sketches – Ink, Yarn & Beer

Sketches on a Hot, Lazy Afternoon

It’s over 90 F / 32 C today, muggy, and to do more than move around, even with air conditioning (which is not on at present), requires more energy than I want to spend. So, sitting at my computer, I decided to find pictures of things to draw.

My choice was carbon ink in a fine nib pen with a flexible point and the tan, toned paper I have been using for gouache. I get to sit still, cruise for a subject, and then scribble on smooth paper with a responsive pen. If you use pen and ink, you will know the pleasure it provides!

Above are my sketches. One piece of paper, both sides. Tan toned paper by Strathmore. I really like this paper.

I don’t think there is more to say other than it has been a very pleasant afternoon scribbling away. Each sketch is done freehand, no pencil prelims under the ink. Shapes and shadows and direction were all attempted to be expressed simply through the ink, hatching, dots, lines, etc.

Strathmore multi-media tan paper, 11 x 14, Platinum Carbon Ink.

Afternoon Sketches

It’s a nice semi-sunny day this afternoon, and the wind is soft, the temp is about 70F. It’s perfect for spending a bit of time sketching in ink and color some of the remaining plants after the winter clean-out.

These hot peppers are from last year – and it appears they are getting some new ones! The little tiny blobs of orange are this year’s crop – I guess it is time to harvest some of last year’s fruit. We don’t know how hot these peppers are, but we should give them a shot.

I have three different lavender plants. I am not sure which one this is – I have a tag, but am feeling too lazy to investigate. What appeals to me is the bright purple flowers above the soft grey-green foliage. They look like tiny purple butterflies to me.

This is the tulip tree which graces my front yard. It’s a strange tree – not really a good one for a neighborhood. It tends to be brittle and branches can break and fall. We have had some 6 footers and then some fall onto the sidewalk below. And then it oozes sap all over the sidewalk. Birds love it – sparrows, crows, doves, and owls have been known to visit. The leaves are an interesting shape, and while it flowers, they are not showy. However, come autumn, the leaves turn an amazing yellow-gold and drop onto the lawn – and this is what makes it so beautiful to me. Add to that, right now the bare branches and twigs are just lovely against the sky.

Colors here are very limited. For the peppers I used organic vermilion, cad and lemon yellow, a bit of Hooker’s green and cobalt teal. The lavender was carbozole violet, and the foliage was a mix of lavender, Hooker’s, and yellows. The tulip tree is primarily the leftovers on the palette, so who know what the colors could be!

And now, time to head out for some fine Thai food provided by Auntie Am and Uncle Ed!

Dancing Shoes

Today’s painting was smooshed in between this and that, but it was fun! It took a bit to think about what to do, but I finally figured it out. Sketching in fluid acrylic paint on paper was the goal, just to play and see how it all worked out. This way I could experiment a bit, not be “serious”, and explore how the fluid acrylics would react on paper other than my usual 140# CP Arches which I like a lot.

This is the first one I did, referring to a photo off Pixabay. I used 140# Arches Hot Press Paper – it is very smooth compared to the CP, having practically no tooth to catch the paint. I used the paint straight out of the bottle and painted once I did a quick pencil sketch. This rather rough kind of sketching with a few outlines has always appealed to me – partly because I can never get too perfect in anything I do – it just doesn’t work!

The second painting was done on grey toned sketch paper. Again, it is a smooth paper, but it does have a bit more tooth than the HP. Consequently there was bit of a different approach needed. A pencil sketch, then paint. I used a lot of zinc white to create some of the painting, using it as a glaze to tone down some areas where the color was stronger than I wanted. That was a good bit of learning, and a good bit of fun, too!

And now, it is time to sign off!

Patio Sketches

Where-oh-where does time go? I have been busy – so busy – that I have not sat down with a brush or piece of paper in ages it seems. Sewing socializing, health, family, photography, hiking, knitting – just some of the things taking up my time. I can’t use cold weather as an excuse. I’ve been more busy than I am used to – and enjoying all of it.

And yesterday? The weather was lovely, so out into the dog free zone I went, travel palette, cup of water, a paper towel, water brushes. The 6×8 Bee paper is perfect for just playing – it’s a decent paper, 100% cotton, and heavy enough to mush a lot of water around on both sides. I just played, using the daffodils in a vase inside – brought outside – plants on the patio, fruit and vegetables from the kitchen. I could tell I was rusty – but had fun anyway!

I need to remember my promise to myself when I retired: paint or draw every day! Like a vitamin or a prayer – good for the soul.

Friday Flower Sketches

I’ve been playing with gouache of late, but really have missed watercolor and its transparency. Yesterday I thought I would sit down to do some painting, but it never happened. Today, out on the patio reading a book, I looked around at all the plants, and realized, duh! There is a lot to play with out here!

I’d moved all my orchids outside to water and air out a bit. This is the last of the blooming phalenopsis, so I painted it – no pencil or preliminary value studies – just direct watercolor and let it happen. I can tell by the awkward handling of the paint I am out of practice; as well, the paper is not the best, but that is what sketch books are for.

About 6 weeks ago I took all my old and new flower seeds and planted them helter-skelter. These are zinnias, plants which are notorious for wilting with not enough water – like in a couple of hours they can look like they will just fall over – but come back miraculously with a bit of help. Totally crack me up – such simple flowers to be so demanding. Kind of nervy. Anyway, what I like about them is that they have beautifully shaped leaves, lovely stems, and smallish bright flowers that burst out of all the green surrounding them. Here, a bit better handling, with a use of negative painting to create the leaves and perhaps a bit of dimension.

Finally, my favorite of the bunch. Brush control and forethought. Here I was perched on a rather tall chair, looking down onto the pot of scaveola, a sort of creeper from what I can observe. It has a variety of leaf shapes, and the purple flowers sort of send out petals from behind the leaves in a peek-a-boo fashion. I took a photo of this for Instagram, but you can also see the photo below of plant and sketch, taken with my phone.