Watercolor Sketchbook IV

November 11, 2009 edm draw a peach



edm#133 draw a peach. This could probably qualify for the oldest thing in my refrigerator, it's sort of an aged vintage peach. Pastels.




November 10, 2009 edm#209 draw a shadow



edm #209 draw a shadow. I picked a sprig of Bradford Pear to sketch. As I held it up to get a closer look, it cast an interesting shadow on the sketchbook page. So I drew the shadow! Pitt Artist Brush pens.




November 9, 2009 edm#96 draw something sweet



edm #96 draw something sweet. Sitting in my car, eating lunch, and waiting for my next class of kids to show up at the stream, I took out my sketchbook to fulfill the "sketch everyday in November." I wanted to draw sweet yummy gummy bears, but when I had finished, they looked kind of spooky, like gummy zombie bears, rising up and taking over the lunchbox. I found a piece of wrapped candy in my purse and drew that, too. Pitt Artist Brushes, watercolor, Derwent Metallic pencils, and white acrylic paint (just your basic everyday car supplies).




November 8, 2009 More Car Art



More Car Art. More Claudia Nice. Lesson on drawing dogs. The chow is watercolor pencils - Faber-Castell Art Grip Aquarelle. The the other one is sepia Pitt Artist pen.




November 7, 2009 Car Art



CarArt, edm #44 draw an animal - pet. Car trip this past weekend. Took Claudia Nice's book along to try some lessons. If the horse looks short and fat, that's because she is. That's my mare Corey. Derwent Drawing Pencils.



CarArt, Lessons from Claudia Nice on using geometric shapes to help draw birds and flowers. Dervwent Drawing Pencils.



My sister doesn't believe I did this one in the car, but I did! I actually had the gingko leaf in my purse (Who doesn't carry around rocks, seeds, and leaves?) I covered the paper with a yellow wash, then I put watercolor on the leaf and pressed. I painted around the leaf with the same color using a drier brush. Repeat using different colors. What fun!



edm #207 draw something that has a shell. This is Homer. He lives at my sister's house in CT. Pitt Artist Brush Pens.




November 6, 2009 Nuclear Energy Seminar for Teachers (NEST), Susquehanna Riverlands



Went to a Nuclear Energy Seminar for Teachers (NEST). There was a great display on the wall that included Einstein, Franklin, Ohm, Ampere, etc, so I included Einstein in my notes. Six days of sketching in November!



Mmmmm, how to describe this? Well, this was done from an actual slide in the security presentation at the Nuclear Power Plant. You will be happy to know that the plant is prepared to handle ANY attack! Notes on the side are from the nuclear physics presentation.

Watercolor Sketchbook III November

November 5, 2009 Institute of the Arts



November 4th and I have sketches! Art everyday! I went to the Institute of the Arts and sat in on the portrait open session. Second time doing this. Pictures are not as scary as last time. Well, maybe this one is.



This one I did with layers of soft pastels in my watercolor sketchbook. I know I used some funky colors, but I'm working towards something...don't quite know what it is yet...but I'll get there eventually...it's all about the journey.



Institute of the Arts again. I stayed for part of the still life open session. I did a small warm up but then I had to leave. This is the last page in my third sketchbook. Mmmm...I don't see much progress yet. Maybe that'll take a hundred sketches or so. Anyway, it was a great art-full day. On to sketchbook #4!



Novermber 4, 2009 Yatamoto at Kutztown University



I did another sketch about Yamato today. The group consists of both men and women. Everyone drums, and some play other instruments as well. This is the Shamisen. The quote by Misato Sugiyama is from the program.



November 3, 2009 edm #223 draw your favorite sound



edm #223 draw your favorite sound. Tom and I went to a performance by Yamato, a Japanese drumming group, at Kutztown University. I've always loved Native American drumming and now I am a big fan of Japanese drumming! You don't listen to the drums - you feel them through your skin, your bones, right to your core, your soul.



November 2, 2009 edm #125 draw a bird



edm #125 draw a bird. This sea gull was done with Pitt Artist Brush Pens and Titanium White W&N acrylic paint. First I covered the page with the brush pens using lots of colors: blues, greens, grays, oranges, reds. Then I painted over the color with the white acrylic paint. To finish, I touched up a few dark spots with the pens. I am pleased with the result! Thoughts on this process? Has anyone tried this? Inspiration for the gull came from Jamie Wyeth's gull painting "Daydreaming".



November 1, 2009 edm #83 draw a nearby body of water



edm #83 draw a nearby body of water. I took a walk across the soybean field to the neighbor's small man-made pond. The cattails were just starting to be at that great fuzzy stage. Fun to sketch in ink and watercolor.



October 27, 2009 edm #34 draw a fall leaf



edm #34 draw a fall leaf. On the way into the house, I picked up a dry leaf from the Tulip Tree. While having a cup of tea, I took out the colored pencils and started sketching. The sketching lasted longer than the cup of tea so that leaf is not finished. Later on, I picked up a fresher leaf from the maple tree. I stippled in sepia Pitt Artist pen and lightly washed with watercolors.

Watercolor Sketchbook III Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge

October 30, 2009 edm #78 draw a souvenir of a place you've been



edm#78 draw a souvenir of a place you've been. A few days ago, my friend Sheila and I went to Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware. She showed me around Rehobeth and Lewes. I bought a colorful pair of socks with sparkling gold stars, a moon, sun, and fat cat. We listened to the waves, watched the birds, and sketched. The socks were done with Pitt Artist Brush Pens and gold glitter. The fish above it is done in a sepia Pitt Artist pen. That's where we had dinner, Striper Bites, the crab cakes were fantastic.




October 30, 2009 - draw a butterfly



A page in the sketchbook done while down in Delaware. The top is a sketch I did just standing on the beach at Rehobeth and studying the waves. The bottom is the path that leads down to the beach from the boardwalk. The seagull flew in during the sketch. The Monarch butterfly was found on the beach, it was dead with no visible signs of injury.




October 30, 2009 edm #87 draw your lunch



edm #87 draw your lunch. Sheila and I had lunch at a British Pub called "go fish". The fish and chips were fantastic! The place had lots of flair and was very friendly. I especially liked the modern version of the British flag - all spattered with many different colours.




October 29, 2009 edm #136 draw something that's alive



edm #136 draw something alive. These sketches were done while I was down in Delaware. The fiddler crabs were in the tidal salt marsh at Bombay Hook NWR. The gulls and the rocks were in the Little Creek area. Sketches were done in sepia Pitt Artist Pens and later watercolor was added.




October 29, 2009 edm #72 draw somewhere new, Bombay Hook NWR



edm #72 draw somewhere new. I drew this winged sumac at Bombay Hook NWR. I researched several sites on the internet to learn about it - it is of high ecological value because it is food for lots of wildlife including: deer, rabbits, song birds, upland birds, moths and butterflies.



This is the first sketch I did at Bombay Hook NWR. The salt marshes were stunning. There were Canada geese, great herons, and snowy egrets at the fresh water impoundment.

Watercolor Sketchbbok III continued

October 24, 2009 edm #38 draw at a museum



edm #38 draw at a Museum. Great day with my art friends: Sheila, Lynne, Judy, and Cindy at the Brandywine Museum of N.C., Andrew, and Jamie Wyeth fame. Andrew's granddaughter, Victoria, gave a wonderful tour. I sat on a bench and drew the Brandywine Creek from the large museum windows because of the pouring rain. I used my new Derwent Tinted Charcoal pencils and a Derwent Chinese White pencil.




October 23, 2009 edm #246 draw something "October"



edm #246 draw something "October". I was waiting for my students to arrive at the Angelica Park and it was so beautiful I had to get out the sketchbook. I quickly wet the page and floated some watercolor on before they all arrived. It was fun doing a quick study.




October 17, 2009 edm #63 draw something from a nature walk



edm #63 draw something from a nature walk. I took a stem of Teasel to a Nature Journaling Workshop by Sheila Cohen and used it for the blind and modified contour drawings. Then I did a quick sketch of it. It was raining out so we walked around the library where the workshop was held and drew what we saw.

Watercolor Sketchbook III

October 22, 2009 edm #38 draw something related to Halloween



edm #38 draw something related to Halloween. I went to my FIRST portrait drawing session today at the Institute for the Arts! I did my first sketch with pastel and charcoal pencils. Yes, the model was really wearing spider web earrings. No, her skin did not have green tints. You can't see, but she was also wearing Halloween socks.



My second attempt was done with sepia pens and finished with a light red watercolor pencil wash.



For my third try, I started with a light watercolor wash and then I drew over it with Pitt Artist Pen.



I got out the good old graphites for my last try. Oh well, as they say, there's no where to go from here but up! Practice, pratice, pratice!




October 12, 2009 edm #190 draw your palette colors



edm #190 draw your palette colors. Can you run out of things to draw while riding in a car? I doubt it! I bet you can guess what I used to paint this palette of colors!




October 12, 2009 edm #236 draw the palm of your left hand



edm #236 Riding in the Miata, not much room to sketch, what can I draw? Looking around...mmm...Oh, yeah! My left palm. Used watercolors and Pitt artist pen. Looks like I've been squeezing grapes...nope, just playing with color.




October 11, 2009 edm #152 draw a nut



edm #152 draw a nut. The other day I picked some hickory nuts up off of the ground and put them in my pocket for sketching later. Pulled them out toady and this time I wanted to try colored pencils. Then I added some lines with the Pitt artist pen. The page needed something more...A Hickory Nut Hunter! He was done with Pitt artist pens and brushes.




October 11, 2009 edm #233 draw your favorite drink



More traveling in the Maza Miata sketches - this one is of my favorite drink - WATER! I used my favorite pencils, Derwent Inktense, and Pitt Artist pens.




October 6, 2009 edm #109 draw a clock you have around the house



edm#109 draw a clock you have around your house. Yes, I really have this clock in my kitchen, and yes, the eyes and tail do move! After 75 years these clocks are still being made. They come in both battery and electric, and in a range of colors from sunflower yellow to blueberry blue to Rio red. Visit www.Kit-cat.com.

The Kit-Cat Creed: Put a smil on everyone's face; Love in everyone's heart; Energy in everyone's body; and be a positive force in everyone's life.




October 5, 2009 edm #88 draw something breezy



edm #88 draw something breezy. Just a quick sketch today. I was watching the towels on the line and noticed that they were taking turns - only one at a time would move up and out with the breeze!

Watercolor Sketchbook II

October 4, 2009 - edm #21 draw something old, antique, or vintage



Sunday was Pennsylvania German Day at the Festival. Everything there was old antique, or vintage including most of the people! The background painting is the Gruber Wagon Works built in 1882. Many wagons were on display plus there were demostrations of horse-drawn plowing. There were old time crafts (represented by the distelfink) and lots of music (represented by the words). The song I picked was one that I remember my father sining when I was young. Although he sang in German not Pennsylvania Dutch.




October 3, 2009 - edm #179 draw an onion



edm #179 an onion - Today I bougnt an onion to make turkey orzo soup. I decided to draw it before it went into the pot. My husband called me outside to help paint a Kokopelli on the barn and I almost didn't get back inside in time to get my sketch done! I used Derwent Inktense pencils and W-N watercolors in my wc sketchbook (Strathmore).

Update: Kokopelli is a trickster god of the Native Americans of the Southwest and is usually depicted with a humpback, wild hair, and a flute. He is the god of agriculture, children, fertility, and music.
Truth in advertising: O.K. I admit, I drew the onion while everything else was already in the pot and then I cut a very large chunk off of the onion for the soup while keeping one side in tact so that I could see the colors for painting! By the way, the soup was delicious! Patty




October 2, 2009 - Virtual Paintout - Belfast, No. Ireland, UK



The Virtual Paintout this month is in Belfast, No. Ireland. I found beautiful buildings at the Queen's University. I imaged it was late and I was getting back to school from the pub after too many pints o' Guinness with me mates. Watercolors and Inktense Pencils in my wc sketchbook.




October 1, 2009 - edm #243 draw a pillow



My sister gave me this pillow, but I like to toss it to my husband! I used Derwent Inktense pencils and W-N watercolors in my wc sketchbook.




September 29, 2009 - edm #126 draw a sponge



edm #126 - draw a sponge. Remember these? Someone gave me this as a "gag gift" and ahhhhh, I thought, perfect! Pitt artist pen and wash.




September 25, 2009 - Virtual Paintout - Lisbon, Portugal



Virtual Paintout, Lisbon, Portugal: virtualpaintout.blogspot.com/
I "walked" up and down a few streets and came across this industrious fellow. He was doing a terrific job - the streets looked great. I decided just to make a quick sketch of him with pen and wash as if I was actually "plein air".




September 24, 2009 - Monthly Sketch Project - Flamingo



Still trying out the new soft pastels, this time I used them in my watercolor sketchbook instead of on black paper. I think I actually got a much softer look on the rougher paper.




September 23, 2009 - Monthly Sketch Project - flamingo



I bought a box of 15 Rembrandt half stick soft pastels and I just had to play! These are new to me and I can see that I have a lot to learn. I sprayed this with a fixative and the eye got duller. Oh, well....So many art supplies, so little time!




September 22, 2009 - Everyday Matters #232 the last thing I bought



The last thing that I bought was an old cigar box from West Germany. I saw it at a "flea market" for 50 cents. I liked the way that it opened in the middle and I liked the little latch to close the "doors" with. I loved the painting on it - so I handed over the big bucks to get it! I used Pitt Artist pens and brushes to copy the painting and now I'll put it on my desk and fill it with nonsense.




September 20, 2009 - Everyday Matters #24 a piece of fruit



Sitting at the Lyons Fiddle Festival today listening to great blue grass music, I drew this wonderful large pumpkin that was on the stage. I used Pitt Artist pens and brushes.



At the fiddle festival I started to draw a bass, but something weird happened and I blame all of you who have been posting too many zentangles! Anyway, it was great fun and I really enjoyed "tangling" while listening to the music! (Plus I had some new colors of Pitt brush pens that I wanted to try out!)




September 19, 2009 - Kempton, PA



We went to the PA Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Festival on Saturday. While we stopped for a drink of water and a rest under a tent, I copied part of their poster. The poster was a ripoff of Julien Dupre's work "Faneuse." They had added windmills and solar panels and the sunbrust in the hay. I sketched with Pitt Artist pens and brushes.




September 18, 2009 - Monthly Sketch Project #1 (vsd)



Monthly Sketch Project (vsd) #1, an out building at Glamis Castle. Watercolor, #12 brush, Pitt Artist pen in watercolor sketchbook.




September 13, 2009 - Strausstown Car Show



I saw this car at the Strausstown Car Show on Sunday and loved it even though it was quite an odd shade of green. The bright red car next to it was reflected on the chrome and fender paint. Can you find 6 red cars? I believe this is the second time in my life that I have drawn a car, the other time being in 1969. I should probably try this more often than once every 40 years, ya think?




September 12, 2009 - Harrisburg, PA - Gun Show



I did this while waiting for my husband at the gun show. This sketch of my wallet is my first "edm", Every Day Matters, even though it's number 3 on the list. Yeah!




August 27 - September 3, 2009 - Hawaii









Our vacation in Hawaii was awesome! Not much time to sketch, but I took lots of reference photos. Hope to use them for some pastel studies. The first night we watched the sun set into the Pacific Ocean at Buddha Point, the next day we hiked on old lava flows at Vocano National Park. Our second day on the big island found us over 100 feet below sea level in an electric submarine. We saw many fish on the coral reefs, two ship wrecks, and several divers.

(Fourth Picture)The small picture is the last one that I actually sketched in Hawaii. I was walking along the "Art Walk" at the hotel and it was just getting dark when I came across this small zen garden adjacent to the Japanese Tea Room. I liked the glow from the little pagoda near the foot bridge. I used Pitt Artist Brush pens. For the background I did a quick sketch of one of the green sea turtles that live in the lagoon at the hotel. I used watercolors and a #12 brush to color it.




August 26, 2009 - Flight to Hawaii





Getting help from Phil Metzger's book "Perspective Secrets." These were done during my flight to Hawaii. I used my Pitt Artist Brush Pens.




August 21, 2009



Quick study of a bird's nest that fell out of the maple tree during last night's high winds. It contained a bit of blue egg shell, a dry oak leaf, dark scat with berries, and a live green fly. Before the paint on this page dried, the nest was shredded by my husband when he mowed the lawn - it was in pretty sad shape.



August 19, 2009 - Millersville, PA



This crepuscular creature creeps carefully past a cerulean ceramic container as he contemplates creating chaos. Will he crack a cherished china cup? Whatever he decides to do, it is certain that he will cover all the clues that he was close by.
Watercolor and Prismacolor Fine Line Markers, I encountered this guy in JudyBec's wonderful garden where he lives! Check out her work and her website: oobos.blogspot.com/

Staedtler Karat Aquarell WC Crayons

August 14, 2009 - riding in the Miata on the way to CT.



First time using these WC crayons - they go on smooth and "wet" up nicely, a different feel than the WC pencils. Has anyone else tried these?

Derwent Inktense Pencils

August 14, 2009 - Riding in the Miata on the way to CT



This is the Green Man, the spirit of nature that represents humankind's connection with the earth, a symbol of wildness, and an icon for the environmental movement.



August 16, 2009 - riding in the Miata on the way home to PA



A PA native fish, Lepomis macrochirus, a member of the Sunfish family Centrarchidae. Note the black "ear" really part of the gill.



August 18, 2009



Went out to the garden to sketch the old metal seat, black cloud to the west, hurray, hurray, Thunder!, splash, splash, done just as the wind picks up and a drop falls.

Pouncing Calico Cats

These pictures were done with Derwent Inktense colored pencils and a waterbrush on Arches Hotpress 140 lbs. while riding in the car on the parkway.



Mom Calico catches.





Daughter shows her claws.





Sideways pounce!

Berks County Heritage Center

Old Cemetary at the end of the field - 7/10/2009





Grazing Goose - 7/10/2009





Red Bridge - 7/28/2009

Watercolor Sketchbook I

August 12, 2009 - Leesport Farmer's Market



Went to the market this morning, it was crowded. The baskets of dark reddish-brown beets caught my eye, maybe it was how they looked against yellow plastic. Plopped myself down on my 3-legged stool and took out the paints while many people walked by. Some stopped to chat and comment on the sketch or ask if I sold my work!



August 9, 2009 - Kitchen



Today's snack - a plate of yummy cherries!


August 7, 2009 - Evergreen German Club



Oh my, how do you draw people in constant motion?



August 7, 2009 - Reading Fairgrounds



Lunch time at the Reading Fair! They were all sleeping in a big pile, then suddenly (I guess they heard the dinner bell) they all jumped up and ran to mom!



August 6, 2009 - Backyard



Looking down the garden path,trying for a bit of "perspective".



August 5, 2009 - Home



No, this is not the attack of the bees, it is my "collection of one" tea pot.



August 4, 2009 - My Garden



Sunflowers get more interesting as they age, this one is making seeds.



August 1, 2009 - Deck



Margaret, who lost her sight, is doing a blind contour of an owl.



July 19, 2009 - Evergreen German Club



Car Show, music by the Headliners, food and beer under colorful umbrellas



July 12, 2009 - Landis Woods, Lancaster, PA



Flint Knapper

Nature Journaling at Camp

23rd International Sketch Crawl July 11, 2009

Welcome to our sketch crawl!





Sheila trying out a new "paint over" technique!





Judy studying the proportions of the pond.





Pat sketching the Koi pond with ink and watercolor.





Pat's sketch.





Lynn sketching the butterfly garden.





Cindy did a painting of the Koi pond.





Judy with her sketches of the fish pond and Pat in the hat.





Sheila trying out the butterfly bench.





Pat's sketch of the butterfly bench.





OUR WORK!

Charcoal Sketches - Live Model (Nude)

These charcoal sketches were done at the F&M College Tuesday night figure drawing session with a live model.





2 min poses





more 2 min poses





20 min pose



Bonus Pose





2 min poses by TiTi at home

Botanical Illustrations

These drawings were done from life with colored pencils on watercolor paper.





Pussy Willow Twig in January





Curly Willow Twig in January





Tulip Poplar Twig in January





Red Twig Dogwood in January





Box Elder in January




Star Magnolia twig in January





Red Oak twig in January





Sugar Maple twig in January





Silver Maple twig in January





Northern Catalpa twig in January





Sassafras twig in January