Black Capped Chickadee - Ink and Wash

From one of many photos I take watching birds at our bird feeding station, I did this ink and wash sketch.

I love watching the Black Capped Chickadee.  They are cute and funny to watch with their acrobatic antics.

Tombow Marker Brush Markers - Black and Gray
Daler Rowney 3x5" Sketchbook (cartridge paper)

Started out with a light pencil sketch...

Using the brush tip end of the markers, used black around the darker areas and gray within the body for shading and definition within the white areas.

From this point I use a damp or wet round brush and start pulling ink causing it to bleed and spread.  On an acrylic board, I scribble black with the marker pen and create a pool of diluted ink for further shading using brush and water like one would with watercolor.

Continued by going over the darkest areas at neck and top of head in addition to the tree limb.  To finish, I waited till dry and then went back over with deeper glazes in some areas and dry brushing using the ink on the acrylic board.

Two Pages into One Equals Four - Pen and Wash

Working in a small Daler Rowney sketchbook - 3 x 5 closed, I worked a landscape sketch on the left page.  After I finished that sketch, later I did another on the page to the right.  Here is how the two pages looked minus a small part cropped off the bottom.

After completing the second sketch, I noticed with a little ink/wash work, I could tie the two pages into one scene.  Here is the results....

What's really nice is how each page can be framed as individual scenes plus the two pages together making a third composition.

Now look at the two side by side together sitting opposite from original layout in the sketchbook.  They could make for a fourth composition  if "stitched" together.

 

This was not planned ahead of time so for me ended as quite a nice surprise with the results.   

Used a black Tombow marker pen to initially sketch the landscapes and then washed over the ink marks with a damp or wet round brush to make the ink spread or bleed out.  Also mixed pools of ink on an acrylic surface and used a brush to apply to paper like one would watercolor.

Lazy Susans and Bee Ink and Wash

Did this sketch finishing off in ink and wash early hours this morning.  These flowers are one of my favorites and bees are my least favorite.  And they know it as it never fails they seem to migrate towards me anytime I'm outside.  Almost like they are taunting me!

Can you make out what type of paper I used?  (ha ha)

#2B pencil followed by the Tombow marker pen.  Used a small round brush and water.

Tried to place emphasis on the bottom right flower with bee by leaving more white in the petals.  I might just have to try this one in watercolor.

Surprise Gift for Boss and his Wife

I don't have a lot of experience with drawing and painting people.  Thought I would try my hand on capturing my boss and his two little twin daughters from a photo hanging in the office.  Out of all the photos I had to choose from, I went with this one so I didn't have to worry about facial features.

Although room for improvement....especially with my tonal values, I don't think I did too badly.  The setting was a bit busier with surrounding elements in the photo but I chose to keep it simple with just some light and dark shading.

Going to surprise the boss and wife with it matted - ready to be framed. 

Was done on copier paper using a mechanical 0.9 pencil, #2B and #6B pencil and paper stump for a little blending/shading.  Printed off on textured paper.

My Surroundings at Work - Ink and Wash

Earlier today at work I had a little down time and decided to do some sketching.  It was difficult being inspired due to the surroundings in an office and Industrial Park but decided to just pick something whether it intrigued me or not.  I learned that once I started, I became engrossed in trying to capture the lines and shapes making little difference if subject was really interesting or not to capture on paper.

So with Tombow marker pen and a waterbrush, I did these little sketches on regular writing paper. 

I have several sheets of writing paper with sketches like this.  I'm saving for when I have several to bind together as a notebook or journal book.

Bird House and Resident

This sketch is dedicated to Linda Bethel Wiggs.  She graciously gave me permission to use a photograph from her wildlife friends album she's posted on facebook and I chose this one due to the birdhouse. 

The angle of this hanging bird house was a definite challenge for me as I could use more practice on drawing man-made structures of any kind.  The bottom was the most challenging of all. 

Although room for improvement, I managed to come close, I think, and feel pretty good with the results....flaws and all.

Used a Staedtler Mars 2B and 6B pencil on Cartridge paper. 

This is one occasion in particular I would love to see results using Pastel Pencils.  I think color would have really done this bluebird more justice than graphite.

Sketching Beneath the Feathers

When I find myself in a slump, I am forever surfing the internet for inspiration and motivation.  My favorite places are active blogs and those that inspire me the most are listed to the right. 

In addition, I love looking for tutorials on the net.  I find that if I'm in a drawing or painting slump, following a tutorial sometimes help to bring me out.  Maybe I'm not up to composing my own work (thinking up and working out the preliminary ideas) because I lack the energy to do so while at the same time wanting to do something.  When times like that hit me, I'll go looking for a tutorial where the subject matter has already been laid out and try emulating what I see.

Here is a website I recently discovered with tutorials on drawing birds.  I like how this guy (John Muir Laws) approaches and presents drawing birds.  Watching his little animated gifs, one caught my eye and it was the young bird's stage without feathers I chose to try.  On his page, it's the second image I captured in pen, ink, and wash and took scans along the way to help me remember and share with others just what I did to achieve my final results.

I've used a Tombow marker pen and small round brush with water in a Moleskine Watercolor Journal Book. 

First I did a pencil sketch of the 'naked' bird with a #2 pencil.  Taking the Tombow marker pen using the brush tip end of the pen, I outlined the pencil marks and filled in the eye and beak.  Next I used a round brush dipping in water and tapping onto a paper towel to remove excess water.  I like the ink to run but maintain control at the same time.  I ran the pointed end of the brush inside the outlined area along the ink line causing it to bleed and spread.  Along the way, I filled the body area with diluted ink that I scribbled onto a piece of plexiglass and added some water to (using like a diluted watercolor mix).  Normally I'll pre-wet the area on paper before applying the ink wash unless I want some texture or hard edges on my marks; at which time, I'll use the dry brush technique and diluted ink.

If you're new to sketching birds, do check out John Muir Laws' site and try your hand following his animated illustrations.

More Practice at Sketching Birds

Until I need a change of subject, I'll probably be sharing several more like this.  Again sketching on cartridge paper using Staedtler Mars 2B and 6B pencils.

Lately I've been sketching larger than I'm normally used to working.  I've stepped up from a 5 x 7 sketchbook to an A4 size.  This little guy takes up half the sheet. 

One last note - This is a bit bluish in tint but that comes from photographing rather than scanning my work.  To remove the blue cast, I would have lost the lighter shading around the bird.

Practicing Birds

Since I sit and devote so much time watching birds at our feeders, I decided to sketch and later paint birds for a yearly project our small forum group tries to accomplish each year.  My selected subject is birds and/or wildlife. 

This is on cartridge paper using Staedtler Mars pencils 2B and 6B with a little blending with a paper stump.

For viewing, the image is a bit darker than the actual pencil sketch plus my photography skills are not the best battling white balance issues.  One day I might just get the hang of photographing my art......correctly.

Private Group Challenge - Gargoyles in Graphite

Each month this small private group I'm a part of comes up with a challenge for each of us to complete.  For January 2011, the challenge was to sketch gargoyles.

The expression on this guys face says to me................

"And, you can't make me!!!"

 

Was sketched on cartridge paper using a Derwent Sketching - Dark Wash - 8B pencil and paper stump for blending.

Gargoyle rendered from photograph shared with me by Clare Manners and her daughter, Laura.

Redention of Jan and Bob's Dogwood Island Bed

A quick sketch last night using a Tombow pen marker and waterbrush.  This has a small splash of color (Burnt Sienna) on the little bird house and a section of a fence post railing.

This scene was inspired and rendered from memory of an area on my in-law's property that I love.  The entire piece of property is a gardener's and nature lover's dream. 

We just returned from a week's visit in North Carolina after their big Christmas snow storm that is truly rare for those parts.  They ended up with about 7 to 8 inches of snow that lasted for a couple days.  By yesterday their temperatures were back up around 60 degrees.  What a major change from just a weekend prior.

New Ink and Wash Sketches

Here are three new sketches to start the New Year off  that I completed while visiting my husband's lovely family in North Carolina.  All were done with a Rotring ink pen and water wash in a small 4 x 6 Daler Rowney sketchbook consisting of cartridge paper.  Not sure exactly what cartridge paper is compared to what we are used to using here in the USA but I like it and seems to hold up fairly well to light washes.  I love creating these quick sketches with water soluble ink and then applying water either with paint brush or a water brush to give substance and depth to the overall scene. 

Abstract Surprise

Have you ever done something without any intentions of doing so that ended up as a total surprise?  This is the case with this.  This was not an intended painting of any kind.  In truth was a sheet of paper with practice marks and brush strokes between palette knife and flat brush.  I went to pitch in the trash and it grabbed me.  The more I looked at what was sitting on that piece of paper, the more I liked it.  A surprise abstract to my eyes that for me is captivating and I know very little about abstracts.   Even my family fell in love with it which is a great surprise considering they lean towards realism in painting.

For me this represents my love of forests and exploring what hidden treasures nature has to share with us.

Holiday Wishes

Taking one of my winter scenes painted this year, I've used a little creativity and Photoshop to design my 2010 Cyber Christmas Card. 

This was loads of fun to do and shows what we can do with our artwork in addition to matting and framing for wall display.

Happy Holidays, Everyone!!!!

Surreal Landscape

This landscape started out using simple brush strokes with a 1 inch bristle flat working wet in wet followed by a 3/8" angular and #6 Round.  With no idea or reference to work from, I just played allowing the scene to develop on its own. 

To me the ending results has this dreamy or surrealistic feel to it.  Probably due to the wet in wet soft edges and simple brush strokes suggesting most of the landscape elements. 

Painted on Fabriano Artistico 140lb Cold Press paper using Daniel Smith pigments - Fr Ultramarine, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, and a touch of Sap Green.

Greeting Card Idea in Watercolor

Sometimes when I sit down trying to motivate myself to paint, I'll just pick some pigment up on my brush and start applying to paper........having absolutely no idea in mind what I might want to do or end up with. 

This is the results of playing with left over palette paint mixes and a #10 Round on a corner of a scrap piece of Bockingford paper.  There in the corner of the paper, it really didn't look like much but add a mount and it took on a different look.   Measuring only about three inches in height gave me what one could use as a greeting card possibility.

A Bit of Color Fantasy

Nothing fancy ........ was playing with primary colors and a #10 Round and this came to life on a scrap piece of Bockingford 140 lb cold press watercolor paper. 

Colors used were Fr Ultramarine, Quin Rose, and Cad Yellow.  Also used Indigo to darken areas while still wet.

Robin Watercolor Sketch #2

This makes three sketches I've managed within a 24 hour period.  What a great feeling after the long dry spell I've been through this year.  Let's hope I can keep it up ...... at least painting or drawing a little something each week.

Same Robin as previous post but different stance.  The rail he's sitting on I'm not real thrilled with but I feel pretty good with how the bird turned out.  Especially the granulation achieved in the chest area. 

Daniel Smith Cad Red Light, Cad Yellow, Burnt Umber, Paynes Gray, Raw Sienna, Cobalt Blue and Fr Ultramarine.

On Langton 140lb Cold Press (Not)

Primarily wet in wet with dry brushing towards the end to darken areas.

#10 Round (found the #6 was a bit too small in the last painting sketch and #6 for tighter areas.  Also used a 3/8" Angular to lift some whites in the feather area.

Robin Watercolor Sketch

 Inspired by one of several photos taken of Robins in the Spring, I decided to do this sketch in watercolor.  During the painting process, I felt a bit rusty working with my materials and had to consciously make an effort not to over work this.

Langton Cold Press 140 lb; Cad Red Light, Cad Yellow, Fr Ultramarine, Burnt Umber, Raw Sienna, Cobalt Blue, and Paynes Gray; #6 Kolinsky Round

Robin Sketch - Ink and Watercolor

Again it's been awhile since I've done anything artsy.  This has been one of those years where I've experienced quite a prolonged slump.  With several things going on within the family, multiple trips, and Art Forum being slow, the motivation or time just hasn't been there for me. Tomorrow's another day, right?

What inspired me tonight was going through photos trying to select the best of family photos for printing.  As I was going through my digital photos, I came across several taken for drawing and painting ideas.  So, here after midnight, I actually get the itch to do something. 

This is from a photo taken earlier in the year when I noticed the Robins coming out and about in Spring.  The weather was still a bit unpredictable and this little fellow was a bit fluffed probably from the chill in the air.  Not sure I depicted that in my sketch nor did I give much attention to the tree stump with more shading for depth.  The important thing...........I did something!  FINALLY

Combination of Tombow Black Marker and Watercolors - Cad Red Light, Cad Yellow, Burnt Sienna, and Burnt Umber.  Sketch is using a #12 Mini Round which is approximately the size of a #5 Standard Round brush.