Yay! It’s finally feeling like spring here at Summerhill. I’ve even seen some crocus popping up in the flowerbeds. After a snowy, icy, February, it seems like spring arrived overnight.
Remember the gratitude sketch challenge that I was participating in last month? I didn’t manage to sketch every day, but I really enjoyed the hours I spent in the studio, and it was fun connecting with my sketching buddies who were also participating. I thought I’d play catch-up here and post a few more of those sketches…
One remembrance of our weeks-long February cold spell is this sketch of a day when we had a meeting at our new house that’s under construction…
To lay out this page, I penciled in the largest items first (the jacket and sweatshirt) then added the jeans and boots. Next came the long johns, and, finally, I fit the hat and socks into their spots. Doing a rough pencil sketch gave me the confidence to proceed to the next stage, inking, knowing that I liked the page design and I had room for everything I wanted to include.
One thing that helps a composite page hold together is connecting some of the items. Notice in this sketch how the scarf connects the jacket, hat, and sweatshirt, which connects to the long johns, which overlap each other and connect to the socks. It all ties together!
I love the fun lettering and bright, happy colors in this next sketch.
Vitamins might not be the most exciting of subjects, but I’m definitely grateful for them, so I drew the sketch then jazzed up the page with a nearly fluorescent leaf green border…
and lettering made of vitamins!
Being confined at home for the most of the past year has been a drag, I have to admit, but one thing I have enjoyed is not having to wake up to an alarm to rush off to the airport or get ready for a class. Instead, I get up when my internal clock tells me to. (Unfortunately, that’s usually wa-a-a-y earlier than I wish it were!)
Don’t you just love that feeling of drowsy relaxation when you’re only half awake and you just let your mind wander for a few minutes before you start your day?
That’s all for now. I have a few more sketches I’ll share in my next post, but, for now, I’m going to get outside and enjoy some spring sunshine!
10 Comments
You make such beautiful art out of such ordinary stuff.
My life is ALL ordinary stuff nowadays! No trips to Tuscany or teaching in California – just home, home, and more home…but it’s not a bad place to be. 🙂
I agree with Judy B.’s comment. Thank you for sharing your art and positive outlook that makes the world a more beautiful place!
There’s enough negativity slapping us in the face everyday, isn’t there? I like to focus on the positive. I’m glad it resonates with you, Laura. Thanks for stopping by and for taking the time to comment.
These are fabulous and so inspiring! Interesting to hear you mention Meniere’s condition. I was diagnosed with that years ago but hadn’t heard of it before then or since. Have a nice Sunday!
I’ve suffered with it for about ten years now. At times, it makes my life a living hell, but then I can go for more than a year without any vertigo problems. It’s an awful disease in its unpredictability. Seems like if you really had it, you’d know it. I’m so glad you haven’t had the same problems I have. I wouldn’t wish Meniere’s on my worst enemy.
As always your journals are so much fun to look at and very inspiring. Thanks for the lessons on how you go about laying out the page.
Was wondering with the time change today how your internal clock worked.
I woke up at 5:06, but I hadn’t changed my bedside clock yet, so I was excited when I looked at my phone a few minutes later and realized that I had managed to sleep till 6:06! I usually sleep well, just not more than 7 hours.
Hi Leslie! That is a beautiful post. Here in North Jersey the weather has been similar to yours. We are still waiting for all the snow to melt. A sight I am most grateful for this winter is watching my husband and my 20 month old grandson plowing the driveway together. My grandson loves sitting on the tractor with my husband. I am also grateful that I got to stay inside where it was warm and toasty. Thank you for your uplifting post.
Terry
I’m glad you got to be with your little grandson despite the pandemic.
Sometimes I think I’m really lucky to be a girl, with a guy to do the uncomfortable jobs, like blowing snow when it’s freezing outside or emptying the black water tank on the travel trailer!