What's in My Sketchbook?

Feeling run down the last few days ... major migraine caused by sinusitis  ... so this will be fairly short.

After last week's Antler sketch, I worked on another sketch from an animal anatomy book.  This one is of a lion skull.  I did my best to follow through but the proportion was a bit off.  I didn't know why I added the red flower but after I finished it, I found the image quite amusing.  It's like the lion was having a good time smelling flowers. :)

While thinking of what to do about the photo, I came across this tutorial for making up a paper flower box.  I thought it would be fun to try out the paper flowers only.  What do you think?

The sketch is also for Paint Party Friday (hosted by Eva and Kristin).  All are welcomed!  Do join in to share and support each other.

Cheers and have a wonderful weekend!

What's in My Sketchbook?

After the skull sketch of last week, I branched out to include some "animal work". ;)

This sketch is based on my tiny collection of antler points which I got from ETSY two years ago.  The seller promised that they're naturally shed antlers and no deer or other animals were harmed in the process.

Other than my love of natural bones, I'm using the sketch to deal with my mental block of the color brown.  I don't know why, but out of all the colors, I have lots of problem with browns.  (I could deal with beige as I see it as a form of white.  Khaki and similar is o.k., but not the typical brown!)

However I know I need to deal with this blockage since one of the subjects I love to paint is Nature.  And with nature scene, you just can't get away from the browns.  (When I'm writing this, I feel like I'm talking about a person ... weird!)

This is my first try.  And let me tell you this - after I laid down the first brown on one of the antlers, I felt like I had ruined the entire sketch.  I panic and went blank.

I have to remind myself the reasons whey I started the sketchbook.

• To develop sketching habit
• Take off the pressure of being a "perfectionist"
• More realistic time management - I'm working on A5 size sketchbook which doesn't need days to finish one painitng
• "Subject" study for future painting purposes
• Learn to become "looser" in my approach to drawing and painting

So I clenched my teeth (no exaggeration here) and soldiered on.

An important thing I observe from this forced way to paint is that I lost my sense of color.  I hesitated to pull new colors from my palette to paint.  It also affect my creative flow.  I had a hard time to put the finishing touch of the work.

Anyway, it's done for round 1 ... I'll be working on many rounds to overcome my color demon. ;)

I'm very interested to know if any fellow creatives and bloggers have similar experience and how do you tackle it.

Before finishing off this post, I'd like to share with you photos of some of my antler points and a DIY Antler Necklace which I wear most of the time.

Also I want to thank my fellow PPFers' lovely comments about my sketch photos.  I enjoy styling them for blogging and treating it as another outlet for creative expression.  But I never imagine it would trigger such wonderful respond from fellow creatives and bloggers.  THANK YOU!

Cheers and have a fantastic weekend!

The sketch is also for Paint Party Friday (hosted by Eva and Kristin).  All are welcomed!  Do join in to share and support each other!

What's in My Sketchbook?

Here is another try with sketching a skull.  I had this skull for almost a year, and it took me this long to work up my courage to give it a go.

I guessed when I said courage; I mean I’m to work on something which is fairly basic to most of life drawing artists.  But to a newbie like me, it is a very difficult subject to draw. I’m quite intimated by it.

However, as one of my goals is to be able to draw and paint girl figures with ease and grace, it would be to my benefit if I could develop a good understanding of basic human anatomy.  So without further steering away from the subject, I sat myself down on a weekend and began my reluctant sketch of a skull.

I’ll be the first one to say, the sketch lacked all the subtle details of the skull structure.  But I quite like the simplified version of it … just enough to depict the structure.  Afterall, I’m not aiming to do life drawing but more my version of it.

Hmm … about the girl drawing & painting practice, I haven’t done any since I started the sketchbook. Apart from having too much fun with the sketchbook process, I’m in the process of finding “model(s)” who could help me to develop the skills and “style” I need for the girl drawing & painting.  This is not an easy task but I’m getting there.

And while I’m writing this, I’m thinking maybe I could start a girl sketchbook and alternate it between my usual sketch.  Hmm … must give it some further thoughts.  The last thing I want is to turn the entire creative venture into some kind of chore!

Cheers my fellow creatives and bloggers.  Have a wonderful weekend!

The sketch is also for Paint Party Friday (hosted by Eva and Kristin).  All are welcomed!  Do join in to share and support each other!

Sketchbook Project 2012

It's that time of the year ...

Art House Co Op just announced the Sketchbook Project 2012.  It is opened for registration now.  Art House Co Op has also expanded the touring countries to Melbourne, Australia (my home town!) and London of UK.

(NOTE:  For Australia and UK shows, it is only limited to the sketchbooks from the respective countries.)

I'm not quite sure if I'll do it this year, especially after the problems I had from last year.  But then to have the rare opportunity to show my work here in my home town is really tempting.  Hmm ... I'm thinking, I'm thinking ... ;)

If you are interested to view my sketchbook for the 2011 Sketchbook Project,  click below links for the related blog posts.

Link 1

Link 2

Link 3

Link 4 

Cheers and have a fantastic day! :)