Sunday, December 30, 2018

Sketchbooks. End of 2018: Bring in the New, Continue the Old

 I have a new, larger sketchbook!! Paper Blanks, 7 X 9"!!
I use these for journal writing, but I got an extra one on sale
so I turned it into a sketchbook.
LAMY AL STAR fountain pens. I have "a few."
In the Wyeth Center at the Farnsworth Art Museum. 
The annual model train village, "Share the Wonder."
Sketching the mini buildings & cars is a fun way 
to work with linear perspective.
On the left: I sketched a line drawing that Jamie Wyeth
did when he was very young. Part of a series featuring
a Christmas wreath as a "character" in a medieval Christmas.
NC Wyeth's large painting: "The Morris House: Port Clyde". 
Can't do it justice with a quick sketch 
as the colors are so beautiful!!!
But sketching gave me the opportunity 
to scrutinize it more closely, & to gaze longer.
The Wyeth Center is only open a couple of more days.
I went to say good bye to the NC Wyeth paintings upstairs.
When they are back on display sometime, you have to come to Maine to see them in person!
And to see the Maine coast on which they are based!

I've been sketching in my usual 4 X 6" 
Pentallic Traveler Sketchbook.
It also doubles as my Art Learning Journal. 
Both live sketches & notes from books, 
museums, etc. go in there.
 Earlier in the month I went to the Farnsworth 
with an artist friend who wore an adorable felted hat
that she'd found at a thrift store. She sketched 
the gold dragon in the Chinese Zodiac exhibition.
She made a lot of people happy with that hat!
 Waiting in the small town post office line before Christmas.
A relatively small line in a relatively small town.
We enjoyed good natured conversations while waiting.
And for me, sketching made it go very fast.

At the Belfast Saturday Indoor Farmer's Market.

It is my Saturday morning ritual to go there. 
The vendors are not just farmers.
They are artisans, artists & musicians too.
They are local.
 LL Bean, the flagship store is like a theme park. 
There are these real stuffed animals on display.
While waiting for J to try on clothes, I sketched 
"The Three Headless Men of LL Bean." (my title.)

 Trip to Boston in November. QUICK sketches! 
It was my very fist visit to
The Granary Burying Ground. Boston's 3rd oldest cemetary
where many notable men 
from the American Revolution are buried.

 I guess the live people interested me 
more than the dead ones, though it was impressive.


 A quick stop to the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University. "Animal-Shaped Vessels from the Ancient World."

Subway Sketching, 
The Red Line from Cambridge back to Boston.
 Thanks for browsing through my sketches.
I wish you the happy pursuit of your passions
& pastimes in 2019.



7 comments:

  1. Witam. Uwielbiam Twoje szkice i zapiski na nich, chociaż często nie wiem, co na nich jest. Dziękuję za komentarz u mnie pełen zrozumienia. Życzę wspaniałego 2019 roku i ślę buziaki.

    ReplyDelete
  2. So fun to start with a fresh book for the new year. (And what a beautiful book too!) I like the idea of the pocket journal too, for capturing moments and working through ideas. Both books are invitingly beautiful. Happy sketching in 2019!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love it ALL!!
    Your animated sketches/aquarelles..Such style Rita..Oh..and that perspective from above!Fabulous.
    Have the healthiest.happiest most creative yr yet!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your sketches just capture my heart. They tell such stories and I love the line. I bet when you are doing that you find a lot of people peering over your shoulder! I can't resist watching an artist sketch on site. Filled with admiration. I especially love the Wyeth house and the Menswear department. So different, yet your inimitable style. (At least, inimitable by me!) I have to look at my new journal -- it may be like your blue one!

    Thanks for your recent visits. I didn't want to post the kale recipe online (without permission, at least, in any detail) but if you'd like the recipe for that or the dressing, shoot me your email (jeanie@wkar.org) and I'll send it on to you! Meanwhile, have a gloriously happy new year. I look forward to many more visits. Maybe even someday to Maine. (That Farnsworth looks like my cuppa!)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow you are so prolific and dedicated to your sketching past-time and posting blogs!! I envy your passion and resolve!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. "A few," huh? They certainly are pretty, as well as useful. What a great idea to sketch mannequins--a good way to practice drawing people without worrying about them moving! I love your beautiful sketches. You've certainly used your time wisely.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for your comments! They mean a lot to me!