almost like Christmas!

We arrived home from our camping trip to find a pile of mail and packages, among which was this Lumos Pro Duo pen from Tom’s Studio in the UK. It seemed like the package was delayed in customs forever! I ordered the pen and 2 bottles of water-based ink; they also sent me a “cheeky little ink sample” in a rich teal color, and the pen came with its own sample of ink and eleven interchangeable tips, plus they stuck in a tea bag so I could enjoy a cup of tea while trying out the pen!

Most of the tips are various sizes of tips like the disposable Pigma Micron pens, plus there are brush-like tips which are the ones I will mostly use.

I took four Pitt Brush Pens on our trip for getting shapes down quickly as an under layer for colored pencils. But they were bulky in my Mini Sendak tool roll, and when they eventually run out they will be disposed of. This one Lumos Duo fiber tip pen is refillable and has two tips in one pen — easy to fit in one pocket of the Sendak with two ink color choices, plus the extra tips fit in the zippered pocket.

I chose a pale earthy coral color and a light gray — a warm and a cool base for whatever colored pencils I choose to layer on top. 

Also in the mail was a parcel from UK illustrator, Kriksis, that was also delayed in delivery by the US. I ordered a couple of zines from her, one full of sketches she did in the forest that I particularly wanted. And we also received a few household items ordered from Amazon.

I can’t wait to fill the pen and try it out — just as soon as I get through the small mountain of laundry and give the dog a bath!

sourdough prep

Just a simple continuous contour line and wash sketch . . . preparing to make another loaf of sourdough bread. My kitchen scale looks a bit wonky.

Scottie Dubh’s rose

Today’s ink sketch began as a continuous contour line. Then I added a bit of white gel pen. Then I tried adding some shadow with the gray ink felt tip pen. Overworked maybe? 

We grew wonderfully fragrant antique roses at our cabin near Lake Somerville. I drew this from a photo taken 6 years ago. Scottie is still as inquisitive as ever, but also an independent “touch me not”, not wanting to be held in any manner. He sometimes has vocal arguments with himself in the middle of the night. Our vet jokingly said maybe he’s autistic.

just a quick line . . .

I’ve been doing some tiny sketches, so my daily ink sketch is a continuous line of the supplies. I “cheated” a bit by doing a loose layout pencil sketch first — working on such a small page, I wanted to make sure it all fit in.

inconceivable !

Today I was told that what I thought was a sinus infection is Covid . . . plus the flu . . . plus strep throat. (“What, all three?”)

So I sketched about it in my sketchbook. 

I’m feeling very ridiculous at the moment. 🥴

(Drawn in continuous contour line using a ridiculously tiny turquoise fountain pen, then a bit of fluorescent watercolor added, in keeping with the silliness of it all.)

waiting to be toasted

The weird low-fiber diet I’ve been on for three months is lacking so many good things, but at least I can enjoy cinnamon toast! I keep the bread in the freezer, breaking off a couple of slices to toast whenever I want some.

I combined my limited palette based on 19th century watercolors and what I call my “Texas gulf coast, prairies, and piney woods palette” in the same Folio palette, separated by plenty of mixing spaces.

🎉🎊🥳 After sketching this I had a virtual follow-up visit with my doctor — he took me off the silly fiber-free diet and now I am free to eat anything! Woo-hoo! Bring on the fruits and veggies! 🥕🥬🫛🥒🍅

(Drawn in continuous contour line with a Kaweco Supra fountain pen.)

something simple

Sometimes just a simple sketch is all that’s needed . . .

Over a week ago I developed an eye infection around my left eye that soon spread to my right eye as well. In spite of antibiotics and topical ointment, it has stubbornly hung on — but now is finally clearing up!

Quickly drawn in continuous contour line using a Pentel Falcon fountain pen with a splash of watercolor in a Traveler’s Notebook blank notebook, passport size.

yesterday’s breakfast

Sometimes I really want to draw something but don’t know what. So I draw whatever is in front of me. Yesterday, it happened to be a homemade bran muffin and some fresh blueberries. 

In one continuous ink line (that explains the wonky plate!), some watercolor and white gouache.

Bill’s “ears”

Just felt like a simple continuous contour line today — these earphones and TV remote happened to be the closest victims. Sometimes Bill wants to watch TV but I would rather read. We live in a small 800 square foot space so he plugs these into his smartphone and listens to his show while I read.

Meanwhile, the ink used here is my sample of De Atramentis Cyan Blue Copper which is supposed to have shiny copper bits show up as it’s used. These would not show up in a photo anyway, but they simply were not there at all, even in person. This ink sample “failed” in my book.

drawing what’s next to me

I wanted to draw something, but I’m supposed to stay sitting with my legs elevated — so I drew the tube of pain-killing cream. I apparently twisted my knee, spraining the muscle. Also fighting a bit of edema, hence the elevated legs, but that sometimes comes with age.

I prefer using Tiger Balm for aches but my silly cat, Bardie, loves the fragrance so much that he won’t stop trying to lick it off! So I only use it at night — then hide under the covers! 😾

Drawn in a continuous contour line except for the lettering.

I tried not to . . .

Last November Bill, who used to never catch a cold, actually caught one. A few days taking Cold-Eeze and he was fine. Unfortunately I caught it from him — and for some reason, Cold-Eeze makes me sick. 

After returning from our latest camping trip, Bill once again caught a cold (for someone who never used to get them, he seems to be making up for lost time). I tried extra-hard to catch it this time and thought I had managed to avoid it. Until late Saturday night when I felt like I was freezing, and we keep our air-conditioning fairly warmer than most.

So here I am, lacking energy for just about anything except this silly sketch.

walking a line

This drawing is from several days ago; I just forgot to post it. First I drew our travel trailer’s keys in one continuous ink line using my dependable Lamy Safari. Then I added a bit of text. The page still looked a bit bare so I drew a randomly silly border in another continuous line.

continuous contour line . . .

Wonky as it is, drawing something directly in ink in one long continuous contour line can be relaxing. (tiny bits in blue bands and watercolor added later)

some wonky dishes . . . and friend

 

It’s dark and cloudy this morning making it a bit dark inside so I went out to the patio to snap a photo of this sketch. One of our many wee snails decided to join in.

Yesterday I had a beastly headache that would not respond to meds, hot tea, or darkening the room. As a distraction, I drew the pile of dishes waiting to be carried out to the travel trailer in a slow continuous line.

Our daughter Kristen and granddaughter Mikala were shopping to stock a college dorm when they found these plates, bowls, and glasses - 50 cents each! So they got some for both dorm and camper. Kristen also found a collapsible bowl and colander, easy to store in the camper’s limited space. I added a couple of ceramic mugs — hope the vintage one can go in the microwave!

Lately I’ve gone back to using my old Lamy Joy fountain pen with a medium nib and black ink. I had forgotten how very reliable Lamy pens have always been for me.

what’s in front of me

 

Back to simply drawing whatever is in front of me in a continuous contour line.

Also known as avoiding cat grooming time.

window gardening

 

We have a very wide window sill, 3 windows wide, over our kitchen sink giving me a wonderful view of the farm. Even though it faces north, the light is very bright and consistent (except heavy fog mornings like today!) so I’ve put together a wee window garden — succulents, mini cacti, some pinch pots our kids made when they were in grade school, and a few “pet rocks”. I think this fuzzy plant is a vertical leaf senecia. So soft, I caught myself petting the gray-green leaves!

Sketched with a Fude nib pen and turquoise ink in a continuous line.

a random morning sketch

 

Nothing much going on today . . . Just a random sketch of my morning cup of tea. A bit wonky, drawn in continuous contour line directly in ink.

After 7 years of using an electric stove, we are finally back to gas. I had forgotten how hot the handle of my little tea pot can get on a gas range. I keep this little woven potholder handy, made by our granddaughter Mikala years ago.

comparing 3 fountain pens

A random Goulet Pens video popped up recently on YouTube, prompting me to take out my old Noodler’s Creeper fountain pen to play. Lately I’ve mostly been using a Duke 209 Fude pen filled with De Atramentis Document brown ink, and my Pilot Falcon filled with Document black ink.

Just for fun, I mixed a dark gray ink (Document black plus De Atramentis thinner) with the brown ink, trying for a color that is neither gray nor brown. Sort of a dark taupe? I may add a bit more thinner to this to lighten it up. That’s something I love about this brand of inks — the ability to mix or thin out colors without changing the viscosity.

My Pilot Falcon has a soft extra-fine nib, which is a bit scratchy. A soft fine nib would’ve been a better choice for smoother lines, but I read reviews saying the extra-fine nib had the highest amount of flex. Maybe the problem I’m running into is more about the paper? The paper in this journal is Fabriano Artistico soft-press; this pen usually glides smoothly on hot-press papers but I prefer paper with a bit of texture in my journals.

Anyway, the black cast-iron Scottie was drawn with the Falcon, the wheaten iron Scottie was drawn with the Creeper, and the text was written with the Fude. I first drew a continuous contour line, then added lots of hatching lines. And a bit of red watercolor just because a spot of color was needed.

All three pens are favorites that I’ll keep using; just different in character.

just playin’ around . . .

I used double-stick tape to attach the bit of toned paper to this 2-page spread (after jotting down the poem last night), and I had planned on a larger, much looser continuous line sketch. But once my lines began, it reverted back to my usual tighter style. 

Oh, well — I still had fun. 

everything but the kitchen sink

Yesterday our new kitchen sink arrived. A bit early, as the walls are still going up; it will be a while before Bill can build the cupboards and install tile countertops. But with COVID-19 affecting delivery times, we went ahead and ordered what we could. 

The sink is still in its protective packaging but I had to sketch something! So I removed the drain and stopper and did a quick (i.e. wonky,) continuous line drawing. The turquoise lettering is because I will have accent touches of turquoise in our new wee living space — the living room and kitchen are all one big room, divided by an eating bar.