Sketchbook Saturday....

A Blustery November Day....

 It' been raining all day.
Can't work outside.

It's a perfect day to work on
my nature drawings for
Jane Lafazio's workshop -
Sketching and Drawing in
a Mixed Media Journal.

The first lesson was to draw something
in nature.

With an abundance of subject
matter to choose from
I selected three leaves from my
stash of stuff I collected during
my recent trip to Cleveland.

T

I got a nice start on the page today.
But with the sun setting, I've
no more natural light to paint by.

I'll work more on this tomorrow.
I think I'm going to scribe some
poetry in the background
to fill up the white space.
Maybe something from
Robert Frost?







Also been busy today gathering supplies for the workshops I'm taking during Art of the Carolinas which starts next week. Last year I took 3, this year I'm taking 5:

Feed Your Art
Paint Your Pet (oh Gizmo!)
Negative Space Painting  (workshop is sold out!)
Nature's Palette (workshop is sold out!)
Wax and Watercolor - an Interesting Mix

I had a hard time deciding which workshops to take as they are offering so many great opportunities.
I am  thrilled to be taking Linda Kemp's negative space painting class as she is one of my favorite artistic authors.  Her book, "Watercolor Painting Painting Outside the Lines, - A Positive Approach to Negative Painting," is a book I turn to again and again. I so appreciate her style.  It will be very inspirational to be in a workshop with her and  learn from her in person.

Sabrina is working again at Art of the Carolinas as a studio assistant and at registration. That makes me happy.  It is  a fabulous experience for her - being around such inspiring and motivated people. I remember last year being on a break and grabbing a coffee in the atrium - and watching hundreds of teachers and students interacting, scurrying back and forth with paints, easels, buckets, paper towels, knapsacks, canvases, etc.  So much creative energy.  It really is very exciting.  I so look forward to this every year.

Art of the Carolinas  - Hilton North Raleigh / Midtown  - Workshops November 7, 8, 9 and 10.  Vendor Mall November 8, 9 and 10.

Sunday's Sketches....

Felt like doing something I didn't have to think too hard about today - so I got out my teeny tiny sketchbook (3x5), the rapidograph set and some Derwent watercolor and inktense pencils. When I was in high school - I loved working with pen and ink. I didn't go anywhere without my pens and sketchbook. I don't know why I ever stopped - as there was a time I was pretty good with it. Rapidographs didn't exist - I used a simple ink pen with different nibs.

Rapidographs are really nice to work with as you don't have to change tips - there are 8 pens in the set all with different size tips. You can use India Ink, or even colored liquid acrylic ink in these pens. Today, I just used Gorilla Ink as I knew I was going to lay in some color with the watercolor pencils.
The watercolor pencils remind me of my Neocolors. You color on the pigment, and then with a brush, lay down water and watch the color flow. I think I could have a relationship with these. They take some getting used to - and mind you, I did not use watercolor paper because I was using rapidographs. The paper in my sketchbook accepted the water - but didn't allow me much time before it pilled.

Sabrina was in the studio today too, working on her journal and a few paintings to match her newly redecorated bedroom. Unlike when I'm piecing, or working on an art quilt, we were both able to work at the same table - which was nice. Lots of laughing, lots of singing and talking. A great way to spend a few hours on a rainy Monday afternoon!

I plan on spending more time with my old pen and ink set from high school. I'm going to dig it out tomorrow. I forgot how much I enjoy the simplicity of layering on dots, crosshatches and lines over bright white bristol. Ahhh the simple things in life.

I do hope you found some time for singing and laughter during your weekend, too!