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June 2009..........July 2009..........August 2009
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Monday, June 1, 2009 - Sketching Everyday
2009 Kickoff!
Red Tail Hawk Sketch
Wow, I can't believe another
year has passed since I sketched Every Single Day! I've continued
to sketch, mind you, but not as regularly as I have done during
the past three summers. I'm really excited about embarking on
my drawing everyday adventure once more this year. This is a
sketch I did today of a Red Tail Hawk from a photo I took this
past weekend at a fund raiser for the Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge.
This year, I'm posting a
photo at the beginning of the week. If anyone chooses to sketch
it and send in your results, I'll post them here on the following
Sunday with my interpretation. Here's a photo of Squamie, the
Barred Owl at the Cedar Run Refuge.
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Tuesday, June 2, 2009 - Great Horned Owl
Drawing
Today's sketch is another one
of Cedar Run's residents. These animals live out their life in
captivity because they have either been injured or have been
humanized so that they cannot fend for themselves in the wild.
Humanization of wildlife, although well intended, is probably
one of the most detrimental injuries.
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Wednesday, June 3, 2009 - Red Tail Hawk
Drawing and Demo
Today I did a Red Tail Hawk sketch
from another photo I took this past weekend at Cedar
Run Wildlife Refuge. I documented the process and posted
a new demo of my " 6 Steps To Sensational Sketches"
here.
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Thursday, June 4, 2009 - Little Tigress
- Cat Sketch
Tonight for my sketching everyday
post, I decided to do a shelter animal, cat sketch. Now that
the Cedar Run Fund Raiser is over, I've been thinking a lot about
the "Art
For Shelter Animals" Project again. I went online to
my local shelter's web site, and saw this little cutie # C-27468.
She looks just like my Tiger cat, so I call her Little Tigress.
She is a small, healthy, loving, declawed orange tabby who is
about 3 years young. If you'd like more information about this
kitty feel free to stop by the Burlington
County Animal Shelter . If you call them please have the
kitty's identification number handy.
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Friday, June 5, 2009 - A New Home For A
Lucky Cat
Sending this a day late as my
connection died as I was sending it. Back online this morning
- for now anyway. It's been a trying couple of days with the
phone and internet. I've had cable guys here yesterday and today.
All the issues are not solved yet, but I hope we are getting
closer to a solution. I was waiting for the technician to arrive
and wondering what to draw for my sketching everyday post, when
I got a call from someone who's adopting a cat from our local
animal shelter. He got my name from Lisa, the shelter director,
who told him I'd do a portrait of his new kitty for a $75. donation
to the shelter. I went online and looked at his new girl and
did this sketch of #26615 "Angelica" tonight. I plan
on doing a little oil painting and take it over to the shelter
early next week before Don goes to pick her up. So, that may
be a good way to go about this, all you Art For Shelter Animals
Artists. Have the shelter tell the new adoptees that you will
do a painting of their new addition for a donation to the shelter.
Hey, it works for me!
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Saturday, June 6, 2009 - Bear Sketches
- No Time To Sketch You Say?
I am having guests arrive here
this afternoon for a visit and dinner. I've got the roasts in
the crock pots, but still have lots to do. That doesn't leave
a lot of time for sketching, but you don't need a lot of time!!
Today I did these gesture drawings in under 10 minutes. It is
such a great exercise and I don't do it enough. It's one of my
favorite exercises at my workshops. See more of an explanation
here.
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Sunday, June 7, 2009 - Barred Owl Drawing
With Handler - 12 Minute Sketch
Here's my interpretation of this
week's challenge sketch from Cedar Run Refuge that I posted last
week in my very first post on June 1st. So far nobody has sent
in any drawings, although a few of you DID say you were going
to try it. I hope you guys won't chicken out on me. This does
not have to be time consuming or difficult! I did this sketch
today in my big sketch pad. I was trying for 10 minutes, but
it actually took me 12. You'll notice I didn't get past the first
step of my drawing technique. The whole drawing was done holding
my pencil like a wand and using my whole arm. I squinted a lot
while I was drawing and tried to get down the overall big shapes
as quickly as possible.
I will post any drawings you
want to submit! Better late than never.
I'm also posting the new
photo for this week's challenge. This is a herb garden that my
friend Dorrie brought to me yesterday, along with three beautiful
patio tomato plants and fertilizer! This little pot shown here
has chives, oregano and rosemary in it. It has a wonderful variety
of textures, directional thrusts and shapes. Thanks so much Dorrie!
My friends are simply the best!!
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Monday, June 8, 2009 ~ Barred Owl Sketches
~ Our First Challenger Checks In!
I was happy to get this sketch
and a nice email in my inbox this morning from friend and Cedar
Run employee, Judy Scott. She writes; "I took up your challenge. Because
I have access to Squam I combined two pictures. This is
a sketch of Squam and a fledgling Barred Owl. In
2007 Squam was a foster parent to a young Barred Owl that came
into the refuge. Although Squam is a male, he was a great surrogate, teaching
the young one to eat and fly. Eventually the fledgling was
released back into the wild. Thanks for all your support
of Cedar Run." Wow,
Thank you Judy for the lovely sketch and a little backgound on
Squamie! I hope your effort will inspire others!
Today I added the second
step of my 6 Step Systemt to yesterday's sketch. My motto
is KISS - Keep it sensationally Simple!!
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Tuesday, June 9, 2009 ~ Herb Garden Drawing
- Sketching Challenge
I showed Jerry the photo I chose
for the 2nd sketching challenge last night and he said it looked
hard. Tonight I did this rough sketch of it in about five minutes.
It wasn't as easy as I had thought it would be. Maybe it was
because hubby planted the seed in my head that it was hard or
maybe it's because it's 10 pm. Anyway, it wasn't that hard! I'll
work on this again this week and post my drawing on Sunday. I
hope some of you out there in cyberspace will join me. Remember,
it's not the end result that is important, it's the process!
Drawing is an exercise in discipline, seeing, coordination and
technique.
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Wednesday, June 10, 2009 ~ His Magical
Majesty
Today's sketch is of one of my
favorite creatures, Handsome Stranger. I see him daily.
He is a definitely a messenger from Spirit. Read
the story here.
OK, I see I am inspiring a few
people now! Lee Gates sent in two drawings today. She was a little
confused but that's OK. She copied my sketch from June 2nd as
the first challenge.
Later she sent in this sketch
of the current one. THANKS Lee, Good Job!
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Thursday, June 11, 2009 - Whitetail Deer
Drawing - Fuzzy Tail
Today's sketch is of one of the
local does that visits our yard on a daily basis. Her name is
Fuzzy Tail. We have known her for many years, since she was a
wee baby. Although we can't get too close to her, she is not
afraid of us and feels safe here. She can often be seen eating
in the horse pasture or lounging around at the edge of the woods
here at the Sandarosa.
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Friday, June 12, 2009 - Doe, A Deer, A
Female Deer Drawing
I've got lots of pictures to
use as reference of my favorite doe, so today's sketch is a portrait
of Fuzzy Tail. She's got a little fawn hidden in the woods somewhere
around here that we haven't seen yet.
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Saturday, June 13, 2009 - Cardinal Sketch
- 2 Minute Gesture
This time of year is so busy
for us all. Today I am going to Six Flags Great Adventure for
the day with my two sisters, two brother in-laws and neice and
nephew ages 6 and 4. No time to do a complicated sketch this
morning, so here is a two minute gesture of one of my bird sculptures.
They are always nearby and available for a quick modeling session.
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Sunday, June 14, 2009 - Wren Sketch - An
Exhausting Weekend
I finally had a chance to do
a sketch and I wanted to make it quick, so I could go and veg.
out. Here is a two minute sketch of another bird carving I own
of a wren. I'll post my new challenge photo and last week's challenge
sketch manyana. Night-t-night ya-all!
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Monday, June 15, 2009 - Herb Garden Drawing
- Challenge Sketch and New Photo
Here's the second challenge sketch
of the little herb garden that I posted last week. It's not the
best drawing I've ever done, but they can't all be winners. Like
you, I have to remind myself that that it's just a sketch and
the process is more important than the product!
Here's this week's challenge
photo of Sophie, our little black and white barn cat. I hope
you like it and will give drawing her a try!
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Tuesday, June 16, 2009 - A Whitetail Fawn
Drawing - Repetition
Tonight's sketch is from an oil
painting that I donated last month to the Cedar Run Wildlife
Refuge. I liked this pose, so thought I thought I'd try it as
a sketch. It never hurts to redo something, because repetition
is the key to mastery.
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Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - Another Baby
Deer Sketch
Today, here's another sketch
from photos I took at the Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge. I also donated
a small 5" x 7" oil painting of this little sweetie
to the "Wine And Wildlife" event at the refuge last
month. You can see the painting I did here.
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Thursday, June 18, 2009 - Sophie Challenge
- Barn Cat Sketch #1!
I got our first drawing for Challenge
#3 last night from Debbie Simpkins. Deb creates art with a Wacom tablet and her
computer. She writes; "I drew this picture of Sophie on
my computer, freehand, using a 2B pencil, eraser, and an inkpen
to add the white." (The tools she is talking about are "tools
in her software program" not physical objects.) She was
unhappy with the results, however, I assured her it is an amazing
likeness! Thanks so much Deb and congratulations on taking this
challenge with me! I'll post my attempt on Sunday. I hope more
of you members/followers will give Sophie, this week's challenge
subject a try. I think you'll be glad you did.
Debbie got me thinking about
cats and this cast iron doorstop reproduction caught my eye as
a drawing subject today. Here's a photo of my setup. I used a
coffee can to bring the cat up to eye level and set up a screen
made from foam core (scored lightly at the folds) around the
object to isolate it and make it easier to see.
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Friday, June 19, 2009 - Something New -
Metal Cat Doorstop Drawing
I thought I would try some color
on our little cat doorstop drawing from yesterday. I'm not completely
satisfied with it, but it is what it is; a sketch, a study, a
stepping stone. I love this quote I put on my facebook page yesterday.
"For an artist, any accomplishment is merely a minor victory
over failure, and no more than a small step up the steep and
tortuous path towards excellence." ~ Ian Semple ~
So lets all keep plugging along together guys!
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Saturday, June 20, 2009 - Jerry Found My
Bunny! - A Rabbit Sketch
Today's post is a series of two
minute gesture drawings of an old concrete garden ornament that
I inherited from my Aunt Milly. I posted a "6 Step"
drawing of it on June 2nd of last year. You can see that drawing
here.
I thought I had lost it. I've been looking all over for it for
weeks, then just yesterday, Jerry found it! I walked outside
and there it was on my back studio porch. I love sketching these
three dimensional objects, but I find it harder drawing something
stylized than sketching something natural. I just keep telling
myself; "Just look at the shapes!"
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Sunday, June 21, 2009 - My Cat Drawing
- Sophie Squiggles
did several quick sketches of
Sophie tonight. I like this one the best. I call it a squiggle
drawing. This proves how the silhouette is more important than
what goes on inside the shape. It's so important to look at shapes
when drawing! I did this drawing by making spiraling squiggles.
It was fun, kinda like doodling. Give it a try when you are having
trouble seeing shapes. This is done from the challenge photo
from last week. I'm going to do another drawing of it tomorrow
and will post the next challenge photo then.
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Monday, June 22, 2009 - Color Cat Sketch
and Challenge #4!
Here's my color sketch of our
little black and white barn cat, Sophie. Thanks to all of you
artists who have attempted my drawing challenges, even if you
didn't send them in.
I'm also posting the forth
challenge photo of an 18th century farmhouse around the corner
from me. Remember, when you draw from photographs, use artistic
license to create your own interpretation. This is a reference
photo and it need not be slavishly copied. Although, if that
is the way you choose to draw it, that's OK and your decision
too.
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Tuesday, June 23, 2009 - Another Cat Drawing
Here are four three-minute gesture
sketches of another stone yard ornament I inherited from my Aunt
Milly. I gave myself 3 minutes for each one instead of 2, so
I could add a little more detail. At the end of each 3 minute
session, I turned the cat 90 degrees. Remember, with sketching,
nothing is set in stone!
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Wednesday, June 24, 2009 - A Hummingbird
Drawing - An Unusual Pose
In watercolor, I often make up
symbols for whatever it is I'm painting. I use the characteristic
shape, color and texture. Tonight, I tried drawing some of the
hummers at my busiest feeder, but they were just too fast for
me. Only momentarily defeated, I went to my computer and searched
the archive of hummingbird photos that I've taken over the years.
I decided to challenge myself by doing some non-characteristic
poses. This made me REALLY look at the SHAPES. Here is my favorite.
I call it, "Big Spirit in a Little Package".
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Thursday, June 25, 2009 - Old House Drawing
-An Exploration
I decided to try this week's
challenge photo today. I did something different and held my
pencil like a wand to draw almost the entire thing. (95%, I'd
say.) It was really enjoyable and seemed to free up my right
brain. I used a 4B pencil and probably could have even gone softer.
I moved and changed the tree and the sign and added a road. I
don't like the tree in the middle of the page, so I will change
that when I do my final design. I call it an exploration drawing
because holding my pencil like a wand freed up my mind to investigate,
wander and play. Try it, you might like it too.
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Friday, June 26, 2009 - Magic Mushroom
Drawing
As you local people know, we've
had a tremendous amount of rain the past month here. The woods
are wet and there's a lot of mushrooms, moss and fungus growing
everywhere. Yesterday morning I spent some time going out into
our woods with my camera and my close up Macro lens. Here's today's
sketch done from one of my photos.
I've gotten some nice comments
about my sketching blog and as always, I really appreciate the
feedback. Joni Solis writes; "I love the soft feel of this
quick sketch and you are brave to post them; many artists chicken
out and never show their sketches." Hey, If anyone wants
to send me a sketch and doesn't want it posted, just let me know.
I'll try to give you a concise, constructive critique, if you
want also.
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Saturday, June 27, 2009 - Life With Hummingbirds
- Today's Hummingbird Drawing
There's never a dull moment around
here during hummingbird season. Watching them is better than
anything on TV. I stopped at the local wild bird supply today
to buy a couple of new feeders, but they were all out of the
big Hummzinger. I think it is the best feeder on the market.
I'm going to go
to my Squidoo Lens and order a couple from Amazon right now.
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Sunday, June 28, 2009 - Old House Drawing
- Composition and Design
Here's an outline sketch of this
week's challenge drawing. Among other things, this challenge
involves making choices about design. I rarely, if ever, copy
a photo exactly like it is. I use my photos as reference. They
are not mindlessly copied from. Here's my revised composition
of the June 22nd challenge photo. Look at my exploration drawing
from June 25th also. How many things can you name that I have
changed from the original photo? This is what is called "artistic
license". You must know the basics about composition and
design in order to make good choices however. I always cover
this subject in my workshops, because it is an important key
element to successful art. I'll post my finished drawing with
our new challenge photo tomorrow.
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Monday, June 29, 2009 - Old 18th Century
House Drawing Completed
Here's my latest sketch of the
old salt box house from this week's challenge photo. I almost
said final, but you never know, I think this subject could possibly
be done again at some point. Even though none of you sent in
a drawing of this, I hope a few of you tried it, or at least,
got something out of my efforts.
In preparation for the 4th of
July, here's this week's challenge. It's a bit complicated, but
remember you don't have to draw the entire thing! Eliminate unnecessary
details. Simplify and focus on the the flag as the star of the
show, with only a few supporting actors. Use your imagination
to compose a drawing using this photo as reference. Remember
my motto ~ KISS ~ Keep It Sensationally Simple.
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Tuesday, June 30, 2009 - White Rhinoceros
Sketch
While looking for a drawing subject
tonight, I came across a snapshot from my recent trip to Great
Adventure of a White Rhinoceros. According to
Wikipedia, "The White Rhinoceros or Square-lipped rhinoceros,
is one of the five species of rhinoceros that still exist
and is the most social of all rhino species. The White
Rhino is the most common of all rhinos, with an estimated 17,480
wild-living animals at the end of 2007." See more animals
from the wild safari park on my
web log.
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