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 ©2011 Carolyn A. Pappas, Katie in Profile. Graphite in 8.5 x 11 inch sketchbook. This drawing is based on a photo where Katie is standing on the bow of the boat looking over the lake. It would make a really nice portrait done in colored pencil if I can convince myself to get started on it! I had fun making this little sketch of a chickadee for the Wilderness Art Challenge, which is a monthly art challenge hosted by Gary Keimig. He has some really lovely nature art and photography, so I would check him out. The scan didn’t come in that great because of the buckling of the paper, but I wasn’t aiming for perfection.  ©2011 Carolyn A. Pappas, Chickadee. Graphite and watercolor, apx 5.5 x 4 inches in watercolor sketchbook. A bit of trivia for you: I have only used birds as a subject three other times in my life before, when I was a preteen. I painted a bluebird for my grandmother, a parakeet for my grandfather and a cardinal for someone in my church who collected them. Since then I haven’t drawn birds at all, mostly because I felt that the Internet was becoming too saturated with them, especially owls and peacocks. Birds seem to be a good “self-contained” subject and I have noticed that they are a favorite subject for illustrators and artists who like to stylize their work more. For more bird themed art, check out Geninne Zlatkis and Natasha Newton, who have made a name for themselves by painting birds almost exclusively. Do you know of an artist who paints birds? Let me know in the comments!  ©2011 Carolyn A. Pappas, Sketches of Zoe. Ink in large handbook sketchbook. Last night I stopped paying attention after the first quarter and instead started sketching Zoe, a lovely black and white long haired cat. I’m back at home after Thanksgiving and completely wiped out. I did do some sketching over the past few days but not as much as I would have liked. I feel like I got a cooking confidence boost yesterday though. My mom was sick so I cooked the whole Thanksgiving meal with Chris and my dad (with me doing most of it). I am good at cooking but I never did something so big before. Today I am just going to do some really easy sketching and watch some movies. I’ve got a Grapenut pudding in the oven right now and I can’t wait.  ©2010 Carolyn A. Pappas, 11-24-10 sketchbook page (Katie). Ink in large handbook sketchbook.  ©2010 Carolyn A. Pappas, 11-24-10 sketchbook page (fruit and veggies). Ink in large handbook sketchbook. I was busy yesterday with a small family get together. I did get to see my favorite brother cats though. Here are some (rough) sketches, unfortunately done from photos after the fact. I could have taken out my sketchbook when I was there, but whenever I get a chance to spend time with my family all at the same place, I usually don’t feel like sketching so much. I don’t draw cats too often, so maybe after a little more practice, I will be ready to turn some of my reference photos into small watercolors.
 ©2010 Carolyn A. Pappas, Olivia in the Blankets. Ink, watercolor and colored pencil, 5 x 7 inches. I had another opportunity to draw Olivia, one of my favorite Whippets, this time in ink with watercolor and colored pencil. My first sketches from this past February were done from life in ballpoint pen. When I was making these sketches I was trying to practice and basically figure out how their heads were constructed. When I made this recent piece I used a photo reference and I wanted it to appear more flat, as if the shapes fit together like puzzle pieces.
Sketching has not been high on my priority list this week, but here is a sketch I made while I was recouperating last week after my surgery. Katie was restless waiting by the door, and I like that I was able to capture her different positions as she shifted. She is doing well these days, except she had an unfortunate encounter with a skunk a few weeks back. The stench has mostly worn off by now though, except when she gets wet.
Someone gave me a bound sketchbook some years ago, but I never started it because I prefer spiral bound sketchbooks that can lay flat. I didn’t want it to go to waste though, and I remember reading an interview with R Crumb where he said that his early sketchbooks were just black and white drawings. I don’t think I have much in common with R Crumb mind you, but I do admire his sheer determination to spend many hours practicing. I also have been toying with the idea of keeping a theme sketchbook, and I want to practice my pen and ink skills and do a little experimentation with new techniques. My drawings have become too fussy lately, and I want to try to loosen up and use less detail. The dog here is Cody, the brother of Katie. They don’t live in the same house, but they are good friends and they have a great time playing when they do see each other from time to time. On another note, for a few more hours (until 6 pm BST, June 1) you can download an ebook of The Beany #4 by Michael Nobbs for just $1. The ebook version normally sells for $9.95 so this is a significant savings. I got mine earlier today and it is nice to read while sipping a cup of tea (naturally). It is a good lesson in being kind to yourself, and taking time to remember the important things in life.
Here are some links that I have come across in the past few weeks that I have found interesting. They are good for when you feel feel too drained to draw or paint, and would just like to look at some pretty things. Interview with Nigel Peake (he does detailed ink drawings), James Jean (he has lots of nice moleskines under the link “Sketch”), Andy English (wood engraver), Yellena James (I have one of her t-shirts), Ea’s Artlog (makes me consider using markers more in my sketchbooks), Up There (a short documentary about old fashioned sign painters — very nostalgic).
Roz has a page on her website dedicated to drawings she made of her dog Dottie every day for a number of years (1998-2003). I really love dogs but I won’t be able to get one of my own for a couple of years at least. One day I would like to have my own dog so I could undertake such a project, but until then I will draw other people’s dogs when I get the opportunity. |
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Copyright ©2012 Carolyn A Pappas - All Rights Reserved |
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