I worked parts of several days this week on a page intended to introduce me to collage. Yesterday I was so unhappy with what I had that I tossed it out. I may or may not go back to that lesson and see what I can do with it.
Meanwhile, I sketched and painted another page. There is always something sketch-worthy in the yard and we found a small pine branch on the ground during a walk which supplied great fun. It was interesting to note how gray the wood is, except on the tiny outer branches where they are very pale brown.
The hosta, even fading and brown on the ends, was a very fun plant to sketch and paint. I achieved the layers of green by letting each color dry and then going back to apply the next color. The particular variety here has the yummy creamy-color edges.
The Gaillardia is a new plant in my garden this year. It is so cheerful! The leaves are so svelte and graceful. I sketched a top view of the Gaillardia with the stabilo pencil. I really like using it. Once the sketch was complete I used a watercolor brush with clear water to ‘shade’ the sketch.
And I could barely believe my eyes when I looked at the new pine cone developing and realized how purple it is. This class continues to be a great lesson in looking closely at things and drawing what is there, not what I think is there.
More to come.
This is shared as an Off The Wall Friday posting. I love being inspired by what other artists are doing!
Throwing your sketch page away reminds me of a story told by our workshop instructor a couple of weeks ago. She showed us a book she made of drawings. These drawings had been done by her students on the first day of a 3 day workshop and they had thrown them out at the end of the day because they weren’t happy with them. When they had left for the day Catherine gathered them from the trash, took them back to her hotel room and made a book. The next day she brought it in to show her students. They all admired the works in the book and it then dawned on them that it was their own works they were admiring. Maybe you should fish your page out of the garbage and begin your own collection to create your own paper work! Mary Ann
Point taken. Unfortunately, the trash has already been taken for the week. But I still have the opportunity to go back to that specific lesson and give it another shot. I probably will. Thanks for sharing your experience with me.
I love this page and I bet the one you tossed is likewise interesting. Sorry we missed seeing it.
Oh no, this one needed tossing, trust me. It was only a page and this is a class. Not everything will be worth keeping.
Sketching is so rewarding. It shows us details we would otherwise miss and helps us to appreciate beauty where we least expect it.
I couldn’t agree more Regina! I think I need to put together a small travel pack that I can keep with me all the time. You never know when a great opportunity will present itself.
Great studies! Isn’t it fun to try to capture the details…..beautiful!
Thank you! And thanks for stopping by.
“This class continues to be a great lesson in looking closely at things and drawing what is there, not what I think is there.” And isn’t that what a good drawing class should teach you?!
Absolutely. But the obvious — when it comes through — is always a big revelation.
I drag my feet when it comes to sketching–I think yours is lovely and would look good on fabric. I think I’ll go into the garden with some fabric and a marker to draw!
best, nadia
OMG, Nadia, with your talent and a needle you should be sketching regularly! Go for it. And be sure to hit the wall on Friday to share what you did. I must admit, I’m tempted to give the paper-to-fabric transition a try but lack of experience is holding me back.
I looked at your art quilt gallery, especially your sunflowers, and can easily see you using some of these sketches on a quilt. Your work is beautiful!
Norma, thank you so much for the kind words. I am getting so many nudges in this direction that I think I’m going to have to give it a go!
What a wonderful sketchbook! That page by itself is an interesting quilt!
Thanks for the comment Cathy. I just bought some Derwent watercolor pencils and I’m eager to give them a try on fabric. Stay tuned . . .