Map Crunch

 

No more outings with Urban Sketchers or Plein Air Painters. With the Covid outbreak, we have turned to meeting virtually and drawing virtual scenes. This sketchbook page includes sketches using MapCrunch.com as a reference. One was created with a gray pen and watercolor, the other with pencil and watercolor. The sketchbook page is 8.5 x 11 inches.

Direct Watercolor - Succulent

I decided to draw from life again because it gives me more pleasure than drawing from photographs.

This is a little succulent from my patio. I thought a small painting would take less time, but it took just as long, waiting for certain areas to dry.

Direct Watercolor - Boy at Jousting Tournament

Day 4 of my direct watercolor practice was created from a photograph I took at the Jousting Tournament in Poway. This boy was sitting at one of the booths on the tournament grounds. I liked his costume and his posture as he sat, probably bored to death.

As usual with direct watercolor, my technique was to go from very light to very dark using glazing as I built up the image to define the subject. I did not draw the image with pencil first, using only watercolor and brush.

Direct Watercolor Day 2 - Sheep

This direct watercolor painting took me a long time. It was hard to do the faces, placement of eyes, length of head and shading without lines. There were subtle changes in the color and shading in my photo reference. The sketchbook page is about 4 x 4 inches. 

Oceanside Harbor

Sketching with the San Diego Urban Sketchers at Oceanside Harbor. My eyesight is still bad, that's probably why I painted in large shapes. Details don't show up very good. I painted this with watercolor then added lines with a Rapido Sketch Pen.

#100daysofsketchbookentries

#the100dayproject This gouache was done from a reference photo taken yesterday at Lake Hodges. I painted it in my homemade sketchbook.

Flowers in Gouache

In the past, I have not been too fond of painting flowers but I have this lovely still life on my kitchen table and have taken on the challenge. This time I focused in on a section that had high contrast. Using its' negative shapes to create the little flowers. Painted in Gouache.

Casein sketch of Crow

This was my first time using casein. I have struggled to learn gouache and decided to give casein a try. My son gave me a nice set of James Gurney Shiva Paints (set of 6) and it was a good introduction using this medium. This painting sketch painting was done from a photograph.

Quote

Spectator at a chess game

A good opportunity to sketch when it isn't my turn at a chess game. This quick sketch was created with a Derwent Medium Wash Pencil. I used a water brush to shade and later used my finger (which wasn't a good idea). Gary moved his hands and arms a lot so even though I thought he was going to sit still, there was movement. I still need to remember to take my time to get an accurate drawing while sketching. 

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico

I have been working on daily painting since attending the Plein Air Convention. This Daler-Rowney Sketchbook is 11 x 14 and a little too large to carry around as a constant companion so I have been working from photos until I fill it up. I have taken notes each time I sketch so I can learn from my exercises instead of just daily painting. So far I have worked on using more pigment, making better drawings before painting, and keeping up my momentum and enthusiasm until I am done with the sketch.

San Diego Steam Punk Picnic 2018

I created this watercolor while attending a San Diego Urban Sketching Event at Old Poway Park. We met during the San Diego Steampunk Picnic which gave us many costumed figures to sketch. It was a fun exercise even though it was hard to find one sitting still.  My sketches were done in an 11 x 14 inch Daler Rowney Sketchbook with pencil and watercolor.

View the 3:46-minute Lydeo of the event below.

Quotes from the Minimalists Podcast

"Sometimes we have to say no to things so that we can say yes to others." Remembering to tackle one task at a time is something I am constantly trying to practice because I get distracted so easily!

These are 2 quotes I jotted down while listening to a Minimalists Podcast. I am sure the faces are from my Orly Avineri influence since I took a "Facial Expressions" workshop from her this weekend.

Facial Expressions Workshop with Orly Avineri

This weekend I got to attend a 3-day workshop given by Orly Avineri. The title, Facial Expressions intrigued me because I had taken one from her a few years ago where we made a little book of faces, and I loved it. Orly's workshops are more than "how to" we become an engaged, open group of creators. Each spread has a personal meaning that I cannot put into words. These journal pages are not just pieces of art but bits and pieces of an experience.

My bird nest

I have a friend that has a nest collection, one that has a million bird nests in her horse barn and a teacher that talks about them like they are SO very special (which they are). I have always wanted one. Not just to have one but to find one. To see it in the tree, to think about the life it held and all the amazing work the mother bird did to find all the little elements that go into the nest. Carrying the pieces back and forth and creating a birth home for her babies. THAT is why I was so happy when my husband found one for me and brought it to me in it's branch, then showed me another abandoned nest in our orange tree.

Drawing at the Library a San Diego Urban Sketcher Event

I attended an art reception at the library yesterday and sketched the scenery outside of the library entrance. I didn't go inside because I am the official "greeter" for the San Diego Urban Sketchers and this was one of our events.

 I worked with a Stabilo China Marker and watercolor. The sketchbook is a Daler Rowney 11 x 14, 65 lb paper. When I am drawing or painting on location I don't use a full page for each drawing because I don't carry my large brushes for location painting and I work with the sketchbook on my lap. I would probably get paint on my blouse.
It was a bit chilly and many of the sketchers drew parts of the library, the people and even drew from books.

Page a Day #18

Sketchbook Journal Page

 

November 29 - December 3, 2014

sketchbook page

a sketchbook page from earlier this week:

sketchbook page

march 5-12, 2011