Week 7 in Drawing

18" x 24" - Skeletal Study - Skull and Elbow - Pencil - October 3, 2011

This was the last week of sketches before midterm and we worked on the skeletal form with our very stylishly posed yet somewhat incomplete skeleton ;) It felt perfect for the upcoming Halloween and I just realized with posting this that even my extra credit sketch is Halloweenesque! Anyway, this piece is simply whatever medium we wanted on the white. I picked pencil.

12" x 18" - Skeletal Study - Hip - White Charcoal and Conte Crayon on Black Paper - October 5, 2011

The real challenge came when we had to use a white medium on black paper. Trying to draw the light instead of the shadows was really difficult for me and I got very frustrated with this one, to the point where I ended with scribbling frantically with a lot of my marks. Everyone who saw it really liked it though, so I suppose it didn't come out as bad as I thought ;) After all, that 'sketchy' look is quite popular, lol.

9" x 11" - Extra Study - Crafted Raven - Ultra Fine and Fine Sharpie - Oct. 7, 2011

And here is my extra credit piece. The raven I used was actually missing an eye and he's a bit banged up, so I tried to improve him slightly in my picture. I at least gave him two whole eyes ;) Anyway, it's semester break and I'm really REALLY hoping to steal some crafty time - make a card, scrap a page, or sew something, while on break. So hopefully, I'll have something actually crafty to share with you soon! Thanks for sticking around gals ;)

Week 6 in Drawing

18" x 24" - Marker Study - Organic Composition - Ultra Fine and Fine Sharpie - Sept. 30, 2011

18" x 24" - Marker Study - Garden Bird - Ultra Fine Sharpie - Sept. 30, 2011

In week 6 we continued with the markers and worked on a composition piece. Because I ended up with a little extra time the week before, I had started a second single study sketch of a bird and between coming to class early and staying a little later, I finished the stippled bird the morning before finishing the composition. There was actually quite a bit in the composition piece which was a large tree in a basket (I have the trunk with the vines around it here in my piece) along with a lot of little things scattered on the table and some birds in the trees (which I couldn't see from where I was sitting). I actually started to sketch more of the bottom area with the basket and items, including a pheasant, but I didn't like the way it was turning out so I refocused on the leaves next to the tree trunk.

9" x 12" - Marker Study - Pretty Mug Style #1 - Ultra Fine and Fine Sharpie - Oct.2, 2011

9" x 11" - Marker Study - Pretty Mug Style #2 - Ultra Fine Sharpie - Oct. 2, 2011

9" x 11" - Marker Study - Pretty Mug Style #3 - Ultra Fine and Fine Sharpie - Oct. 8, 2011

For our homework studies, this time we were to pick one single item and draw it three times in three different styles. This was really hard for me because I wasn't really sure how to come up with 3 distinct styles, but in the end, they worked out fairly well. My mugs seem a little off kilter, and I notice that I really struggle with that back curve on all three, but as a whole I think they were a fun experiment. Anyway, I've got one more week left to share with you and it's only a few pictures since we got to have that week as a make up sketch week. Thanks for stopping by ;)

Week 5 Marker Sketches

18" x 24" - Marker Study - Pretty Ceramic Chicken - Ultra Fine Sharpie - Sept. 23, 2011

So I finally got around to taking pictures of my projects for the past 3 weeks, which is good since I have to turn them all in today for midterms and probably won't see them again for a while ;) Week 5 was the intro into markers.Talk about challenging! When we first talked about doing the marker sketches I was really excited. But then I realized my idea of sketching with markers is to create outlines so that I can fill the rest in with color! The challenge here is using just the black markers. Because I've only doodled with pens, and nothing serious mind you - just things on the margins of my notes, this week was filled with experimenting for me. My main project was a fun ceramic bird that looked like a pretty chicken. For this sketch I just kind of let go of my expectations for myself and simply played around with the marker, seeing what I could come up with. I actually really like how it turned out. It's like a huge doodle.

9" x 12" - Marker Study - Big Fat Latte Mug - Ultra Fine and Fine Sharpie - Sept. 25, 2011

 

9" x 12" - Marker Study - LPS Hermit Crab - Ultra Fine and Fine Sharpie - Sept. 25, 2011

9" x 12" - Marker Study - Beaded Pumpkin - Ultra Fine and Fine Sharpie - Sept. 27, 2011

My first sketch was just more exploration with the marker. I did the bottom mug first, trying a more structured variation of what I did on the bird. I like the handle came out, as well as the very center of the inside of the mug, but the rest I'm not loving. Then with the other sketch I tried some vertical feathering strokes. I again really like the handle, but not much else, lol. So with my next sketch, which I just love because it's so stinkin' cute, I did a variation of structured parallel lines along with outlining the curves. Then on the beaded pumpkin in my 3rd sketch, I added some stipling to go along with my structured lines. Very fun and very different from the pencil and charcoal mediums we have been using. I'll be posting the other two weeks of projects later this week. Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

Week 4 in Drawing

Metal Pencil Study - Lancelot - Pencil and Graphite Stick - Sept. 16 2011

It's a week late, but I finally got pictures of my second round of pencil sketches. The subject for week 4 was metal, so all our sketches had to be of something metallic. I have to admit, so far this has been the hardest assignment for me. When I get to pick my own subject matter I usually go with cutesy or girlie things. Needless to say, after getting the assignment to stick to metal objects I was pretty stumped. In fact I was so stumped that I only finished that week's last sketch this Saturday. But here they are finally, lol. Luckily our sketchbooks aren't due every week. We'll turn in them in for midterms and finals. Here's the main piece we worked on during the week. We call him Lancelot ;) The armor isn't to scale, it's an artist rendition and I did have a bit of fun drawing him.

Metal Pencil Study - Top of Pepsi Can - Pencil and Graphite Stick - Sept. 18, 2011

Metal Pencil Study - Meat Mallet Smooth - Pencil and Graphite Stick - Sept. 18, 2011

Metal Pencil Study - Cabodle's Case Latch - Pencil - September 24, 2011

My first metal sketch was just the top of a pepsi can. I couldn't get the curves to come out the way I wanted and after countless tries and erasing I finally gave in and just went with it. So it came out alright but not as nice as I wanted. The second is my meat mallet. I did the smooth side. I really like the way the shading came out on this one, but I noticed afterward that I got some of the angles wrong. The last sketch, a lock on Apple's cabodles box, came out the best. It is, of course, my favorite of the bunch ;)  We're working on marker now and I have just one more sketch to finish up before I share my pics on the old bloggo. Anyway, I hope you all have a terrific Monday. Thanks for stopping by!

Week 3 in Drawing

Pencil Study - Crafted Owl - Pencil and Graphite Stick - September 9, 2011

This week we're working on using pencil and graphite. Instead of trying to do 3 sketchier studies of a single item we could opt to do one larger piece to work on the entire week. So I picked this owl I have been eyeing in the classroom and got to work on it. I think he came out pretty good. For the homework we had to pick 3 single items again. I got a little ambitious with the wisk. I think the idea was mostly how neat I thought it would look after it was done instead of what a pain it would be to draw all the wisky parts!

Pencil Study - Favorite Wisk - Pencil and Graphite - September 11, 2011

Pencil Study - Plastic Star Glasses - Pencil and Graphite Stick - September 11, 2011

Pencil Study - Leather Pump - Pencil - September 14, 2011

Later that same day I did the plastic star glasses. I was a little drawed out by then so they were a lot smaller (the wisk takes up the entire 9x11 page and the glasses are probably only in about a 3x6 section. Today I finished my 3rd pencil single study - one of my cute leather pumps that I don't get to wear very often because it's too much of a pain to wear heels when I'm walking all over campus! Anyway, hope you're all having a great week!

Week 2 in Drawing

Study #4 - Charcoal Pencil and Vine - White Stork, Faux Log, Nuts - September 2, 2011

Our second week we've continued to work on using charcoal and now instead of single studies we've been working on compositions. The entire week was used to work on one large 18 x 24 composition, filling the entire, or close to the entire, page. Where we sat determined what part of the composition we could see. Of what I could see, this was part I chose to sketch - a wooden stork, a small branch of some nut like things, all set on the backdrop of a large faux log. The background was to be filled in with black. I finished early on Friday and used the rest of class to practice on the pine cone and little squash in the composition. My pinecone looks squashed, lol, but I think my mini pumpkin gourd thing came out pretty well ;)

Practice - Charcoal Pencil and Vine - Pinecone and Mini Gourd - September 2, 2011

The sketchbook assignment was to do mini compositions in our 9 x 11 book. Put together two items. We could do more, but no more than 3. I had a ton of fun with my projects and tried to pick out items that could tell a story of sorts, so a lot of toys were used in my sketches this week. The first one I want to add the quote to Vader, "Now you belong to me" and have a little "mew?" caption above the LPS kitten ears. The second is Apple's velociraptor playing the xbox. I have it on good authority that he was playing Lego Harry Potter ;) And last is the rainbow My Little Pony wearing 3D glasses. These were all both fun and frustrating, lol. They definitely taught me a lot!

Sketch #5 - Charcoal Pencil, Vine, and White - LP Vader vs LPS Kitten - September 4, 2011

Sketch #6 - Charcoal Pencil, Vine, and White - Velociraptor playing XBox - September 4, 2011

Sketch #7 - Charcoal Pencil, Vine, and White - My Little Pony in 3D Glasses - September 6, 2011

Anyway, I hope you enjoy these peeks into my drawing projects ;) Have a wonderful week!

Week 1 in Drawing

I don't have anything crafty to share, but I have been logging a lot of time with my drawing class. Here are my sketches for the week - all studies in charcoal. I've never used it before and it's a bit messy as opposed to my fav, colored pencils. But I think I'm getting the hang of it. These 3 pages were done during class. The big challenges for me with these were getting used to the charcoal and also drawing from 3D objects, which I'm really not very good at, lol. These are all in my big drawing book, the pages are 18x24 inches.

Study #1 - Charcoal Stick - Wooden White Bird - August 24, 2011

Study #2 - Charcoal Stick - Ceramic Black Cat - August 24, 2011

Study #3 - Charcoal Stick - Faux Pear and Glossy Stone Apple - August 26, 2011

These other 4 are from my smaller sketch book which is 9x12. They are my at home studies so all of these goodies were actually found around our home ;)



Sketch #1 - Ceramic Bird - Charcoal Stick and Pencil - August 27, 2011

Sketch #2 - Charcoal Pencil and Vine - Turtle Sand Beanie - August 27, 2011

Sketch #3 - Charcoal Pencil and Vine - Littlest Pet Shop Fish - August 28, 2011

Sketch #4 - Charcoal Pencil and Vine - Silk Orchids Mini - August 28, 2011

The beanie turtle and orchids are my favorite of the bunch. I think I've finally come up with a method that works for me with the charcoal and that's to use the pencils and the vines. The stick is a little hard to control but it does give nice deep black lines and shades great for big surfaces. I forced myself out of my comfort zone and stuck with solely the stick on my big pad projects and then experimented with the others at home. Anyway, just thought I'd share. Hope you all had a wonderful week!





Altering My Sketchbook

My drawing class requires two drawing pads. The octopus is on an 18x24 inch drawing pad and this one is my sketch book, just 9x12. I didn't really come up with a plan for these books ahead of time, instead they both worked out with one thing leading to another. With the octopus, it started with the blue pencil that led to a blue varigated D that led to fishes in the rest of the letters which led to the octopus. This sketch pad went much quicker mostly because it's quite a bit smaller, but also because the inspiration for the peacock came immediately after I finished coloring in the sketch of the girl. The colors I picked ended up reminding me of a peacock so I went with it starting with the feather and then drawing the bird's profile in the left corner. The colors are much darker and saturated in real life, probably because I used a flash again since it's late and I know I won't get around to taking any photos in the morning. Anyway, even though I'm not doing anything crafty, I thought I'd share ;) Hope you enjoy and are having a great week! Thanks for visiting!

Uniquefying My Drawing Pad

All three of us girls have started back-to-school and it has been so hectic here for the past couple weeks! Apple and I started this week while Cherry began last week (kindergarteners in our district start a week later due to individual testing the first week). Unfortunately, because we're still getting used to the routine, our home has been in this perpetual state of looking like a tornado blew through. And of course instead of cleaning, I'm playing around with doodles on my drawing pad. After all, I don't want it looking like everyone else's pad, right? ;) So here's my fun huge doodle to uniquefy my drawing pad. The close up is to show you the fun little fish and bubbles I put in the letters. Just a quick post since I'm off to read for biology now. Thanks for stopping by and seeing what we're up to!