sketchbook play

It began when I pulled my favorite fude nib pen (Duke 209) from the antique tool box where emptied & cleaned fountain pens sleep. I wondered how this very lightweight pen would work with the progressing tremor in my hands. I filled it with new-to-me Robert & Klingner Lotte Sketch Ink and drew some sketch tools.

My hand didn’t shake much, but the pen nib fought with me the whole time! I remember its lines as smooth and effortless, not skipping and dragging. Was the CP paper of the Seawhite Travel Journal to blame? Or the ink? I cleaned it and refilled with my old ink, De Atramentis Document Grey. Seems much smoother now, but I’ll try it on other papers to be sure.

As long as this mostly-gouache palette was out, I wondered if gouache could be used in ink & wash like watercolor. I had just baked another loaf of sourdough so I sketched it with the fude pen, then added thin layers of gouache over the dried ink. Seems to work fine.

We don’t actually eat that much bread, so I cut fresh loaves I bake in half and pop half in the freezer for later. 

no one to sketch

I walked into the clinic this week determined to actually draw people, something I tend to avoid.

Too bad we were the only ones in that particular waiting area.

I drew Bill’s foot . . . as he kept bouncing it up and down.

 

camping at Cagle

This week we have been once again camping in the Sam Houston National Forest. Not too hot, not too cold — just right for leisurely walks on nearby trails. There are several items we forgot to pack or didn’t think we’d need and wish we had, but it’s been a relaxing, enjoyable time. Today, lots of new campers are coming in for the weekend just as we are getting ready to head home. Being retired means not needing to plan around working hours!

At the campsite next to ours, we found an arrow made of pine cones, leading up to a hidden painted rock that someone left as a surprise. I took a photo and left it for the next person to find.

the gulf, revisited

Two weeks ago I posted a 2” gouache sketch I did from a photo taken on Mustang Island. This past week I repainted the scene, this time using Japanese Gansai watercolors. These were purchased years ago but seldom used. Recently I replaced the brighter colors with muted ones that I’m preferring these days. After the initial painting, seen in the second photo, I added a bit of colored pencil. The previous tiny sketch is shown in the third photo.

overworked

This sketch of leaves (and acorn) seen on the lane while walking my corgi began well enough with a watercolor wash. I removed the masking fluid and added a bit of colored pencil — still going well. I wish I had stopped there.

Instead, I added shadows with the nearest dark pencil, which happened to be a water-soluble Inktense pencil in Bark. I meant to leave it dry but somehow a drop of water hit one bit, so I wet all shadows. Which ruined the light, delicate look I was going for.

tiny house, c. 1840s

This sketch didn’t turn out quite like I had planned, but I’m calling it done and moving on. It’s drawn from a photo I took in 2018. The cabin had a spindly live oak growing behind it with skinnier branches than normal.

The photo was in with others on my phone taken in Old Baylor Park but after I wrote the text, I’m not so sure if that’s where we saw it. It might have been in Round Top.

(watercolor & colored pencil)

drawing my not drawing

Yesterday I listened to a few past videos of Natasha Newton, including a Zoom drawing session recording from 2024. Participants were given a photo of the chosen scene, to be sketched in a certain limited time.

But instead of drawing along with the group, I drew the scene on my iPad, along with the hot cup of cocoa I was drinking and a picture of my closed sketchbook. Just for fun.

back to my nature journal

Almost two weeks ago, as the recent cold snap arrived here with a drizzly sleet, Bill noticed an odd red mushroom and brought it inside for me to sketch, which I did in gouache. Then I set this small nature journal aside — until today.

After watching a recording of Art Toolkit’s workshop on garden journaling with Bethan Burton, I added some sketches from two of her garden photos. I like her style of an ink line drawing with only a small focused bit with color added.

I found James Gurney’s quote online; it seemed to fit the 2-page spread.

tiny bits of gouache

Today has been a cold, sleepy sort of day. I pulled up a photo I took on Mustang Island over ten years ago and tried to paint it in gouache in my 2” sketchbook. Warm memories, though I remember there was a cold October wind blowing.

another cup of tea

Today, a simple sketch of my early morning hot tea — this time, my favorite gunpowder green tea. Sketched with Pitt Artist Pens and a few Derwent Drawing pencils. The other items on the kitchen counter were drawn with a Liliput fountain pen and De Atramentis Document blue gray ink.

Benign Tremor makes my dominant hand shake and is making me look for new ways of sketching. Brush pens and pencils are easier to control than paint brushes for details. But I can still use watercolor in large areas, which is the best way to use granulating pigments!