Figure Drawing with Pencil and Watercolor

This was the clothed model at life drawing today in a 20-minute pose. One of the other artists commented on the speed of my drawing. I think it is because I use contour drawing. I learned to draw in this manner from Bill Robles in the 1970's at the Art Center College of Design. He was/is a courtroom artist. 

I switched from pencil to a marker for these 20 and 10-minute poses. 

These are 2 minute warm-up sketches. I painted the panels with watercolor. I am in the habit of doing the panels because I usually paint the nude. It helps speed up the painting process for quick poses.

Heritage Park near Old Town, San Diego

This is the sketch I did today at the San Diego Urban Sketcher event at Heritage Park in Old Town, San Diego. Pencil and watercolor in a Daler Rowney sketchbook.

I passed on drawing the Victorian Homes and drew a house on the hill instead.

Contour line drawing

This is a quick sketch I created while my husband pumped gas for me. Contour line drawing was the technique taught to me by a courtroom artist. I enjoy contour line drawing because they are fast and perfect for urban sketching.

Life Drawing (pencil and watercolor)

Sketches done at life drawing in Ramona.

5 two minute pencil and watercolor

2 twent minute pencil and watercolor

1 20 minute

Grape Day Park, Escondido, CA

A watercolor sketch done at Grape Day Park. The Escondido Center for the Arts is in the background.

Quick pencil sketch of people at the park.

Westfield Mall, Food Court

The food court has changed.. A LOT. It seems to seat more people and has a little area that looks cozy with plants and nice chairs.

This is a snack stand I sketched while on an outing with the San Diego Sketch Crawlers.

Museum of Man

Sketching with the Weekday Sketchers at the Museum of Man in the middle of a heat wave. Rachel called it Sketch and Sweat.

Outside the Museum of Man
Brush pen with watercolor

Mayan Ball Game Whistle
pencil with watercolor

Mayan Artifact

figure drawing at north park

10 - 2 minute
watercolor background and watercolor pencil

2 fives and a ten
prismacolor brush pens from Stephen and watercolor

2 twenties
brush pen and watercolor

20 minute
watercolor and brush pen

20 minute
pencil and watercolor

San Diego Zoo's Safari Park

I did these pencil sketches while visiting with Francesca and her husband who were visiting from London. I was going to color the sketches when I got home but I was too tired. I filled about 7 pages in my sketchbook today.

Moleskine Sketchbook Flip

September 2012 - December 2012

EDM Challenge 179 Draw an onion

This is a pregnant onion. I sketched it in watercolor from life. They grow like nobody's business. They just keep having babies all over the place. You can't eat them or you will die. Too bad.

another chicken

This is the same chicken but I tried a different background - no background. (pencil and watercolor on mat board 2.5 x 3.5 inches)

Paper mache pencil

This is one of the favorites I have made so far. I feel so silly but I love making paper mache. My pencil is 15 inches long.

Paper Mache Projects

I finished another paper mache cow with sunglasses. He started with a milk carton and cut paper tubes for the legs. The face was formed with crumpled newspaper. The tail and ears were made with cut out cardboard. They were attached to the other parts of the body with masking tape and plaster cloth. It was then covered with paper mache using newspaper and homemade paste. He's painted with acrylic paint.


These are some of the other projects I am working on. From left to right: a chicken, dog, crow in overalls, goddess of creativity, pencil and lawn bowling woman, and in front, a paint brush.