it from rolling and the cap has a little raised point (notch.....whatever one might call that) to help keep it and the pen from rolling.  It does not have a clip.  Size of pen capped is approximately 5 inches and approximately 6.25 inches with cap posted.  Cap is a snap on type rather than screw-on type.  Nibs are interchangeable with a few other Pilot pens to include the Metropolitan and the Pilot Prera.

Note:  With the cap having three air holes, I question how quickly the pen might dry out with ink loaded.  I guess time will tell.  I've considered finding a way to close those holes but for now will leave things as is.

Another thing I question is if the packaging was marked incorrectly having a FINE nib rather than an EXTRA FINE nib.  I may have to purchase another just to compare even though I know nibs are not created equal.......they can vary within the same manufacturer and size.

I loaded the Kakuno and my Metropolitan with Noodler's #41 Brown ink as I wanted to compare the nibs and how they fed ink.  The Kakuno I received with the Fine nib feels and flows like an Extra Fine rather than a Fine...scratchy (similar to the Lamy Safari Extra Fine) and dry ink flow.  The results with the #41 Brown is lighter with the Kakuno than the Metropolitan with Fine nib as seen in the illustration below.

The converters I am comparing are the Con-40 Piston, Con-B Squeeze, and Con-70 Push Button.  I do 

Con-40 Piston:

I do not care for the Con-40.  Not only does it hold very little ink, I find I have to twist the end of the converter to push the ink towards the feed in order for it to write or sketch with.  That is a hassle while working on something!  I would much rather just use an old cartridge and fill it with ink using a syringe.

Con-B Squeeze:

Not bad although only holds the same amount of ink as the Con-40.  I have not found myself having to open the barrel to squeeze the ink towards the feed while working.  

Con-70 Push Button:

My favorite of the three!  Holds more ink and I haven't had to do anything as I work to get the ink flowing to the feed and nib.  Just wish it was compatible with my other Pilot Pens....especially the Metropolitan.

After playing a bit with the Kakuno, I decided to try a little trick suggestion to help with the dry ink flow.  It entails GENTLY pressing the tip/tines down on a thumbnail or other surface to help spread the tines just a hair.  One has to be really careful and work slow so not to ruin the nib.  After doing so, I repeated the flower illustration I worked the day before and it appears to have helped.  Ink flow is a little wetter resulting in a darker line mark.  It also felt less scratchy as the nib moved across the paper surface.

Overall feeling with this little inexpensive pen - Not bad :-)

August Challenge Between Friends

My friend and I took a break from the challenges for a couple of months but started back up last month.  July was mine to come up with a topic, which was the Notan Art concept.  This month my friend came up with the challenge to illustrate EACH letter of our FULL name.  Each letter had to be part of the illustration.  Her incentive came from a card she received where the front of the card was the full alphabet with each letter illustrated.

Me being one to jump on board with the challenges early in the month, I finished mine within two days.  The first day was working on each letter from the time I got up until I went to bed and then finished the last several letters the next day and made changes to others I wasn't crazy about.

I worked each letter individually using Procreate on the Ipad and with the Inking / Studio Pen brush tool.  By working digital, if I wanted to make changes, I could without a lot of hassle or having to redo a letter completely (especially considering how many I had to work to complete the challenge).  Once done, I uploaded all the individual letter illustrations and then grouped together in one file using Photoshop Elements.  I could arrange the letters in various ways but chose to keep it simple.

With the colors I used in the letters, I didn't want any repeat of a color, which was fun in itself as I made decisions in what color to use for each letter in relations to one another.

As for how I worked the illustrations with each letter,  I ended up with two illustrations sitting behind the letter.  I was still trying to work out how to do things in my mind with my first name.  Notice with the middle and last name that I found ways to weave the illustrations in and around each letter, which I really like.  Easier to do with some subjects than others.

This was involved but I have to say it was a lot of fun.  Even with that said, by the time I finished all the letters to my liking, I was ready to call this done.........ha ha.

A Scraggly Magnolia Transformed Unexpectedly

Years ago we cut the top off of a scraggly looking magnolia tree in our back yard with the intent to leave a good portion of the trunk to place a bird feeder on top.  Time got away from us doing other things and the next thing we knew, that truck started sprouting new life.  As it grew, what once was scraggly looking, took on a nice shape with leaves filling in from bottom to top due to the new branching lower on the trunk. 

The last couple of years we hoped to see flowers but never did.  However, last year, my husband found a seed pod indicating it had indeed produced a flower.  This year we didn't think to watch for flowers with everything going on with the virus and whatnot so we missed it flowering again.  This year four seed pods were discovered when mowing the lawn.  At this point they are white...still forming, and I look forward to when they have developed the seeds and the pods dry.  I like collecting things like that for sketching purposes.

Journal with Fabriano Hot Press paper / Metropolitan with DeAtramentis Dark Green and Noodler's #41 Brown.  DS watercolors.

How a Game Can be Educational

Back in March, a new game came out called Animal Crossing New Horizons.  It launched just as the pandemic was spreading across the globe.  The game has been an escape for many people..being able to relax and concentrate on something positive.....living on an island and building it up for other residents.  For me it has definitely played a major role in maintaining my sanity and keeping me from being glued to the TV and computer following the day to day depressing news.

Several of my family members have also been playing and it's a way for us to interact even 1000 miles away from one another.

Aside from the escape from reality, providing endless hours of fun and relaxation, it also has an educational side to it.  One is interacting with the villagers/residents.....teaching kindness and giving to others....being neighborly and watching out for one another.  Another is learning patience (at least for me...ha ha).   It teaches responsibility and working hard for those things you need or want.  And it teaches about responsible spending and saving of Island money for bigger purchases.

There is the creative aspect as you craft many different type or style of items to include tools and furniture; but, a major bonus comes with the ability to design the island itself........setting up and decorating your island.  It even goes so far as earning the ability to transform the island's cliffs and rivers/ponds.

Then there are the numerous type fossils, bugs, fish, and sea creatures you may never have heard of before.  I find myself as I catch various creatures wanting to look them up as they are in real life, learning their origins and facts about their existence.

One such sea creature is the barnacle.  I've had a cluster purchased several years ago on a visit to Rockport, TX.  I never thought much about it except that it was a neat looking shelf ornament for my sunroom.  After swimming and diving (in the game) and catching one, I was intrigued to find out all I could about it.  To me it was just a shell ornament but learning about it as a living organism has been very enlightening to me.  Same goes for several other life-forms like butterflies and fish.  The fossils you dig up and end up pieced together teaches about the dinosaurs.  Within the game these items are donated to a museum with fact sheets near the displays.

Anyways......today I decided to do this quick sketch of the barnacle considering I have a cluster here at home and wanted to journal about it after learning the facts.

A Fruit I Doubt I'll Ever Try

Terry brought inside a Guava fruit he found on a small tree along the property line between our neighbor and ourselves.  This particular one was probably beyond ripe as it was feeling rather soft.  When he brought it in, he made a comment it smelled like RAID Ant and Roach spray.  I didn't have to get close to it as I could smell it as soon as he came into the house.  To me it smelled like a strong onion and citrus combination.  We didn't keep it inside as the odor/fragrance was so strong, you could smell it from the back room of the house.  I took pictures of it quickly and decided to work from photos rather than it sitting on my table.

According to what I've read, it's very nutritious.....seeds and all.  It's suppose to be a very sweet fruit with a unique flavor between a strawberry and pear.  All I know is that the smell alone puts us off from even wanting to try one.

After taking the photos of the one, we walked outside and I took several photos of the fruit growing which are all still green ranging from small to medium in growth.  We couldn't find another ripe one hanging from the tree.

Worked in my 7 x 5.5 journal with Fabriano Hotpress paper / Metropolitan with #41 Brown ink (for wording) and Daniel Smith watercolors.

Handcrafted Dolls Sketch

Years ago I used to be big into fabric crafting ornaments and other small items like dolls and angels.   This morning I decided to work a sketch of two of my favorites. 

I am still using the Ipad and the app, Procreate to produce these sketches.  It takes me longer to work these using the Ipad than it would using traditional paper, pen, and color but providing a nice challenge as I continue learning what this app can do.  I find I enjoy the process more than the results versus feeling the need to fill a sketchbook and focused more on the results than the process.  This change is what is helping with inspiration and motivation to do any sketching.

When I started out with this one, I started with the line drawing like I would a pen and ink drawing.  The Studio Pen brush tool was used for the line work.  Then I chose to use a brush tool I'm not familiar with - Watercolor brush tool.  At first I didn't care for how it put down color but I stuck with it.  It lays down transparent layers you have to build up but after I got the hang of it plus blending, it wasn't so bad.

At first I was going after the ink and wash look but then once I reached a certain point (as seen in the center image), I decided I didn't want that.  Instead I removed the line drawing layer and using darker matching colors, I defined the edges and added more shading as if I were using just watercolor with no pen and ink.

This shows the process as I was working along with the change and notes I made to refer back to.

Total layers used in this one is 20 not including the signature and background layers.

Same Subject Different Brush Tools

Today I decided to sketch this anchor and then using Procreate, worked with different brush tools just to compare results.

The first example (top left) is using the category Inking - Studio Pen brush tool.  I never changed the brush size and the little bar tells me the size used.

The second (top right) is using the category Drawing - Little Pine brush tool.  I've never tried this one before.   I used the same size throughout.

Third example (bottom left) is using the category Sketching - HB brush tool for line drawing and Shading Graphite for the shading.  Size brushes shown in the little bars.

Final example I decided to use color.  This time using the category Painting - Acrylic brush tool.  Line drawing was using the same HB pencil sketch using the size the bar indicates.  With the color, I used different sizes depending on area I was working.

Each were worked in layers as I normally do but with the color, I decided to only work one layer with both orange and black for blending purposes.  In the past I would use a separate layer for each color.

This was a fun exercise and I may do others trying new brush tools I've not used before.

Pencil Case Sketch

This morning I was up early and rather than turning on the TV or playing games, I decided to try and sketch something.......anything.  Instead of looking around hoping something jumped out at me to sketch, I chose to sketch the first thing I saw sitting in front of me, which happened to be my pencil case.

I'm still lacking motivation and this slump I've been in is really starting to bring me down.  I so want to get past it!!

I think part of my problem is lacking purpose for what I do.  It used to be straight forward in my reasons but somewhere along the line, I started questioning those reasons.  Now I'm dealing with a great deal of confusion and just not sure what direction to take to regain a sense of purpose.

This is digital sketching using Procreate and Ipad using the HB brush tool and the Pastel brush tool.

Family Trip to Ripley's Aquarium - Myrtle Beach

My eldest son and his family were to come to Florida for a week the last part of June and then spend a week at Myrtle Beach.  Unfortunately with the explosion of COVID 19 cases over the last few weeks here in Florida, my son's employer told him if he came to Florida during his vacation, he would be forced to stay home for 14 days without pay upon his return.  So the family decided best to post-pone their trip here saving for a later time.

While they were at Myrtle Beach, they sent me pictures of their outings, which included going to Ripley's Aquarium.  One of the photos was of penguins (which I love), so I decided to add a sketch of one of the penguins in my journal.

Fabriano Hot Press / #B Wolf's Carbon Pencil

When I set out to do this, I intended on including two penguins........one laying down to the right of the one standing.  Unfortunately, I started with the one standing and realized I didn't leave enough room to include the other one without chopping off his head.  Needless to say, composition leaves a great deal to be desired. 

If I were to print this, I would crop out around the penguin like shown below.

New Pens - Metropolitans

Not that I need any more pens but I treated myself to three Metropolitans after learning they came in other than black or gold like back years ago when I first bought two.  I like the nibs on these pens compared to the Lamy nibs.  Fine nibs in the Metropolitans are like the Lamy Extra Fine nibs but not quite as scratchy.

Although the site says they no longer come with converters, the three I purchased did.  The type that came were the squeeze type converters I've never used before.  Will be interesting to see how well they work and how much ink they hold.  I also purchased the Con40 converters but quickly learning I don't care for them.  They do not hold very much ink.  I'd rather refill an old cartridge than to use those converters.

I have filled each pen with DeAtramentis Document inks of similar colors to the color of the pens for easy identification.

Illustration worked using watercolor pencils dry.  Worked in journal with Fabriano Hot Press watercolor paper.

UPDATE August 4, 2020:  The squeeze type converters seem to be doing OK.  The Con 40 converters are absolutely useless!!!  Other people stating they don't hold much ink is an understatement.  Plus, I find I have to physically turn the piston to push ink up towards the feed in order for it to continue feeding ink. 

July Challenge - Notan Concept

Fighting a major art slump, I started doing some surfing hoping to find some inspiration and came across a term I hadn't heard before......Notan Art.

What I found first was related to paper crafting where you use black and white paper cutting out shapes from one color paper and creating a mirror image by pasting the cut pieces on the other color paper.  Something like this illustration I did.

Notan is Japanese for Darks/Lights.

Not wanting to use actual paper, physically cutting out and pasting shapes, I decided to emulate that process using Procreate on my Ipad.  My first trial was using my miniature bear, Opal, and sketching out the contour shape working black and white.  Then I decided to go one step further by repeating using complementary colors.

As I continued to research Notan Art, I came across where people combine it with Zentangles.  Using Opal in black and white, I proceeded to add some doodling of repetitive marks for added interest.

Intrigued with the black/white results, I dug even deeper and learned that the Notan Concept is used in sketching and painting.  A lot like value sketches one might do before going into a formal painting and incorporating the negative painting concept as well.  At least this is my understanding or perception of this whole process.

Great article on the principle and usage of Notan when painting.

Another web page that includes a couple short videos.

Playing with the various ideas found in my research, I worked the following.  A couple taking it further adding other values.

The first example with the cranes I am not real crazy about.  Not so much the technique but the composition or layout of the dark areas versus the light.  It was worked from a photograph and I feel after seeing the placement of values that I chose a poor photo to work from.

Went back and chose a different photo...one I had used before as reference for a sketch I worked in one of my journals....re-worked the three-value by mapping out the darks and lights.  I definitely like it better.  I chose to leave out the pole in the front and add more foliage to frame the cranes.

This next is another that I worked from a photo which has turned out to be one of my favorites.  I like the balance of black/white areas.  I sketched the one black over white and then cut/pasted the one with the white over black (digitally speaking).

Next is a grouping which includes the above and a few others I worked for the July challenge.

As a twist to the above, I also worked this last one adding in color after the initial black and white.  After adding color, I change it back to black and white mode to see the value range I achieved by adding the color.

This shows the steps I used to create this before adding color.

After a long dry spell, I am really enjoying this exercise playing with only lights and darks.  To me it is intriguing and a nice break from worrying about color or being so detailed.  The bonus is learning something from this with values and placement within a composition.

An added bonus to working on the Ipad, I learned a few things with my Procreate App I didn't know it could do.  GREAT, provided I don't forget what I learned.......ha ha.