07 November 2011

more Texas sketches


At Bill's birthday party in Houston, Josiah happily carried any number of balls around with him. Meanwhile, we watched the K-State game . . . . but they lost to Oklahoma.

(click on pictures to see larger)

Later at Kristen's home, the girls asked me to paint this stuffed kitty while they painted postcards. At first Mikala said the cat had no name . . . . but after I wrote the heading, she quickly gave it one, giggling the whole time. I had made up this travel watercolor set for grandkids from a Sucrets box and some Cotman half-pans. Two come-apart Koi waterbrushes fit inside also. Add some watercolor postcards and they are ready to make art.

7 comments:

  1. Great work. As in the last blog post too. Does it take you very long to do these? Such fun journaling.

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  2. It's hard to say how long these take. Most sketches of my grandchildren are from photographs I took. Often, I do a light pencil layout first, since I'd like it to at least resemble the person (still can't seem to capture Mikala).

    The pencil layout sketch might take only 5 or 10 minutes. Then I wait a bit before inking in --- walking away, then coming back to it seems to help me see flaws to correct easier.

    Inking might take another 10 minutes, depending on detail. I don't follow the pencil lines, but find the "right" line with their help (if that makes sense). I like to make sure the ink is dry before erasing the pencil lines.

    Splashing on some color may take 5 to 15 minutes; I have to let areas dry before adding color next to it, unless I'm wanting the colors to mingle.

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  3. For some strange reason, the sepia ink I used in the first two sketches did not bleed when I added color to the figures --- but it DID bleed when I added a wash over the text. I lightly boxed in the words, then added a thin wash of purple. But the ink mixed all through it.
    I guess paint needs to be thicker over the ink lines to keep from bleeding --- more watery mixes loosen the ink.

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  4. I thought you wanted that affect with the wording and did it on purpose. Works for me. :) Nice to know others do pencil first and then ink it in and use photos. I have to work the drawing a bit to my satisfaction. I cant just do an ink drawing and get it right. I am wanting to do more journaling and have to get over the head thing telling me I am not a good enough drawer..is that a word.. lol... if that makes sense.

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  5. Makes perfect sense, from one perfectionist to another! The funny thing is . . . the more we DO it, the BETTER we become! Even drawing in ink first, which I'm trying to do more of when I can. Even goof-ups can turn out fine --- not what we had envisioned, but fine nonetheless.

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  6. Now that makes me feel better.. but its the first page that stymies me. I never know WHAT to journal about when faced with that blank book but I can journal words all day long. I guess you just need to START something. I have ideas when I see them at the moment but by the time I get to it.. they are gone. arrgh..

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  7. First pages in new journals are VERY intimidating! That's why I began to do palette sketches for the first page every time. No wasted time thinking of subjects, drawing something I love, and once the first page is filled in, the new book is no longer new (ie: no longer scary). It doesn't have to be a palette --- just pick something you love; something that gives you joy.

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