Sketchbook BootKamp Writing: Klee Quote

Pretty much an experiment all the way around. I bought a Fabriano EcoQua Notebook and a Faber-Castell Calligraphy pen. The paper works well with Faber-Castell ink and Noodler's Bullet proof Black, although you can see the image through the page. So far there is no bleed-through, but I'm planning on trying more inks, light watercolor washes and colored pencils. The sketchbook is inexpensive enough that using only one side of the page is no problem.


I found the Klee quote online and it just kind of inspired the sketches.

More Sketchbook Skool Bootkamp assignments and Bikes, Blues, and BBQ

Multiple trips to the vet with Harry and Pluto made it difficult to keep up with my sketching schedule. It became necessary to postpone my entries, but here they are.

This Sketchbook Skool Bootkamp assignment involved drawing a selfie using a continuous line. This technique was presented by Brenda Swenson in Sketchbook Skool: Kourse 2.1.2 "Seeing"
 When I first tried continual line drawing, I was very uncomfortable. Since that time I haven't attempted the technique...until today. After spending a lot of time looking at others' continual line selfies and deciding how to handle my selfie, I drew this sketch.I was more comfortable this time and the result was better. I had a strong temptation to pick up the pen and continue in another area, but I didn't. 

 Sketchbook Boot Kamp: Continuous Line Selfie
Paper: Kona Classic Field Series  6"x6" Acid Free Journal
Media: Lamy Safari extra fine nib, Noodler Black Ink (waterproof)

                             Note: Noodler Black (Bulletproof )stands up to watercolor, but still sometimes smudges when rubbed.

This Sketchbook School Bootkamp assignment involves selfies and imagination. The first selfie was drawn entirely from memory, while the other two are imaginary characters drawn while checking my image in a mirror (or in this case, using I Photo on my computer).These selfies are fast, loose and completely off the wall. I'm not too sure where the elf with the enchanted mouse came from. I dressed as a Starfleet Officer when I went to Star Trek conventions, but was never dressed as a Vulcan. Vulcans didn't have enchanted mice, anyway.I did dress as a clown one Halloween when I still taught school.

 Sketchbook Boot Kamp: Continuous Line Selfie

Paper: Stratford Multi-media Visual Journal 9"x12"

Media: Lamy Safari extra fine nib, Noodler Black Ink (waterproof). Sennlier watercolors

Note: Noodler Black (Bulletproof )stands up to watercolor, but still sometimes smudges when rubbed.

This is a sketch of the activity on Dickson Street during Bikes, Blues, and BBQ this year. Yes, the sketch is a bit crooked, but the rally has as much beer as they have bikes and BBQ, so it's appropriate.

Since starting Sketchbook Skool, I am better able to handle scenes with this degree of complexity. Maybe soon I'll be able to handle scenes without using photos for assistance.

 Sketchbook Boot Kamp: Continuous Line Selfie

Paper: Stratford Multi-media Visual Journal 9"x12"

       Media: Lamy Safari extra fine nib, Noodler Black Ink (waterproof). Sennlier watercolors

Note: Noodler Black (Bulletproof )stands up to watercolor, but still sometimes smudges when rubbed.

Sketchbook Boot Kamp: Selfie Fast and Slow

When I started Sketchbook Skool, I disliked selfies and was very uncomfortable doing one. This selfie was an assignment for Sketchbook Skool Boot Kamp.

 Sketchbook Boot Kamp: Selfie Fast and Slow

Paper:Stratford Multi-media Visual Journal 9"x12"

                      Media: Sennelier Watercolor, Noodler Flex Pen, Noodler Konrad  Brush Pen, Higgins India Ink for fountain pens (non-waterproof)

Note: Stratford Visual Journal did not buckle with watercolor wash

I did the fast part of this selfie using Sennelier watercolor. I began the slow part with a Noodler flex pen, then changed to a Noodler Conrad Brush Pen.

Since doing my family sketch during "Influences", I can see more clearly the resembles between my family and myself. I must be a better observer.

I look tired! It's not surprising; the selfie was done in the evening. I don't dislike selfies as much as I did when I first began to draw them in "Seeing".  I may do a series of selfies at different times for several days. The differences in expression ought to be interesting.

Sketchbook Boot Kamp: Influences 3

This assignment involved selecting an artist's work, loosely sketching it and writing impressions of the work.

I selected one of Picasso's Roosters after being jumped by our rooster, who has temporarily escaped from his coop. He strutted through the yard, head and tail feathers held high, calling to his hens, the hens next door, and the hens down the road. When not calling to the hens, he would jump my dog Homer or me. I learned never turn your back on a rooster and bend over to pick something up.

Picasso's rooster struck so many chords with me, from the physical pose to the lack of intelligence in his expression. How can a bird that looks that dumb escape from his coop and evade all attempts at recapture?

I used a brush pen, providing flexibility when making lines.

Paper: Stillman-Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook 8" by 10"Media: Noodler's Konrad Brush Pen, Higgins Fountain Pen India Ink (nonwaterproof)Note: The Noodler's Konrad Brush Pen is a new acquisition from Goulet Pens. I'm looking forward to practicing with it.

Sketchbook Kamp Assignment 5: Influences

This assignment took two days to complete.

A collection of parents, grandparents and great-grandparents with a couple of uncles and a cousin tossed in. I'm in the center right.

Family Photos

Paper: Mead Academie Sketchbook 8"x10"

Media:  mechanical pencil, Noodler Flex Pen, Higgins Fountain Pen India Ink (nonwaterproof)

Note: Academie Sketchbook Paper is supposed to be heavy weight, but ink bleeds through to next page.

Sketch of Fiesta Bowls and Boot Kamp Assignment 4

I wasn't too happy with my bowl in my bowl of clementines, so I did a some sketches to analyze the bowl. Liz Steel gives some good suggestions on how to do this in Kourse 2.1.2 of Sketchbook skool: "Seeing". When I have a bit more time I want to do a sketch of a stack of fiesta bowls in colored pencils on a watercolor wash backround.

I like Polia Pillin's bright colors and her abstract style. It was a challenge to imitate her style, particularly when she worked in colored clay and clear glaze, while I was trying to use other media. Layers of watercolor, ink applies with a brush pen, and white acrylic paint seemed to work fairly well. 

A Stack of Fiesta Bowls or Juicy Colors Redone

When I did the Juicy Colors sketch earlier, I wasn't happy with the fiesta bowl the fruit was in. After doing some thumbnails of a fiesta bowl (like Liz Steele's teacup studies), I redid the assignment using a stack of fiesta bowls as subjects. There was some improvement. Using Stratford Multi Media Visual Journal instead of Stillman-Birn Alpha Series sketchbook also prevented paper buckling when doing the watercolor wash.

A Stack of Fiesta Bowls

Paper:Stratford Multi-media Visual Journal 9"x12"

Media: Sennelier Watercolor, mechanical pencil, Prismacolor pencils

Note: Stratford Visual Journal did not buckle with watercolor wash

Sketch for 1/14/2015 and Boot Kamp Assignment 3

Using the Lamy Safari to sketch this toy fox was a great way to practice on textures. In the future I want to try this exercise with permanent ink and colored washes.

Toy Squeaky Fox

Paper: Stirman-Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook 4"x6"

Media: Higgins Fountain Pen India Ink (non-waterproof) and Lamy Safari (extra-fine nib)

Assignment 3 from Boot Kamp involved using colored pencils on a watercolor wash. I sorted through a bag of clementines. Four that had seen better days went to the chickens; the others I sketched.

A Bowl of Clementines

Paper: Stirman-Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook 8 1/2" x 11"

Media: Sennelier Watercolor, mechanical pencil, Prismacolor pencils

Note: Using somewhat large amounts of water for the wash caused some buckling.

Dilbert and Making Money

 No, Dilbert is not making money....I wish! I got the sketches finished, but didn't upload them until today. Dilbert was sitting on the coffee table and it was a perfect opportunity to catch a gesture drawing of him misbehaving.

Dilbert Tablewalker

Paper: Stirman-Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook 4"x6"

Media: Higgins Fountain Pen India Ink (non-waterproof) and Noodler Ahab Flex pen

Assignment 2 in Sketchbook Skool Boot Kamp was Making Money. I never have cash, so a trip to the bank was necessary. Carefully crumpling my cash, I set up my first subject and began to sketch it using various fountain pens. One of the cats ran over my setup ending my first attempt. I tried two more sketches using different pens and a waterbrush with nonwaterproof ink.  It's a challenging project!

Cause and Effect Apple

Paper: Stillman and Birn Alpha series sketchbook  8.5"x11"

Media: Noodler Ahab Flex pen, Jinhao 750 pen, Lamy Safari pen and Niji waterbrush with Higgins black india ink for fountain pens (non-waterproof)

Snack Time

Cold, wet Sundays are a wonderful time to snack on a piece of freshly baked gingerbread and a mug of tea. It's also a good time to sketch the snack.

 In Sketchbook Skool: Kourse 2.1.2 "Seeing", Liz Steele, showed her architectural approach of using thumbnails to analyze what she is looking at prior to actually sketching. Before doing my actual sketch, I did thumbnails of the mug and the gingerbread.

By this time I felt like the gingerbread was taunting me, but I did the sketch. 

Sunday Snack: Gingerbread and Tea

Paper: Stillman and Birn Alpha series sketchbook  8.5"x11"

Media: Pencil, Sennelier watercolor, Derwent Inktense Watercolor pencils, Derwent Watercolor pencils

First Assignment: Sketchbook Skool Boot Kamp: The Amazing Disappearing Apple

Okay, it's not one of Houdini's lesser known tricks. I ate the apple as part of my Cause and Effect Still Life in Sketchbook Skool Boot Kamp. I included a running commentary of each sketch.  Each apple became easier to draw, as my confidence grew.

Cause and Effect Apple

Paper: Stillman and Birn Alpha series sketchbook  8.5"x11"

Media: Pencil, Sennelier watercolor, Derwent Inktense Watercolor pencils, Lamy Safari pen with Higgins black india ink for fountain pens (non-waterproof)

Old Garden Gloves

These old leather gloves have seen lots of work: assembling chicken coops, building raised garden beds, pruning, bushes.... All those tasks have given them character. The wrinkles, creases, stains and folds tell the story of years of work. They deserve to be commemorated in a sketch, after checking to see that a colony of mice have not taken up residence.

I'm really enjoying my Noodler Ahab Flex pen. The flexible pen is more responsive to the kind of line I want. The Higgins non-waterproof india ink for fountain pen can be used on a dry watercolored surface or used with a waterbrush to make a shaded sketch, besides being excellent for line drawings. I am planning on purchasing some various kinds of permanent fountain pen ink to see how each works. 

Old Leather Garden Gloves

Paper: Stirman-Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook 4"x6"

Media: Higgins Fountain Pen India Ink (non-waterproof) and Noodler Ahab Flex pen

Je Suis Charlie

Sketching can tell a story; it can be a response to events, good or bad. Today's sketch is in response to the events in Paris yesterday.

This sketch was simple to draw, but deciding on the concept was difficult. I had something to say, but what?

• Cartoons don't kill people. People kill people. (Too much like the NRA slogan.)
• People shouldn't die because of a cartoon, nor should they kill because of a cartoon.
• "If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine." --quote from Star Wars IV, A New Hope
• Je suis Charlie.
• I looked at Buzz Feed's  23 Heartbreaking Cartoons From Artists Responding To The Charlie Hebdo Shooting to see how various cartoonists handled the event. Powerful images that made me laugh and cry at the same time.

My final choice was to draw a crowd of people standing behind a Je suis Charlie banner. Each person held a pen, ready to add their images to the growing mass of images and words that have already responded to this tragedy. 

Quick Draw: Cutie

Tuesdays and Thursdays are usually my busy days during the week. Today I didn't have an opportunity to sketch until early evening and had no idea what to sketch. Koosje Koene's Draw Tip Tuesday has many ideas for quick sketches. Her most recent video. Draw Tip Tuesday: Drawing Trash was just the inspiration I needed. Rummaging through my chicken scraps, I found a mushy cutie. Using a medium Pitt pen, I did a contour drawing, then used some Cotman watercolors to add a little color to the sketch.

Mushy Cutie

Paper: Stirman-Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook 4"x6"

Media: Medium Pitt Pen and Cotman Watercolors

Friday is the start of Sketchbook Skool Bootcamp!

Two Days, Two Sketches

This is what happens when I have too many activities during the day. Before setting my sketch a day goal, I probably would have skipped sketching. The doodle below is not great, but I did have an opportunity to work with my Pigma Micron drawing pens.

Paper: Stilman and Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook 4"x6"

Media: Micron Pigma 005 drawing pen - black, red, green

Note: I can see the Moche Warrior sketch through the page.

My January 6 sketch was a more well thought out. It's a variation of Danny Gregory's "Fast and Slow" exercise in Kourse 2.1.2 of Sketchbookskool: "Seeing". I used Lemon Yellow Sennelier watercolor to quickly record the shape of a Fiesta Teapot, then switched to a black Pigma Micron 005 drawing pen to draw the contours of the pot. 

Paper: Stilman and Birn Alpha Series Sketchbook 4"x6"

Media: Lemon Yellow Sennelier watercolor paint

Micron Pigma 005 drawing pen - Black

Little Momma

Today's sketch is of Little Momma, one a feral cat that stays in the laundry room. Momma has been around for years, eating the food we put out, invisible most of the time, and untouchable for almost two years. As she became more comfortable around us, it became obvious that she had a crippled rear paw. When she left a litter of six kittens under my truck, we cat-napped the litter, moving them into the laundry room. The kittens adjusted to humans and Mamma adjusted to staying in the laundry room while taking care of the kittens.  Only two kittens survived, but Tiny Tom and Fluffy are safe and content house hats, while Little Momma spends part of almost every day on the dryer in the laundry room, sleeping and eating.

Little Momma

Sketch 4 of 2015

Paper 9"x12" Strathmore Mixed Media Visual Journal

Media: Sennelier watercolors, Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencil,  pencil

Note: Unfinished 

Project for 2015: A Sketch a Day

I've been off the grid for a while, engrossed in Sketchbook Skool. After completing the first three courses, I am now ready to start Sketchbook Skool Boot Camp,  the follow-up course to Beginnings, Seeing, and Storytelling.

It's hard to work without a goal. In the coming year, I will do a sketch a day upload it to this blog.

January 1, 2015

Happy New Year! 

Last sketch of 2014-first sketch of 2015

Paper 9"x12" Strathmore Mixed Media Visual Journal

Media: Twinkling H20's. Pitt Pen, Noodler Flex Pen,  Higgins Fountain Pen India Ink (non-waterproof)

Rendering note: Textural effects done with Higgins Fountain Pen India Ink (non-waterproof) after painting is completely dry.

January 2, 2015

Three Cats on the Dryer

Paper: Stillman and Birn Alpha Series 4"x6"

Media and Tools: Bamboo Pen and india ink

What a dreary, gray, rainy day! When I went into the utility room to put away some laundry, I found all three feral cats on the dryer. Striped Mamma and Blackie peered out the window at the birds outside, while Little Mamma, who spent the night carousing with other cats in the neighborhood, napped on the old blanket we leave for that purpose. I did a quick gesture drawing with a bamboo pen and india ink. The pen left a couple of unfortunate blobs on the sketch.

January 3, 2015

Tiny Moche Warrior
Paper: Stillman and Birn Alpha Series 4"x6"

Media and Tools: Lamy Safari,  Higgins Fountain Pen India Ink (non-waterproof)

This is a contour drawing of a tiny silver Moche warrior. The figure itself measures about 1 1/4" in height. Considering the Moche's bloodthirsty reputation, it's probably inappropriate to describe this tiny pre-Columbian warrior as cute, but he's cute anyway.

Rendering note: I can see the india ink cat picture through this page. This isn't that important on this sketch, but might be a problem in future sketches.