This single signature sketchbook contains smooth Bristol paper that works best with pen and ink. Following our recent trip to La Porte and Seawolf Park on Pelican Island (next to Galveston), I decided to use this book for memory sketches of the three Navy vessels we explored. A special memory book for Bill who served in the Navy in the early 1970s — he was like a little kid as he climbed up, down, and all around the battleship, submarine, and destroyer escort!
The first pages are of Battleship Texas, formerly known as USS Texas BB-35, which is moored next to the San Jacinto Monument and Battleground in La Porte, Texas. All these sketches are done from photos we both took with our phones; the upper sketch of the ship is as viewed over the ridge from the parking lot. I planned on drawing it at the diner down the road as Bill and his buddies met for coffee . . . then realized that I had forgotten to bring a pencil for the loose undersketch. So I dived in with my Lamy Safari pen, loaded with a dark gray ink. Scary to go pencil-less!
We went up and down LOTS of these steep ladder stairs and our knees complained a bit! I teased Bill about how he used to practically fly down these things on the USS Sperry, sliding down the handrails. But that was over 40 years ago. You would think we’d be used to them — our log cabin stairs to the loft are just as steep.
Your sketches are beautiful!! This will be a wonderful keepsake for your husband! (My Lexington Gray ink arrives in the mail today! I can't wait to try it out! Thanks for your recommendation!)
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome! I love how gray ink is more like pencil, but does not “smudge up” when watercolor is added. And looking more like pencil, it recedes into the background, allowing the watercolor to take center stage.
DeleteI bet that was a really special day for Bill and what a thoughtful momento you are creating for him. It is scary to go pencil-less. I haven’t done it except for when I did Brenda Swenson’s 75 Day Sketch challenge a few years ago. I have gone straight to watercolor which is less intimidating for me than straight to ink. I love Lexington Gray because it isn’t as harsh as the black and seems to blend into my ink and watercolor work better.
ReplyDeleteWe had two great days, me playing in the surf and sketching, and both of us exploring the Navy vessels. Bill’s ship was in port most of the time, being a support tender for submarines. When he had duty, I was allowed to go onboard to spend the evening with him, so we both have memories of ships.
DeleteI haven’t really tried direct watercolor without pencil or pen guidelines, so this 30 x 30 challenge will truly be a challenge for me! But I think I’ve been in a comfort zone doing the same techniques; perhaps this will take me to a new level?
I’m not using much Lexington gray ink in this book. The gray ink is from combining leftover Noodler’s polar black and polar brown inks — I ended up with a darker gray.