Day 39

Sketched yesterday (7/29/30) using a photo in Lessons in Classical Drawing by Juliette Aristides. It's actually a hanging towel (although it's a bit hard to tell in the photo.) Folds have always been a huge challenge for me (kind of like noses and eyes and feet and...well, the list goes on and on!) So I decided I'd give this a try...next I need to sketch an actual cloth!! Well...I'm taking baby steps!! I'm thinking it's not too bad...although it really does look better in real life!

Hope you're all having a great summer!!

Day 30...plus...

I attended a watercolor workshop yesterday with Donna Campbell Allen. I know this...I LOVE drawing and painting children!! I had so much fun...here's my little Sophie in the very early stages...I used Yellow Ochre, Cad. Red, & Quinacridone Rose for a base skin color...adding a mix of Ultramarine Blue & Raw Sienna for the shadows...

And here's my Day 30 sketch... taken from "Paint my Photo" website...

Back soon with more art....

Days 23-29 Sketchbook Challenge

Here are my last several sketches...I'm still plugging along with drawing lessons...and watercolor classes! And this is what I've been up to....

Day 23 (something's off...grrr! I guess I really will have to start measuring! aacck!)

Day 24 - a little nic-nac from my studio...

Day 25 - block-in from Drawing Magazine (Scott Waddell's article)

Day 26 - from a photo of Degas' "Dancer"... couldn't quite get the feet right! Noses and feet! arrggh!

Day 27 - from a photo on "Draw My Photo" online site...

Day 28 - sketch of still life in watercolor workshop...

Day 29 - pan pastel "sketch" of model in Friday's drawing class...my photo is a bit blurry...sorry!

And that's it for me! I have a watercolor portrait workshop tomorrow...so I'll let you know how that goes! I'll be back soon.

Days 18 - 22..."Sketchbook Challenge"

Today is Friday...one of my very favorite days of the week because I get to spend a few hours learning and making art with my friend and amazing art teacher & mentor, Elizabeth Salim!! I love my art lessons!!

OK...so I purchased a bust named "Amy" a couple of weeks ago so I could practice drawing faces/heads. And, like most busts, this one has eyes that are a wee bit freaky!! Anyway...today I drew the bust!! But...before I get to that, let me get caught up on the past few "sketchbook" days...

Day 18 - from a photo of granddaughter Sophie...

 
Day 19 - from a photo of a pansy ("Draw my Photo" website)...but it turned out looking more like an hibiscus...go figure!

Day 20 - also from online photo site...

Day 21 - one more from the photo website...I love sketching/drawing babies and children! Love, love, LOVE it!

Day 22 - and finally...the "bust"...see? Creepy, lifeless eyes! But such a great experience. I used Pan Pastels and Conte pencils. I can't wait to draw "Amy" from other angles!

So...that should catch me up...for now. I'll be back soon with more sketches/drawings....

Days 14 - 17

I've been busy drawing anything and everything that strikes my fancy these days...but I definitely seem drawn to learning the portrait!! Here's what I've been up to...

Day 14 - "Baby" head (using Andrew Loomis reference)

Day 15 - "Mia" (using a photo reference of Mia! She's much cuter than this sketch depicts!)

Day 16 - I decided to try a piece of fruit...(from a photo). When I showed it to my sweet husband, he said "That's really good...what is it? A peach?" Nope...it's a tangerine! arrggh!! OK...so I'm not really happy with my shading. I may have to try using some softer pencils in addition to my HB pencil!)

Day 17 - This one's from life. It's a clay pitcher we have sitting on our mantel. Unfortunately, I had too many diffuse light sources...but aside from that, I sort of like how it turned out.

And that's it for me...until my next post, that is. I may be sketching some noses tonight...noses baffle me!!

Summer Sketch Challenge: Days 10-13...

Sketching daily is becoming more and more enjoyable for me! I'm discovering a lot...like noses are hard! As evidenced by one of my sketches of a woman whose pic is on the front of a drawing book...her nose looks a bit like Michael Jackson's nose, the later years! And despite spending a crazy amount of time re-working it, this lady still looks kind of wonky!! Here's my Day 10 sketch...see for yourself...wonky!! Or maybe she's just not all that attractive? More likely, my interpretation of her nose is wonky!

So, on Day 11, I decided to pull out my trusty book of Bargue Plates...and I just worked on noses!!

Growing weary of noses...and in search for something to draw for my watercolor class as well as for my for my Day 12 sketch, I thought I'd try my hand at some flowers!! Tulips, to be exact... (from an art website)

And Day 13 is another sketch that will find its way to my watercolor class..."Cherries"... (also from an art website)

So...that's what I've been up to, besides just living "la vida loca"!! Be back in a couple of days with more sketches!

Days 8 & 9 - Body Parts

Back again with another couple of sketches...yesterday's and todays! I decided to work on perfecting facial features...so I've been watching Proko.com...and looking in a few of my art books...so here are a couple of ears...

And a couple of left eyes! I really need to start working on  some sketches of right eyes soon...unless I plan on doing portraits of Cyclops! (Hmmmm...what's the plural of Cyclops? Cyclopses??) ...

Until next time...

Day 7 Sketch

Hello again!! It's Thursday and I'm back with my 7th sketch! This one was done after I spent some time watching a couple of videos by Stan Prokopenko on drawing heads. The technique is based on the work done by Andrew Loomis. You can check out all kinds of great drawing videos HERE (www.Proko.Com). Very informative...and very entertaining! And here's my first effort at drawing a head/face without a photo or model to work from...

Thanks so much for stopping by. I'll be back tomorrow with another sketch.

Day 6 - "Guacamole - Step 1"

I've been eyeing this photo for weeks...and decided that it was time to sketch some avocados (I looked it up...this really is the plural of avocado!)!! Makes me hungry for Mexican food!! Anyway...here it is...my 6th sketch....

I wonder what I'll sketch tomorrow...maybe some chips? Hmmmmm....

Day 5 - "Copper Kettle"

Well...here it is Day 5 of the "Summer Sketch Challenge"...and I'm on a roll! Here's my latest sketch...a "Copper Kettle" that sits on our mantle...

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After I took this photo, I did a bit of adjustment with my shading...specifically near the spout. I think tomorrow I'll try holding my sketch in front of a mirror before I take a photo. That may help me find some areas that need fixing!! Anyway...I love this kettle...and love sketching it! Until tomorrow....

Day 4 - "The Head"

Well...today is Monday and I'm back with another sketch. This one is a sketch of a plaster "head"...well, full disclosure...it's from a photo of a head statue that belongs to my friend and art teacher, Elizabeth. I decided I'd give it a go before I try sketching from my new "head" statue! Here it is...

He kind of reminds me of my brother, Tim. I didn't realize it until just now when I saw the photo. Weird. Anyway...not perfect...but not half bad for my first attempt!! Until tomorrow...

Day 3 - "The Rose"

Hello again!! Just back with a quick sketch. This is a sketch I made of a photograph I had in my files. Soon I will begin drawing from life...but, for now, as I build my confidence, I'm working from photos!

And, that's it for me. I'll be back tomorrow with another sketch!

Summer Sketch Challenge - Days 1 & 2

Hello and welcome to my "Art" blog!!

After 30+ years as an RN working with sick babies and their families, I decided to "retire" and take up art!! Fortunately, my husband has been immensely supportive...and has encouraged me every step of the way!! I really am truly blessed!

I've been taking drawing lessons from an amazingly talented woman, Elizabeth Salim, for about 18 months now...and have met some of the most amazing artists...Carter Stuart and Suzie Kowalik and Amy Donahue, to name a few. I've also taken a 5-day watercolor worksop with the remarkably talented and successful watercolorist, Mary Whyte...and studied watercolor with Donna Campbell, Robert Caldwell, Susan Stuller, and Christopher Wynn...and am looking forward to taking a watercolor class with Elizabeth Eubanks at "For Arts Sake" here in Richmond.

I am drawing and painting all kinds of things...and hope to draw and paint portraits one day. I also intend to record some of the wonderful places my husband and I visit in our travels...like the Carribbean!!

I am delighted to have been invited to participate in the "Summer Sketch Challenge"...which was created by Carter Stuart and Amy Donahue!!

The idea is that participants sketch something every day of the summer!! That's 3 months of sketching!! So...since I'm on the "accelerated art plan" (having started "art" so late in life)...I jumped at the chance!!

A brand new sketchbook is more than a little intimidating...and my starting on the first page seemed a little "arrogant" so I decided to start on page 2!! One day perhaps I'll come back and do something with the first page!! So, without further ado, here's my first sketch of the "Summer Sketch Challenge"....

I'm actually painting a watercolor of these pears...and will post it here one day when it's finished! And here's my 2nd day's sketch...

This foot actually belongs to our youngest granddaughter, Isla Bleu. I'll have to work on her toes a bit...they look kind of "wonky"...but, other than that...not too bad! And that's it for now...'ll be back with another sketch or two in a day or so!