A sketch of a Person on a Paddleboard….fini

Since we were a day without power, and I’m a person without much sleep, please excuse the run-on sentences that are bound to occur.



I used my new copic gray multiliners to outline just about everything.  But not the folds in the suit.  That would’ve been too much!



Didn’t have the patience for the effort it would take to get those toes right.  But at least they’re not as bad as they were from this post.



Public Criticism:

1. Didn’t bend the upper body over enough. (and to think I brought it in from the first post)
   
2. Right hand drawn higher than original
   
3. Left arm should’ve been longer in the forearm and less long in the bicep
   
4. Entire sketched body (legs, torso and head) thicker than needed
   
5. Arms longer and leaner than they should be

Public Credits:

1. Was able to draw a look-alike (to some degree) of the entire body + a bit of the face
   
2. Shading was not so dark as diver girl (using the tortillon worked well)
   
3. Hair passable
   
4. 2 legs, 2 arms, 10 fingers, 10 toes….
   
5. Not discouraged yet

These type of sketches are just plain fun to draw.  They don’t take F.O.R.E.V.E.R and I get good sketch practice in.   Thanks for your kind comments about the process these last few days.

A sketch showing some potential….part 4

The shading is done mainly with my lighter H pencils and my tortillon.  I think that’s the key, use that little stump for the light areas.  It already has a lot of graphite on it from previous shading jobs.



See how dark that tortillon gets at the tip.



Gotta give credit to Sande for her knowledge about gray fine-line markers and directing me toward these.  Thank you!!

I purchased the .05 and the 0.1 of the Copic multiliner in gray.  This is the first chance I’ve gotten to use them.  I think I’m going to like them



I may have gotten ahead of myself, cuz I outlined the suit and the top of the thighs with the Copic marker already.  Highly unusual, I usually do it at the end.  Can’t go back and fix any line problems in the suit now!  Hopefully, I’ll be ok with that.

I still need to:

• Fix the nose
  
• Thicken the visor and shorten the sunglasses
  
• Shade more on the upper arm
  
• And much more….

A sketch beginning to take shape….part 3

Had to pull up the image in the computer and ENLARGE to see the details in the face.



At the top of the arm you’ll see two lines….yep…tweaking going on!



These are my favorite shots…..feels like I’m looking over someone’s shoulder.  Keeping those pencils real sharp helps immensely.



I am trying REALLY HARD to not overdo my graphite gradients.  Have to do a lot more dabbing this way.

More to come

A sketch with SOME proportional sense….part 2

Slowly, the figure is gaining her identity.  S.l.o.w.l.y.  I used to be irritated when my drawings came out so misshapen….now, it’s “par for the course” and I’m not as afraid of the early graphite marks.



Had to play around a lot with the shoulder(s), the head, and the front forearm.  It’s apply small line….erase…apply tiny curve here…erase…. apply curve there then.



Yes, I’ve fed my drawing Growth Hormone,  isn’t the disparity obnoxious?  I use more paper than necessary.

I will see more imbalances tomorrow.  Just the way I work.  Distance helps…..oh yeah, and patience.  My favorite part is not too far away……shading!  Goody-Goody!

A sketch with No SeNsE of PrOpOrTiOn….part 1

There is no Fan-fare with sketching…..none….at least for me.  Sketching doesn’t appeal to the masses like true art does….IMHO (in my humble opinion).  UNLESS, you sketch something for someone.  You know, draw a picture of a family (or member) for them to display; at the top of the stairs, along the staircase, in the foyer, above the fireplace.  This is when the real profiteers can hone their talent with the task.

But for me…..

I just like sketching.  Don’t know why, possibly it’s cuz I get to copy.  And tweak toward perfection. 



With my birthday next month, I think I know what I want.  Look at my pencil stash, there’s 7 light green pencils, 4 dark green pencils, 2 blue and 1 black.  Different brands that I picked up over time, shopping at various art stores.  THIS DRIVES ME CRAZY.  What would work better for me when I sketch would be to have all my H pencils (2H, 4H, 6H, 8H) in one color, my B pencils ( 2B, 4B, 6B….) in a different exterior color and my blends (HB, F, H, B ) in a third color.  This would help my poor little brain …..do you see how tiny the identifying lead numbers are on these pencils? 

I must be due for a new sketch, it’s been almost 2 months since I completed Yanina.



Since I gotta start somewhere, I chose to start at the bottom of the figure on the paddleboard.



As I continued, it was all about erasing….you see…I have no sense of proportion, especially early on.  The foot-to-knee took up more than half of the leg.  Anyone know any tricks to help in the beginner stages to keep things in line better?

Time flies

7 Days….8 Nights…..v.a.c.a.t.i.o.n……I don’t really count the first day as a day because when you get to your destination after 10 hours car bound and after 6pm….then it’s not a day at play in my opinion.

Relaxed and Recharged with:

• My Marker Stash (above)

• My Journal

• My walks beach-side, dock-side and for something chocolate-sided.

• My water-time

• My swing-time

My flickr buddy Sheila (Bostinstuff) does aMaZiNg doodles, and what’s so interesting about her work is that she will draw everything out first….and….then….color…it…in.   Not the way I do it, I’m not that good!  But since I had the time I thought I’d give it a shot.  Lots of benefits to working this way, because I can color it in any way I want digitally once I have the black & white jpg.



It was very slow going with my doodling, I must confess.



3 days later and I’d only gotten this far!



Once home I felt compelled to complete this.  Just something endearing about taking a break from routine, seriously!  It was somewhat of a digital-break too.  No wifi, only my phone!  Maybe that was the best thing about recharging!  However, I did watch a lot of shark-week.  Wouldn’t recommend doing THAT before your salt water swims though.

He Who Must Not Be Named…..travels to Florida

I don’t know of a better way to learn my camera, get out and enjoy the beach/water and look at things from a renewed perspective than to take my little Artsy Dummy out and about.  He has come to be referred to as “He Who Must Not Be Named” because well…. we didn’t want to insult him and call him a Dummy his whole life.  However, I haven’t heard an intelligent comment from him yet, he's a quiet little guy!

Glad to be back and thanks for stopping by during my break.   It’s always good to be home!

Drawing on Paper vs. Electronically

I think I’m on my 7th moleskine!  There’s just something extremely predictable about those books with that watercolor paper.  I’m hooked!



It’s been suggested that I start doodling/drawing in Photoshop….you know, open up the blank page, grab my wacom tablet pen and start doodling away.  I however, do not find that relaxing one bit.  I like the feel of the pens on the paper.  Photoshop is mighty crisp and extremely detailed.  But not as convenient as my moleskine….How can you beat ”grab and go”?   No need to remember a second battery, very light-weight compared to the 16 pounds that a laptop can pack. 



However, I do think I should do some “creating” in photoshop.  It is the way of the future.  And I did hear that there is a photoshop app for ipads.  I’d be interested in that.  But please, don’t make me carry a laptop around.  Sorry, I know a lot of people love them.  But I’ll take my desktop over a laptop any day.  More bang for the buck, too.

I wonder if drawing in photoshop is a mental hurdle that I need to get over?  Do any of you draw in photoshop?  What are your thoughts on this photoshop issue?

Glad Goldie

It was time for another bird….not one quite so Zany!  One, a little more normal (if there is such a thing).



I wanted to show the festive spirit of this bird, hence the balloons!



Lots of color was needed in her dress, and I didn’t think the markers could give me the look I wanted this time!  So, out came those wonderful watercolor pencils!  Love the way they show individual color variations.



Goldie, the Gift-Giver…..she really can’t help herself, she just does what comes naturally.  She GIVES!  She listens to what her friends say, she sees what her family needs.  Then she spots the perfect gift months ahead of time.  She’ll buy it and hide it away until the Big Day!  She enjoys the whole presentation; the paper, the ribbons, the cards and the Surprise!  It just makes her day to see others smile!

The only problem I've found when I get too ahead of myself in the gift-giving department is…..I’ll forget I bought something or I lose the present!  Not Good!  Hahaha!

Here’s Gnick, the other Gnome

Gnick only resembles Gnoah because they both have beards.



He got the red hat!!  Lucky guy!



Just a simple little gnome.



Had to hold back and not make his little hat all girly-like!



Gnick the Gnome…..He really doesn’t mind living underground, and he doesn’t mind being stationed on garden-patrol.  But what really bugs him, is when people try to catch him just so he’ll grant their wish!  He’s not a leprechaun you know :)



As fun as these little gnomes were to draw, what I really missed was just plain doodling!!

Gnoah Gnadinger I’d like you to meet….

When I asked you guys what to name my gnome, Baronessnz immediately
chimed in with Noah!  What a perfect name for my first little gnome.  And like JP said, we gotta keep up the tradition of Gn (with a silent G) dontchathink?  So Noah became Gnoah!



Gnoah the Gnome…..he has been told he resembles Doc of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”.  He is pleased with the comparison. 

A blue hat was requested, so that’s what Gnoah got.  I felt a little constricted in my doodling space.  Not a whole lotta space to doodle in, and I didn’t want to make him dorky!  I’m kinda fond of his Adidas sneakers!



I put my friend’s name on the gnome photo print.  Name done in photoshop.  Just clipped some of my art over the top of a standard font. 



Here’s my moleskine next to the 4x6 photo print.  He shrank a bit.



Gnoah will have to wait another day to meet his brother Gnick.   They do things a little backwards in this family!

A Gnome With No Gname

 

This title is a total play on the song “A Horse With No Name” from the late 70’s.  And since I like alliteration statements I cheated and added the G to “name”!!  How in the world did our language develop to having a G in front of an N and have that pronounced as an N-sound??  Why even fool with the G??  Beats me!



A few weeks ago a friend at work asked me if I could draw her a gnome.   I said I’d try, and off I went to research and see what exactly they look like.   Lots of different ones out there and all quite cute.  I liked this guy the most.

I stood up to snap a picture of the Gnome at this stage and the next thing I knew…. I was still standing there organizing my markers.  First, I had to grab all my available sharpie fine-point markers, then my Faber Castell pens…..and of course…. the colors had to be lined up “just so”.  Can anyone say O.C.D.??  Ah well, even so, it sure helps to make a prettier picture.  LOL!!



So….if any of you Smart People out there have a suggestion for a Gnaming my Gnome, I’d love to hear it!