Imaginary Landscape (5×7), Tombow brush pens and pitt pens in landscape colors, 2008
I’ve been doing landscapes lately and I’m in the middle of another one at the moment. I go through phases but I find that when I’m doing a piece of art for another person, landscapes are universally appealing. This drawing was a birthday card for my father and the piece I’m working on now is a commission for a person I’ve never even met. I hope he likes landscapes.
Mixed Floral on Aquabord, watercolor (6×6), 2008
I tried out watercolor on aquabord for the first time here. In a lot of ways I really like aquabord. I like that I have more to play around with the paint once I apply it. It is also easier to “scrub out” mistake or cover over paint in general. I do think that I should have tried an easier composition though because I felt a little overwhelmed trying to paint all those flowers.
Happy Easter everyone!
Drawing of Drinking Glass, graphite in kraft paper sketchbook, 2008
I have been trying to improve the quality of my work lately, as well as increase the quantity. Every so often I get the urge to draw something difficult—like this glass—just to test myself. I have never been very good with ellipses or water or glass. I do think that I am improving though and maybe someday I will have complete confidence in my skills.
Rose and Lily Sketch, tombow brush pens, 2008
Yesterday I went to the Wadsworth Atheneum to see Impressionists by the Sea. I took my time to read every single description and it was very interesting. I loved it how they paired up paintings of the same scene by the same artist at different times or from slightly different angles. They also displayed the paintings according to time period. The earlier paintings focused on shipwrecks and fishermen and then moved on to paintings of vacationers on picnics, etc. At the end, the paintings focused on just the sea and landscape. Those were my favorite paintings. I am not really a beach person, but this exhibition has inspired me to try to get to the beach this summer.
Red Ink Rose, red gel ink and prismacolor, 2008
This is an experimental drawing that I did for my husband on a blank greeting card for our 8 month “monthiversary.” I did it from a reference photo on WetCanvas because I didn’t have any fresh flowers at the time.
Dried Rose Petals, Prismacolor colored pencil on kraft paper, 2008
In these two sketches, I drew the same rose in different stages of decay. The graphite drawing is of the rose when it was completely dried out, but still intact. I drew it in about an hour one day after work. After I tried to move it slightly, the entire rose fell apart in my hand and I ended up drawing the petals scattered on my drafting table. I tried to focus on giving the drawing a 3D effect and I am happy with it. I also think the tinted paper adds quite a bit and I have never used colored pencil on this paper before.
Turkish Shoe, Sanguine Pitt Pens, 2008
Better ‘N Ben’s Wood Stove, Sepia Pitt Pens, 2008
Yesterday I went to my Papou’s (grandfather’s) house to do laundry. While waiting between loads, I sketched these two drawings. The shoe is a little metal nicknack that Yiayia (grandmother) bought on one of their trips to Greece. I’ve always admired it but never drew it before. The wood stove has always been one of my favorite things about Papou’s house. It is in the garage and it heats the whole house. Unfortunately, it was very hot in the garage the whole time I was doing laundry. I’ve always been intimidated to draw the stove because it looked too complex. I’m glad I made the attempt though and I might even try it again.
Rose Sketch, tombow brush marker, 2008
Inked Roses, black pitt pens and Prismacolor colored pencil, 2008
Here are some more rose drawings that I’ve done in the past few weeks. I really like the marker one and I’m thinking of doing more marker sketches in the near future. The ink drawing looks way too Victorian for me but by the time I realized this, I was too far gone in the drawing to justify quitting. I added some colored pencil to the roses in an effort to improve it but this just made it look like a hand colored black and white photo—even more Victorian! I did one more rose drawing (which I will write about soon) before I had to throw them away.
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