Back to my sketching today. I intended to do one of a scene I shared this morning on Instagram but this was the view when I sat down in my studio to sketch.
Continue reading “By the Bay”
Tag: sketchbook
Creating my own sunshine
Yesterday was another rainy, overcast day and all I wanted to do was hibernate until the sky turns blue again. So I looked at the forecast for the next 14 days.
8 days of rain!
Continue reading “Creating my own sunshine”
Cloudy with a chance of red doors
Today is raining and overcast. Too many folks on a flood watch right now but here in Margaretsville we’re okay. Most of our water drains into the Bay of Fundy, which means the waterfalls are spectacular along the cliffs.
This time of year the whole landscape seems grey and brown. The one spot of colour is the red door on the Art Shack down by the dock which I can see from my studio. Unless the sun comes out. Then the bay and sky become a brilliant blue. Here on the Bay a “Blue Day” is a good day. But for today, it’s the red door that calls to me.
Continue reading “Cloudy with a chance of red doors”
Playing at The Art Shack
It’s my turn to cover a shift at The Art Shack today so I brought along some art supplies to play with.
One of those items was a bottle of acrylic artist ink.
I follow artist Marion Boddy-Evans’ blog and she posted an experiment she did which inspired me to give drawing with ink a try.
I sketched in a line drawing to follow (which is also the view from the Shack window. Hard not to be inspired.)
Then, using the ink dropper like a pencil, I drew in the lighthouse, cliff and the dark edge of the water.
Next I dampened the water area with a clean brush, being careful not to touch the ink until it was all damp. After that I just let the ink do what it wanted to do, spreading out into the damp paper.
I liked the effect so much I did a little of the same in the cliff to add more texture and finally on the shadow side of the lighthouse.
Really enjoyed playing with this and can see me doing more.
If you give this a try yourself, please share in the comments. Id love to hear what you think.
Sketching to Experience the World
Drawing is first about taking something with all the senses, letting what is simply be as it is, without judging it. – Jeanne Carbonetti, The Yoga of Drawing“
Call it what you will
I love sketching. While it’s a good creative warm-up, it’s even better as an antidote to the distractions all around me. It reminds me to pay attention because the world is a pretty amazing place.
Sketching is available to anyone because there’s no need to call yourself ‘artist’. No need even to share what you produce. I have pages and pages of sketches for ‘my eyes only’. You can even throw away what you produce because it’s NOT about the product.
It’s about being present for that moment and really noticing the world again.
It’s all about curiosity
Sketching makes me pay attention and examine small details.
It shifts me out of auto-pilot and helps me to let go of preconceived ideas about how the world around me ‘should’ look. When I really get into flow, I focus in without judgment about the object I’m studying or what my hand produces on the paper.
Perhaps ‘doodle’ is a better word because it strips away that serious artist overtone. It’s about curiosity and taking a closer look.
Carpe Diem and Sketch
Keep it simple and your tools handy so you can do this anytime, anywhere. Seize every opportunity.
Choose a pencil or fine-line marker that you like. I prefer a marker because my lines feel more confident. The energy is just different when I know I must commit and can’t erase. I also keep a few watercolour pencils with me because I like colour but it’s not necessary.
The paper itself isn’t important. While it’s nice to have sketchbook, the back of a napkin also works. As I said, it’s not about the end product but the process.
Then just do it.
Try it
Sketch something in your environment right now. Start by taking a second look.
Is the top of a mug really round or something else when it’s in front of you. How do the shadows fall? Is there a glint of light on this somewhere? How do the pieces line up? Or not? Is the top bigger than the bottom?
You get the idea.
Then just make some marks on the paper. Once you start, it gets easier. Don’t judge the marks you make. They’re not important.
You only need a few minutes. Do it on your lunch hour or while the kids nap. It’s a practice you can squeeze into any schedule and can help you feel more grounded because for those few minutes, you’re paying attention.
Invisible Rule holding you back?
If you’re hesitating I’ll bet the conversation in your head sounds something like “I could never do that.”.
Who made up that rule?
Change the inner dialog to a curious question — “What if I tried this?”.
I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments.