More Sketchbook Pages

Continuing my sketchpad digging to find pieces I’ve done on top of backgrounds which I pre-painted. I’m leading my art students through watercolors and we’re sticking to backgrounds only so it’s a little less intimidating. 

I incorporated my molotow chrome marker for this floral so you have to compare photos to see how it reflects.  

An Artist’s Sketchbook

This week I’m going through my sketchbooks to find examples for my art students for classes next week. I’m teaching them to paint in a non-intimidating way by painting backgrounds only, upon which we will start drawing next week. 

You can see I obviously painted this background first, likely intending it to be a floral.  I think I drew this pretty lady from a magazine while flying from somewhere to somewhere, but... I really have no idea.  Anyway, here she is.  I thought she was as pretty as a flower, so it fit.

I make a practice of preparing my sketchbookpages with backgrounds of color because I usually just travel with pens.  With the background done, my work is also half done.

Sketchpad Art!

Ever want to peek inside my sketchpads? These are the inside covers which are a catch-all for life on the run.  Plus I like stickers.  I always hold the front and back covers of my pads for those cool things I want to put somewhere.  Ya know, I need to keep that sticker that came on my peach! 

Often I will fashion a little pocket out of some kind of little bag to keep ticket stubs in and glue it inside the back cover.  I’ve used barf bags from airplanes and tampon bags from ladies’ restrooms.  Every time I open to those I laugh!  

I remember when our oldest three were teens we traveled to Germany.  Everyone had a little black book and we had a competition to see who could collect the most and coolest graffiti stickers in their books.  Our 6’4” son won that battle because, well... he could reach stickers none of us could get to! So many memories in these sketchpads.

By the way, that orange target on this sketchpad that I drew on?  It’s a biodegradable floating target to put in the toilet for little boys to teach them good aim.  Hahaha!!

Sketching with James Galway

These show my concert experience last night. James Galway. Master flutist who over his extraordinary career has played for kings, queens, presidents... every great hall and orchestra there is, and with innumerable  star performers. He’s sold over 30 million ‘albums;’ I guess these days music comes in so many forms that you now call it a unit. What a special privilege to enjoy him last night.  

Without any miking, his flute rang through the hall with that unmatchable, glittery tone, and he kept up a running narration showing his good humor.  At one point the music was so funny he cracked up, then the pianist did, and we were all laughing. Just like any musician’s practice, they had to stop and laugh.  They began again in jolly camaraderie. 

 Before the concert I sketched the piano whilst waiting, and this is what I had him sign.  He liked my piano. :). 

He looks pretty good for age 79! Knowing his legend, I scoped things out at intermission and found out where his signing table would be.  At the end of the concert I walked to the back of the auditorium (second row seat in the handicapped section for some reason, with no chair in front!) Anyway, he played the second encore I was outta there and standing at the table.  Sure enough, I was the first of at least 300 people in line for an autograph and a short little chat. :). SWEET!

Sketching on a Plane

This is what an artist does when on a plane.  I look forward to being forced to sit down and make plans to get stuff done as I’m really terrible at sitting... EVER.  I copied this from a Vogue magazine.  A four hour flight is good for a couple drawings and a good read. No movies for this girl!

My Sketch Pad

Working it out in my sketch pad. Sometimes just laying down some leftover paint on a couple pages can be inspiring.  I’ve had mulberries on the brain for several weeks since it’s picking time and I’m a nature girl. Mentally working out some designs, I happened upon these painted pages and it was the perfect place to lay down some ideas.

I look at my sketchpads as recipe books.  Something wonderful may come from this little sketch.  Maybe in a couple years, something ELSE wonderful and totally unrelated may come from this same sketch.  You never know.

And in the meantime, if anyone needs an artistic manicure, just come on over.