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!

Watercolor Sketch

I love doing quick watercolor sketches of people. This was a demo for mixed media in my classes. First, I laid it out with a fine point pen and went to bigger nibs as I corrected. Not much into the erasing thing. The background and hair were layered with gesso and painted. Nice textures and interest are created with gesso and it moves and separates the sedimentary paint pigments. I like it!  Yes, I do commissions.