Vase Trio

More fun in the 1967 BSoA notebook and using the Faber-Castell Pitt pens. And guess what, I ordered more pens :D

More Fun

Another drawing with the Faber-Castell Pitt pens. Looks like I'm going to have to get more colors in these pens soon. :)
The right page on this drawing is the back side of my first so you can see, no bleeding occurred.

Last night's class was on values. Taking a b&w picture and using our value scale we practiced the many values of a 6B pencil.  
 

Fun Sketches

I picked up some Faber-Castell artist pens earlier this year. They're the B's which mean brushes I guess, normal size for the various colors and big brush size for the black and greys. It's really nice working with them. They dry quickly but not too quick so you have time to smear the color if you want. And they don't bleed through the paper. The flowers are done in a 1966 Boy Scout Leader's program 4'X6" notebook that I just started to use. Yes, I began in the middle which eliminates my first page fears. I can tell you none of the ink went through to either side of the thin paper.  The downside is, my pens will now be part of the to be packed list for me but the pluses out numbers though with using something new and something very old (pens and notebook).

Below is our drawing assignment for the week. I had to stand in front of a mirror while holding onto the wall or something with my non-drawing hand. Close my non-dominate eye and draw myself on the mirror with an erasable dry pen. You'll find you'll move a lot which is why you need to hang onto something. Once done, I then transferred the image onto tracing paper using a permanent sharpie type pen. I didn't catch why we needed to do this exercise but I have to say I learned one thing...I look mean when I'm into the zone. Holy Smokes, I need to smile a little! ;) 

Missing My Dad

As I come across old photos, I'm enjoying sketching my Dad and remembering what we were doing at that time and place. This one is from a trip in TN. Next week I fly home with him to Jersey for his memorial and put him in his final resting place by my Mom.  It's going to be good to be with my brothers and their families and since I'm staying for a week, expect to see some sketches soon from my home town.

Drawing Class - week 2

After a delayed start because the room with the mirrors was not going to be available then a podium was needed by the instructor as well as the overhead, we finally got to do some sketching. I should just get into the habit of sketching the teacher while she's in her flustered state. :D Anyhow, I did pick up a super sized sketching book (11" X 14") at a new for me local craft store. And at 5 bucks off I thought it was a good deal. This week's homework assignment is sketching your face on a mirror using the washable markers then tracing the results. One at the beginning of the week with practices in-between and one at the end of the week.
Here's some of last week's assignments as well as a in class exercise on two point perspective. I have to say I'm finding myself sketching a lot more and on every piece of paper that lands in front of me.  It's all good for me.

 

gesture drawings from a TV show....very difficult to comprehend and get the flow started but after loosening up, I actually began enjoying them.

two point perspective done in class without the help of a ruler too...this is good practice for me because I've had some perspective issues in the past.

Gdansk, Poland

Google maps can take you to very unusual places. I felt very lucky to find this spot that got hit with some interesting graffiti in Gdansk, Poland for April's Virtual Paintout.

Drawing Class - 1

The first night of drawing class was this Monday. There was a great turnout with twelve people, mostly women but there were two guys there too which was nice to see. The teacher is a local artist and definitely an artsy fartsy type (all in a good way too). 

We started out going over the required supplies and did two contour drawing which always makes people very nervous to do. The last one was what she called a partial contour drawing where when you stop the pencil, you can take a peek at your paper.

I basically killed the lady from across the room from me in the 1st and 3rd drawing, she really doesn't look like that but I have to say, my hand came out pretty good for not seeing what I was drawing.

The teacher let us out 10 minutes early from class. I never thought early dismissal would bother me. Homework is doing more contour as well as some gesture drawings and she's asked us to draw at least for 10 minutes a day. I'm going to enjoy this class.

Back to Basics

I checked my calendar to see when the drawing class begins and I have one more week of waiting. I'm excited to again be with a group of people interested in sketching. My required supplies list is complete with the exception of "tape". I'm not really sure what kind so I'll carry a roll of masking tape with me for the first class. Yesterday I did some practicing with the very basic supplies, a sketch book (actually two) and a papermate silhouette 0.7mm lead pencil (with eraser). Between some unsuspecting souls, a picture of a man, the cat that wouldn't stay still and good old stand by plant I was able to exercise the right side of my brain.