I can't Dance but I can Sketch

While healing from an injury I've been less active than usual. 

I especially miss my dancing. 

But having my art has been a saving grace. 

I've been sketching directly in my daily journal 

(InkPressions book, Tomoe River paper) more than ever. 

Sketching from observation is still so pleasurable, 

but I've also added memory sketching into my practice. 

Often it's a combination. 

Wishing you all a Holiday Season filled with beauty & kindness! 

Two Coastal Sketches: Early & Late Autumn

I spent a day on Mount Desert Island. 

Because it was full tourist season, 

I went to "the quiet side" of the island. 

That day was one of the most magnificent full color, 

ever changing weather, early autumn days I've ever experienced. 

This sketch was made sitting in my car, & it is from observation.

This late autumn sketch is more from memory.

On top of Mount Battie, looking out to Mount Desert Island.  

I had drawn a scant, scribbly sketch while there.

At home I started to add watercolor 

& because the ink lines were with non-waterproof ink 

they puddled & smeared 

& the image got lost. 

I was going to throw it away 

but decided to see it through. 

The final layer is colored pencil, 

bringing back some form & color.

The curious thing is that this imperfect sketch 

captured for me vividly what I experienced.

  

I am practicing more memory sketching these days.

It is challenging, but I'm enjoying it.

Two Summer Sketches, June & August 2024

I will post some more current sketches soon.

Hope everyone had a nice summer.

The landscape is changing rapidly,

September brings a feast of color.

Best end-of-summer wishes to all!

I would love to receive a comment from you!

Fountain Pens, Cursive Writing & Penmanship

 If you put "fountain pens" into my Search Bar, 

you'll find previous posts about them.

I've been taking notes about the history of pens, writing tools 

& penmanship from a book, 

Script & Scribble, The Rise & Fall of Handwriting. 

Using fountain pens

is "Slow Writing"  compared to computer tapping in the way that

eating whole foods is "Slow Food" compared to eating fast food.

I so enjoy the tactile feel of ink flowing through a fountain pen nib

on quality paper.

The variety of pens & inks these days is amazing. 

I mostly write with a range of blue to green inks, 

though I still enjoy good old black, 

especially waterproof, so that I can add watercolors.

They are simply one of my very very favorite tools.

They have been since I wrote with 

my 1st Schaeffer cartridge pen at age 11.

Visit Goulet Pens if you want to know more about fountain pens!

Quick Sketching After All these Years

 I haven't posted here consistently over the last few years.

But I have consistently sketched.

For years, especially QUICK sketches of people...while waiting in lines in stores or cafés... 

People  reading, or chatting make great subjects.

Simple, FAST line drawings, sometimes with added color from my notes & memory once I'm home. 

Why do I like to do it? 

Sketching is the vehicle that allows me to observe more carefully things of interest. 

( often for me that means sketching people.)  

Sketching focuses my energy, calms my hyperactivity. (Meditation!)

The tactile sensation of movement on paper while I'm

tuning into my surroundings.

All the senses working in harmony.

And as with these 2 recent, quick sketches, done in an

out of town café, 

it gifts me with a souvenir. 

From Idea to Completion: A New Phase

 I recently resumed work on a long standing project. I'm looking back on some work that has led me to this place. Rough drafts, & continual art explorations, sure, but also work on my organizational skills, on staying focused, & on learning to de-clutter my space & my brain. Looking forward, moving out of an idea phase to an action phase. I'm beginning to bring individual segments to completion. This (cropped) sketch went into my daily journal today. (Credit: Even though I love this bridge & have been there many times, I used a photo by Anne McKinnell, a beautiful outdoor nature photographer, as a reference.)