remembering the Rockies

Today’s ink sketch is another exercise I did from “Pen & Ink Techniques” by Frank Lohan. It reminds me of the first time I saw the Rocky Mountains, in the summer of 1964.

reading in turquoise

Today I began a re-reading of Dorothy L. Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey series. I first read them several years ago as ebooks checked out from the library, reading them on my iPad. Now I have the illustrated Folio editions of the actual books. I grabbed the first book and my iPad, which I’m reading “Pen & Ink Techniques” on — and was struck by all the turquoise. So I sketched them.

Later, I saw the yarn I bought to knit a simple tank top, just sitting on the shelf — not turquoise, but it is a muted grayish blue. So I drew it as my daily ink drawing. (A down side of working on lightweight paper is that when I erase pencil lines, I sometimes wrinkle the paper.)

ink sketching 101

Though I have drawn in ink many times over the years — in late April 2018 I filled a small book with Navy-related ink sketches for Bill — I still don’t feel a lot of confidence using the medium. 

So I checked out an e-book from a Houston library: “Pen & Ink Techniques” by Frank Lohan, originally published in 1978. Today’s sketch is following one of the exercises in the book.

daily tools

I was asked about the tools seen in the background of yesterday’s posted photo, so I sketched my current tools today. The toolkit is an older version of the pocket sized kit from arttoolkit.com — I have it loaded with everything needed for doing tiny sketches or a daily ink-only sketch.

On the left side are a Mono Zero stick eraser, a Kuretaki very fine brush pen, a white Gelly Roll pen, a tiny mechanical pencil, my Pilot Namiki Falcon fountain pen filled with water-soluble ink, a #2 round paintbrush, a short Aquash waterbrush with a small brush tip, and a small binder clip. Underneath, there is a discarded cap holding different sizes of tape, a plastic viewfinder, and a handful of precut pieces of paper for mini sketches.

On the right side are a tiny water spray bottle, three Kaweco Liliput fountain pens filled with brown, green, and black waterproof inks, a bit of kneaded eraser in a small plastic container, and a Demi palette filled with warm & cool primaries, a green, and several neutrals. Underneath is a sweatband to wear on my wrist for wiping brushes — this one is unused; the dirty one has been tossed in the laundry. Just now I see that I forgot to add the layer of transparent red oxide to the copper Liliput — oops!

After finishing this illustration in my sketchbook, I went ahead and drew the closed toolkit and my passport sized Traveler’s Notebook for my daily ink sketch. From a photo, since my daily ink sketches are _in_ the Traveler’s Notebook.

another tiny sketch

While I am doing simple daily ink drawings and trying new watercolor techniques in my regular sketchbook, I have not stopped doing tiny sketches now and then. This one is of a neighbor rescue horse. He has a mostly white face so on very hot sunny days he wears a face mask. He can still see through it; it just protects him from sunburn. When Butters and I walk out in the south pasture, he usually comes running to great her. It seems he really loves dogs.

today’s frustration

My journal sketches usually reflect some part of my day, so why not this month’s ink drawing challenge as well? This page represents today’s frustration.

I’ve been trying to paint a watercolor landscape in my regular sketchbook, bound with Aches rough 100% cotton watercolor paper — the exact same paper as the artist whose demo I was following. A portion was to be masked out so I pulled out my small jar of masking fluid. It seemed a bit thick but went on the paper okay. 

But after drying, I tried to remove it with fingers or soft eraser — it is thoroughly stuck! Some came off but many bits are stuck deeply. The last watercolor wash didn’t turn out well anyway, so I plan to start over. But on different paper and with a different brand of masking fluid.

no playing today

Today I’m brushing and bathing my corgi. She would rather play ball but she is walking a bit odd so we’ll be checking her out at the vet’s. She’s had joint issues in the past; she fetches her ball with such abandon that she can easily get injured. Or fall in the numerous golpher holes out there.

After drawing this, the room’s lighting changed, casting that interesting second shadow. Maybe I’ll add that.

a wee hidey-hole

Today’s sketch is from a photo taken four years ago while we were camping in the forest. It made me think of an illustration from a children’s storybook. I wonder who might pop out of the hole at any moment?

I switched to my Pilot Falcon fountain pen with a black ink cartridge. Since I’m not using watercolor for these ink drawings, it doesn’t need to be waterproof ink.

this morning’s tea

Actually, this was my third cup — I had been up since 5:00 a.m. and it was still too dark to let the indoor pets out or feed the outside cats. So a good time to drink tea, read a book, or sketch . . . .

tree trimming time

All day yesterday, the tree dudes worked on trimming our trees, especially the twelve live oaks that line our driveway. Since moving here on our daughter’s acreage, many trees have been lost due to various storms. This work by professional arborists will hopefully prevent losing more. They did have to remove one damaged white oak that was threatening K. & M.’s roof. But next, we order some new trees to replace the ones lost.

This morning Butters and I were walking back from picking up a delivered package when she pounced on this leaf. So I brought it inside to sketch. I’ve never really been taught how to render drawings in ink line only — I just make it up as I go.