A bird named Zack Zany

I’ve been uninspired to draw any birds lately, which made me sad.  Cuz I like these little guys.  As I was looking thru my Sketchbook project drawings, I spotted this picture, which I am extremely fond of.  Then it hit me!!  I’ll  draw a bird sketching a person.



Anytime I draw a Zen bird, it is rewarding!!  Seriously…..look at all the doodling possibilities.  Endless!



This guy is very similar to Leo, seen in this post.



Having found my subject, I got to play with the background.  What better way to play than with all that color?



Zack-the-Zany Bird……. He seems to draw attention to himself just by going out!  He’s gotten used to it by now, but he would prefer it if birds got to know him a little better before they judged him (either good or bad). 

Kind of hard for this guy to blend in, don’t ya think?  But then again, we weren’t made to blend in we were made to Stand Out.  Zack was just plain F.U.N. to draw!  Love him!  Possibly a whole Zany family is in the making, who knows?

Yanina Wickmayer….part 5

Spotted this picture of a tennis player when I did a google search looking for something to draw.
It passed a few checkpoints:

1. Not a lot of Hair
2. Body drawing (not a lot of clothes….LOL)
3. Interesting

Personally I think sketch drawings lead themselves more toward the body, the face, the un-adorned.  Possibly because we I can’t bring in color.  If I can’t bring in color then it’s all about dimension and texture.



As you can see from the eraser marks.  I was able to bring the bill of the hat higher and even the top of the hat itself.  I played around some with the nose.

I added the other earring.  BUT I wasn’t inspired to draw that necklace today.  Possibly I’ll try it on another day, but since I couldn’t stand wearing such bulk when I played I drew her my way.  Hahaha!



I must say…..she was a very good model!!  She held her pose for the entire week that it took to get the drawing this far and she never once complained!



Ok…this is where I need your help.  Should I continue outlining the sketch drawings with my Black XS Faber-Castell Pitt pen…..or not?  Sometimes it bugs me that the lighter portions when outlined make such a rigid line!  I’m talking about the top of the right shoulder.  May go buy a gray XS pen (if I can find one).  That may help.

Another Backhand Sketch…part 4

Yes, I’m sketch-saturated so here I am….posting away.  This is much easier!  LOL!



Would you believe that when I initially drew the contour lines for her head, the line that represents the top of her hat is where I thought the bill of her hat would be…..really!



A picture is worth a thousand words, as is a picture of a picture.  After I drew this I brought her mouth up some, closer to her nose. 



I’m finding it challenging to match that determined expression on her mouth.  But I’m not ready to quit yet.

What I see I need to do is:

1. Elongate the top of the hat
2. Shorten the nose
3. Tilt the head
4. And if I’m feeling real motivated…..slenderize her torso.

Or I can just make do….and work on the other earring, and the necklace.  See what I mean about faces??

Backhand Sketch….part 3

I needed a sketch break, so I thought I’d do another post…..who said I had to limit sketch post series to 3 anyway?  Just one of my internal rules I’ve been following!  Boy, have I got a lot of little internal guidelines….don’t we all?  I guess it’s the only way I know how to function, haha.

I ended up bringing her neck in more on both sides.  And adjusting her right sleeve narrower.  Yep, I’m getting real good at erasing. 



What surprises me about this drawing, is how easy it is to shade in the folds on her top.  It just doesn’t require a lot of thought.



Of the items that I really wanted to exclude (you know, the necklace, earrings, and emblem), I attempted the easiest one first.  That’s all you have to do….just draw something easy….then move on to the stuff you avoid.  I think that builds confidence.  At least it’s a trick that’s working with me.

And guess what?  I moved that left shoulder in MORE.  I guess when I think of muscles, I think HUGE!

Backhand Sketch….part 2

It looks like the arm is done….but trust me….it’s not!



Shaded in the opposite arm and the neck area!  That neck is going to be tricky!



I’ve moved the top V-neck about three times so far.



It’s during times like this, when I can see the original and my drawing side by side as a jpg, that I can really see the problems.



Again, it was the shoulder that still needed to be brought in more.  I’m beginning to like erasing as much as sketching. LOL!



I’m debating with myself about the writing and the emblem on the shirt….do I try or don’t I?  That is the Question!

The debate is on with the necklace and earrings as well!!  Oh….if you could listen to the chatter!!

A backhanded Sketch….part 1

We’ve been watching a lot of tennis with the French Open tournament going on.  Love tennis!!  Love it!!   I’ve never drawn a tennis player before so I thought I’d take up the challenge.



I’m a bit out of sketch practice since I haven’t sketched since my Diver girl in April.  Dimensions are all out of proportion here.  She looks a bit like a HE here. 



She still isn’t as lady-like as I’d like her to be.  Had to bring in a bunch of lines as seen here by the red arrows.  I was getting a bit frustrated with myself, and almost stashed this attempt.  But, I have to confess, if I get a sketch right….those are my proudest moments.  So….I….continued.



I’ve got my work cut out for me here, not only is there a face (Yikes!!) which I have to make resemble the player, but the body is closer up than I’m used to.  Not as much room for error…..and I prefer lots of room when I error!



Now, she’s showing more composure and the sketch is coming together a bit better.  I still need to work on that front arm, the contour is off at the elbow.   I’m happier with the shoulder shape finally.

More to follow.

5th Set of Doodle Directory….on Sale in etsy

                 “S” is for SALE!!

Sometimes it’s a hard choice….do I doodle my alphabet or do I doodle my directory???



I was running out of doodle ideas until I read this comment from jinxxxygirl (thank you Deb)

6 There are so many doodles out there waiting to be put to paper that your doodle directory could be never ending!
on this post.  And I realized she was right!

In honor of this 5th set being released, I thought I should have a sale.  Now until June 4th, you can get my Doodle Directory prints for 33% off.  

Pricing List:

• 1 Set-   $8.99   (10 prints)  Sale $5.93
• 5 Sets- $24.99  (50 prints) Sale $16.50

Use Coupon Code DOODLE33 when you check out at my ETSY store and you’ll get the sale price plus shipping and handling.

Have a safe and Happy Memorial Day :D

Doodle Directory….Set 5

I completed Set 4 three months ago.  Wow!  That means this group of ten prints took me as long to complete.  Well, I must confess, I didn’t really work on it much, just between projects and all. 

Lots of pictures coming, be FOREWARNED.  Above is print 41.



Next, Print 42.



Here’s 43….



Then there’s 44….



And now Print 45….



Can’t leave out #46.



Some of my favorite designs here in Print 47.



Some visual interest in #48.



#49….the monitor in the background definitely did not hold its true colors in this picture.



And last…but not least….Number 50!

These will be available in my etsy shop as soon as I get my act together.  I’ll let you know.

Winner Chosen

First of all I want to thank everyone that took the time to answer my questions for this Blog Survey.  I’ve jotted down a bunch of suggestions from you all.  You guys always amaze me with your insight and positive feedback.

I used the Random Generator to pick the winner and she is:



I wish I could send out a directory to all of you, really!   Please stick around because I’ll be doing this again sometime.  I think they’re fun!

Phoenix Peacock please email your snail mail address to me here: elg921 [at] yahoo [dot] com

Thanks again EveryOne!

Cool stuff from my Bloggy Artist Friends

I’m going to spotlight some recent etsy purchases from my bloggy-friends.  The one thing they all have in common is the above statement written by my 12 yr old niece.   (She’s a precocious child…not too much gets past this one).  She had a birthday last month and since she’s always interested in the stuff I do when we visit, I thought I’d add to her little artsy-stash.



I went to Borders in search of Dawn’s book “Doodle Diary, Art Journaling for Girls".  I had to go to the children’s section and I almost missed it.  As you can see the size of this book makes it easy to overlook.  I was lucky to nab one before they were all gone.



Last week I got this nice handmade Thank You card from said niece.  In it she wrote the following:
Thank you for all the art supplies.  I love them!  I especially love the doodle diary.  I’ve already learned a lot of new art things in it.  In fact I’m using some of the things I learned in this card.

Just sweet, this card is!  I just wanted to let you know, that 12 yr old girls dig this book.  Kudo’s to you Dawn for creating it!



I was so happy when I received these prints from Rachel last week.  I had to hunt down white frames for them, and then I added some red textured poster board (in lieu of $13 matting per piece) to the back to make the 9 x 12 prints work in the 10 x 13 frames. 



I’ve created a Rachel wall in my spare bedroom, where I can share these colorful and insightful messages with family and friends who visit.

 

This is… without a doubt… my Favorite-must-have print.  I need this gentle reminder.

 

Then there’s Aimee-with-Attitude!!  I love her sense of humor…she never fails to crack me up because she ALWAYS says what she’s thinking.  What a way with words this girl has.  Like the card above says:  When someone give you an odd look and grumbles “That’s not the way it’s done” just smile and wink and say “I know but its my way and I like it”. Talk about spunk!!  She’s loaded!  I could use a bit of her confidence that’s for sure.

 

Purchased  4 prints from Aimee at Christmas.  I gave one away and didn’t click a pic of it, shoot!



A little reminder on our dry-erase board as I enter or leave the house each day.



And I have to mention my very first etsy purchase.  It was from the VERY TALENTED Rebecca of Penny Lane Ink.  I totally fell in love with her girly-postcards.  I even did a whole post last summer about it HERE.

My new philosophy is I WILL support the artists that I like here in blog-land.  No, I won’t buy something just to buy it.  If I can afford it and it speaks to me, I’m getting it!  Because I’ll tell you one thing …..you won’t find this quality and these unique type of things at Wal-mart or Target.  Why not be the first on your block with a fun artsy item on the forefront?