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Monday, January 28, 2008

EDM Challenge #2 - Draw a Desk Lamp

EDM Challenge #2 - Draw a Desk Lamp - 1

There are a couple of lamps in my house, and I couldn't really decide which one to sketch, so I did two of them.

The lamp in the top sketch is used to illuminate larger areas; we use it as a reading lamp for the lounge chair in the bedroom. The sketch below is the lamp on the desk in the study, and at its side are two stress-ball toys, one a smiley-face and the other sort of a bean-bag style.

I've been playing with watercolor washes on these sketches of late, and I like the effect. I may try varying the color with each EDM Challenge...

Both sketches done with a Pitt Artist's Pen & Ultramarine Blue watercolor wash in my Aquabee 808 Super Deluxe sketchbook, approx. 6" x 9".

EDM Challenge #2 - Draw a Desk Lamp - 2

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Watercolor Painting - When Life Gives You Lemons

Watercolor on Arches 300-lb cold-pressed paper, approx. 11" x 15" (27.9 cm x 38.1 cm). This painting is based on this previous watercolor sketch, and was my submission to the St. Louis Watercolor Society "Quiet Moments" (still lifes) exhibition last week.

The painting is on public display at CJ Muggs in Webster Groves, so stop by and take a look while you're enjoying a great lunch or dinner there.

This painting is for sale; contact me if you're interested in purchasing it.

Monday, January 14, 2008

EDM Challenge #1 - Draw Your Shoe

EDM Challenge #1 - Draw Your Shoe

I thought I'd start at the beginning of the Every Day Matters challenges. So here's one of my Kenneth Cole shoes. Pitt artist pen with raw sienna watercolor wash in Aquabee Super Deluxe 808 sketchbook, approx. 6" x 9"

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Watercolor Sketch - Flowers

Watercolor Sketch - Flowers
Watercolor sketch in Aquabee 808 Super Deluxe sketchbook. Approx. 5" x 6" (12.5 cm x 16.0 cm).

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Conquer the Blank Page with a Drawing Practice Book

Drawing Practice Book - Catsup

When wishing to practice your sketching or painting, have you ever been intimidated by a blank piece of watercolor paper or a blank sketchbook page staring you in the face? Ever wished there was a way to practice drawing without intimidation? Here's a technique to get you past that feeling...

I first ran across this great idea in Martha's superb sketch 'zine Trumpetvine Travels Volume 1 which featured an article titled "Drawing Practice Book" about using a small book as a sketchbook in which to practice.

The idea here is basic: improving your drawing skills means drawing regularly, and by using an old book in which to draw, there's no hesitation to get started and no expectations for the outcome.

If you'd like to try this, it doesn't have to be expensive; I bought my book at a garage sale for 25 cents! The downside--it had a lot of pictures in it and not much text... Martha suggests that you look for an old hardbound book that's "not too big to carry with you, feels good in the hand, and opens fairly flat."

I used this technique back in 2004, and thought I would post a few of my results. I haven't seen many images of this type of work on the web, so I'm interested if this technique has helped you personally... leave a comment if you wish! I'd love to see other examples of this.