Tuesday 31 July 2012

75 Day Sketch Challenge: Days 29, 30 and 31

The local arts society I belong to have plein air sessions every summer. Unfortunately, the organizers schedule the sessions on Tuesdays. Not good for members who have 'other' jobs.

I was able to take a leave for 4 hours one Tuesday, enough to join the group on a winery/vineyard for some plein air drawing.

I sat in between the rows of vines that provided enough shade for me. It was about noon time when we started so it was really hot outside. There were a lot of details to draw but of course I did not draw every details. I just drew enough to capture the scene.


I also liked the six barrels neatly placed near the entrance of the winery. My hands were shaking a little when I started this. Remember, one of the rules of the 75 day challenge is not to use pencils so drawing these barrels were really challenging.

Wednesday 18 July 2012

75 Day Sketch Challenge: Days 26, 27 and 28

I love sketching landscape from imagination. Anything goes ... for this one, I started with the big tree on the left, added the river and then the trees along the banks.


 I've had these mugs from my first work more than 10 years ago. When I don't have enough alone time to draw, I draw whatever I could find inside the house and draw while watching TV.
One of those days when I can't seem to decide what to draw. I saw a chocolate wrapper on the table, decide that it's a good challenge. I was half-way done when I had to stand up to get something. The wrapper was gone when I got back. Somebody was doing some cleaning up and confessed that she threw the wrapper away.

Thursday 12 July 2012

75 Day Sketch Challenge: Days 23, 24 and 25

My son's Buzz Lightyear piggybank.

My blackberry case, car and house keys, and my RSA token ID. Can't leave home without these (and of course, the blackberry).
 After a badminton game with my son, I found my next subject.

Tuesday 10 July 2012

75 Day Sketch Challenge: Days 20, 21 and 22

Day 20: Took my sketchbook and pens with me and drew the front of an outlet store from inside the car.


 Our comfy rocking chair.
 A mighty rhino, this one was definitely not drawn from life. Took out my son's books and looked for something that requires a lot of shading.

Saturday 7 July 2012

75 Day Sketch Challenge: Days 17, 18 and 19

Day 17: I was out in front of the house in our front yard watching my kids play. I brough a folding chair outside and took the opportunity to draw part of our neighbors trailer.

 Day 18: I was trying the technique I learned online on rendering a tree. The effort was time consuming. I rushed but I did get some satisfaction on the result. I've read that in professional drawings, a tree like this may be rendered between 3-5 hours in pen (with careful and small strokes).


Day 19: Finding a subject is always a challenge especially when it's late at night and you don't have time anymore to go around the house (especially when everyone else is sleeping). I thought of drawing my left hand as it holds the sketchbook.


Tuesday 3 July 2012

75 Day Sketch Challenge: Days 14, 15 and 16

I saw an old picture of Lombart Street in San Francisco, California. It has been more than 10 years since I've been in the US. I've decided to try and draw it. I had to be careful with the perspective.



 There was a ground fair last July 2 where kids can make their own boats using wood. Hammer, nails and other tools were provided. I was with my son and here's a sketch of the boat we made.

I saw some tutorials on sketching foliage in the internet and decided to try it out. The key here is patience. Do not rush. I probably need a finer pen to make the trees more realistic. I'm happy with the result though.