After a busy holiday season during which I took care of all the things I
had to do, I thought it would be fun in the new year, to do something just because I
wanted to. I didn't have much time for sketching in December and when I don't get a chance to draw and paint, I start to feel on edge, annoyed, and just plain nudgy. Sketching helps me to recenter and calm down. It takes me to my happy place.
So when I saw a
January challenge on Palma Rae's blog, with sketching prompts for each day of the month, I decided to dive in and do it. Here are the sketches from my first few days.
January 1 - As I cast my eyes around for something to draw for the first prompt, "Sketch something you can't bear to throw away but should", I spied my golden retriever, Buckley's, raggedy old rope toy. It's grey with dried dirt and slobber, but the original colors still show through, and I thought it would be interesting to draw. I love how this page turned out.
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All sketches are done in a Stillman & Birn Alpha series sketchbook, 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", with ink & watercolor |
The whole process of drawing and painting continues to amaze me. How you can start with a simple line drawing, then add a touch of color here, a shadow there, a bit of darker color over here, and all of a sudden, it comes to life - it looks real! There's a lot of the in-between time when it doesn't look good at all, but if I keep plugging away at it, it usually works out. It took me awhile to realize that. I hope it will be an encouragement to those of you who are just beginning. Don't give up. Sometimes all you need to do is keep trying - intensifying colors, adding shadows, etc. - and things will work out in the end.
January 2 - Your favorite book
Of course, there's no way I could ever pick a favorite book out of the thousands I've read and enjoyed over the years, but Winnie-the-Pooh is a wonderful classic, and I've always loved the stories and illustrations, so it was my choice for this page. You can see how well-loved and worn our copy is.
January 3 - Draw something industrial
At first glance this sketch might not seem industrial, but look closer. This view from my kitchen window, which used to show nothing but hills and trees, is now the scene of a Marcellus gas site.
Twenty-four hours a day, tanker trucks and dump trucks weave their way up our
tiny country road hauling water and sand for the gas well site just over
the hill. Nighttime used to be wonderful out here in the country, with
quiet evenings and dark starry skies. Now the trucks run all night long
and bright lights at the construction site light up the night sky. When summer comes and the trees leaf out, I won't have to look at it, but I'll still hear them and see the nighttime glow in the sky until construction is finished and the drillers move on. I don't like it one bit!
January 4 - Sketch an animal
My daughter and I took Nicholas, 3, and Callista, 2, to the
Lippencott Alpacas open house last summer, and we had a great time. I took pictures of the alpacas that day and ever since then I've been wanting to sketch this adorable girl.
Her big beautiful eyes reflect the green grass and blue sky of a September day.