Another sketch

The second week of my online sketching class had an assignment to go out in public and draw.  That day I was traveling by car to Florida.  We had planned to stop somewhere along the way so I could sketch.  However, it poured rain all day.  We spent the night in Meridian, MS.  After supper my sweet hubby took me to the mall so I could draw in public.  This is what I drew with a Micron pen. It was the window display of the Buckles store. It was a really cool display with great draping and shapes.  And the shoes were all strappy and chunky.   And to make it even better, the mannikins were on a palette.

So after I got back from vacation I decided to add color from the photos I took.  Here is the result.

 I love pure contour lines and was hesitant to add the watercolor, but I do like it so much better with he color.  Now I have to decide if I should add some text.  It is very empty at the top of the page.

More Sketches

I spent some time sketching before during and after our vacation in Perdido Key, Florida.  I am sketching with an 01 or 02 Micron pen and adding color with watercolor.  For the first time I really made a commitment to sketch on vacation without being distracted by activities and loved ones.  Here are a few.  I'll add more later.

Packing for the trip

At the Pier

Palm tree in colored pencil

I've Been Gone

I haven't posted in 10 months on this blog.  But that doesn't mean I have not been making art.  Over a year ago I started on a new art adventure and you can see that at www.gracefulpalette.blogspot.com.  But now that summer is here and I have a few months off I am heading back to the easel.  To kickstart my painting time I have enrolled in a class at Sketchbook Skool (www.sketchbookskool.com).  I am doing a lot of sketching.  Here is what I am working on now - documenting my week and journaling about it.  I'm leaving for the beach tomorrow and hope to do lots of sketching there.  I also bought sketchbooks for the grandkids so they can sketch with me.  When I get back I'm going to spend the rest of the summer in front of the easel.

.  

Drawing Today

I didn't have time to start another painting before going back to work, so I decided to draw.  I love, love, love to draw, but don't spend enough time sketching.  It was too hot to go outside to draw (98º) so I pulled out some photos from some of my travels. This is Burano, Italy, an island very near Venice.  There are many lace makers on the island.  This market had lace items in all of the stores - table linens, dresses, and umbrellas. It is a beautiful place with many colorful buildings. I intended to add watercolor to this, but I liked the ink just like it is.  I'll paint the next one.

Burano

5.5" x 10" 

Ink on CP Watercolor Paper

Alamo Street

I have been driving often through the neighborhood where I grew up.  I don't know why, but I love to take pictures there of the boxy little houses that are sagging a little and are pretty simple and neat. Many of the formerly white (translate boring) houses are now all colors of the rainbow!  And that makes them more fun to paint.  I loved this photo because it showed the curve of the street.  I had a couple of close friends who lived on this street.

Alamo Street

6" x 18" 

Oil on Cradled Board

$150

Harley

It has been a very long time since I have posted a painting.  I have been working on this one for several months.  I haven't had a lot of time to paint.  This one took much longer than I anticipated.  I was working from a photo that a friend gave me of her husband's motorcycle.  I have posted the photo below.  You can see the photo was taken on a cloudy fall day.  I was going to just copy the photo, but decided it was not very exciting.  The owner of the Harley ventures up to Sturgis, SD for the big bike rally every few years.  I did some research online and found some pics of the area around Sturgis, so I placed the bike in that landscape. However,  that decision brought lots of problems - lighting and shadows.  I actually had to go to the Harley store and take some photos in the late afternoon.  Then I couldn't figure out the handlebar that was coming toward the viewer. To solve that problem I ordered a toy Harley from Amazon that was identical to the one in the original photo. I finally got it all worked out.  I am not completely thrilled with the cast shadow, but I repainted it three times, so I'm sticking to this one.

The photo

Jerry's Bike
9" x 12"
Oil on panel

Another Long Story

I love these wide format canvases.  And I love street scenes.  These streets are just like the ones I played on as a child.
  It feels so comfortable and so full of memories.

University Neighborhood
Oil on 6" X 18"  cradled canvas
$150