Sketching everyday things

Lately, I’ve been revisiting books and artists who inspire me. One such book and artist is The Art of the Affair - An Illustrated History Of Love, Sex, and Artistic Influence by Catherine Lacey and illustrated by Forsyth Harmon. The book is a delightful read - full of information and gossip about writers, artists, and other celebrities from the Jazz Age. But, what I really love about it are the watercolor and ink illustrations by Forsyth Harmon. She uses black pen lines to give definition to the illustrations but does most of her shading with layers of watercolors. Truly inspirational.

I attempted a few Sktchy-inspired portraits with her style in mind. Needless to say, her style is very difficult to replicate!

For our Christmas card this year

In reasearching Forsyth’s work, I discovered her still lifes on her website. I love these drawings of everyday items that seem to have so much beauty and personality to them. It was so eye opening to me to discover so many subjects for art all around me. I also saw the challenge of finding beauty in things that are so commonplace and ordinary that you never really look at them, much less find beauty in them.

So, I decided to start sketching my everyday items around me - starting with Forsyth’s book.

A digital drawing using Procreate and my Apple Pencil

A favorite snack - also done with Procreate and my Apple Pencil

I think I am hooked on drawing the everyday items around me! Have you tried drawing the most mundane, boring items around you?

Stay tuned for my next post on working in Procreate and animating my drawings with Sketchbook Motion.

Tour of Sketchbook 41

For the recent Urban Sketcher's Symposium in Chicago, I made two hand-bound sketchbooks to bring along - one in landscape format (Sketchbook 42) and one in portrait mode (Sketchbook 41). It was useful to have two sketchbooks with me to have the option of either orientation and to let one dry while working on the other. Since coming home from #uskchicago2017, I continued working on the sketchbook and just completed it. Here's a tour of the sketchbook (for a view of the individual pages, see the sketchbook here).

Tour of Concertina Sketchbook no. 36

I created my first concertina sketchbook inspired by Lynne Chapman from her Sketchbook Skool Exploring klass. I made this using one full sheet of Saunders Waterford 140lb. cold press watercolor paper.

Here is a narrated tour of the sketchbook followed by a quick tour.

Your comments are appreciated and welcome! Thanks for watching!

Here's how I make a concertina sketchbook from a full sheet of Fabriano Artistico 140 lb. cold-pressed watercolor paper. 1. Fold and tear the sheet into their DS lengthwise; 2. Connect the sections together by folding the ends with a 1/4" overlap and glue together with Modge Podge suitable for paper; 3. While waiting for the glue to dry, tape the ends together with Washington tape that can be removed after the glue is dried; 4. I cut covers from the backing of a watercolor pad and used a cute Daiso panda envelope to cover the covers; 5. Glue the first and last pages to the covers; 6. Put heavy books on top to set - done!

Tour of Sketchbook no. 35

This is my first Stillman & Birn sketchbook with their Beta series paper. I liked it very much - but I think I prefer using my favorite Fabriano Artistico watercolor papers in the size and format of my choosing when I bind my own sketchbooks. But, it was fun trying a new sketchbook.

Here is the slow tour of the sketchbook followed by a quick tour.

Thanks for watching! I'd love to hear your comments.

Tours of Sketchbook No. 25

I just finished sketchbook no. 25! Here is a quick tour followed by a longer view.

A slower tour.

Tours of my competed Sketchbook 22

I recently completed this handmade accordion fold sketchbook (consisting of a single 22" x 30" Fabriano Artistico 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper - folded into 5.5" x 7.5" pages). Here is a quick tour followed by a more leisurely one. Thanks for viewing! I would love to hear your comments.

Latest Sketchbook tours

Here's a slower tour of my most recently completed sketchbook no. 15 with artwork from 08.23.16 to 10.02.16.

And a quick tour.

New 50 Day Project

I loved participating in #the100dayproject of drawing/painting 100 portraits in 100 days. I always had a reason to draw each day and a subject using the Sktchy app. I also felt that I needed a lot of practice in drawing faces and people, so doing 100 portraits really helped with that!

Lately, I've been wanting to improve my urban sketching - especially with regard to adding people to my sketches. So, I thought I would participate in another drawing project/challenge - but with a bit shorter duration. So, I decided to create my own #the50dayproject and draw/paint 50 figures in action in 59 days - but using mainly the Sktchy app and its inspiration photos as references. Though, I will keep trying to practice drawing figures from life as well. Here are my first attempts for the project I started on September 1st.

Have you tried any art challenges that you've enjoyed or can recommend?

Accordion Sketchbook Tours

I love this little square accordion sketchbook I made from folding and cutting a single piece of 20" x 20" Fabriano Artistico hot press 140 lb. watercolor paper - inspired by Cathy Johnson.

Here is a quick view of this sketchbook with artwork from 08.26.16 to 09.02.16.

Quick sketchbook tour

And a more leisurely tour.

Have you made one of these accordion sketchbooks?

Sketches from Napa

Yesterday, I spent the day helping a florist friend deliver some flowers to a wedding in Napa. The flowers were beautiful.

Waiting, I did this quick sketch in about 5 minutes of the Calistoga Inn.

Since my friend drove, I was able to do some quick sketches in the car.

My Dogs in a New Sketchbook

I took a trip to the art store today and bought a few full (22" x 30") sheets of Fabriano Artistico paper in 140 lb. weights and a variety of finishes - hot press, cold press, and rough. Inspired by Cathy Johnson's no see folded journal video on YouTube and Esther K. Smith's Making Books book- I folded and cut the full sheet into two new sketchbooks.

I've been enjoying using a square format for my sketchbooks lately, so I cut down the full sheet into a 22 x 22" square and then folded it in half several times until I had a 5.5" x 5.5" sketchbook.

With the remaining paper, I made a little 3.5" x 4.5" accordion sketchbook.

To inaugurate my new sketchbook, I painted my dogs from some photos I took a little while ago.

I can't wait to show you the completed sketchbook! Stay tuned.

Finished Sketchbook No. 14

Here is a quick tour of my completed homemade sketchbook no. 14 with artwork from 07/29/16 to 08/22/16. The sketchbook is a Coptic bound book with 140 lb. 7.5" x 7.5" watercolor paper.

Here is a more leisurely tour of the same sketchbook.

I would love to hear your thoughts/comments! Thanks for watching!

Sketching while camping near Stinson Beach

We were lucky enough to get a prime camping spot at Steep Ravine near Stinson Beach. This place is amazing. We've been many times before, but we have to book 6 months prior on the 1st of each month at 8am on the dot. And even then, weekends are almost impossible to get.

So, we were camping mid-week at this beautiful location with hardly any other people around. We saw dolphins, pelicans, brush rabbits, a seal, star fish, anemones, hermit crabs, and so much more!

Best of all, I got to sketch a lot! Here are my sketches and some photos of my new portable easel in use.

The fog created some interesting textures in the sky and ocean!

Sketching at the beach by the cabins.

Sketching at the tide pools at low tide this morning.

Finished Sketchbook 13!

My homemade sketchbook no. 13 is complete! I created it with 140 lb. 6" x 9" watercolor paper and bound it by hand with Coptic stitching. I started it on July 8, 2016 and finished it today. 😊

Here is a quick view of the sketchbook tour.

Quick tour of Sketchbook #13

And a more leisurely tour.