It's kind of tricky to get a black bag to look like something other than a dark blob on the page! I was just going to have the linework and not fill it in — so you could see all the stitching — but went for it with the black. The inside of the bag is olive green camouflage, but I didn't feel like painting it, so I ended up adding the texture and color by repeating the bag artwork on top and underneath digitally.
Yesterday afternoon I headed over to California Avenue to sketch — disinterested in anything at home to use as a subject. I was going to do something quickly — an hour at the most — before going over to the Y for lap swim. Ended up at Cupcake Royale almost 2 hours and never made it to the Y. It takes a long time to draw in all those tiny cupcakes and boxes! After getting the scene down, it lacked the contrast of something up close — the yummy, perfect swirl of the frosting. A good excuse to buy two more, a carrot one for M (I cheated and made the frosting pink instead of white) and a babycake for HM. I wanted color without tediously (and not bold enough) filling in all the cupcakes in the case. The sparkly orange sprinkles, the pink frosting and sea green peppermint frostings provided the inspiration I needed for the color. I used the itty-bitty heart sprinkles (which I knew HM would be delighted to discover), white beaded sprinkles and oblong red ones as reference to scatter a bit on the sketch.
I had my whole kit this time — sketchbook, pen, pencil & eraser, pencil sharpener (in the much-used Altoids box, covered with Starbucks coffee blend stickers from college), colored pencils (in the same, dented tin from when I was a girl!), Japanese watercolors and brushes. I didn't have my own water cups this time, but a Verite paper cup worked perfectly for water filled from their fountain, and a black plastic coffee cup lid for mixing the few colors I needed.
Looking around for something to draw this morning — something other than HM's snacks and toys (and everything else strewn across the floor downstairs). I had been flipping through the pages of Kate T. Williamson's "A Year In Japan." I love poring over the details in her drawings and watercolors, coupled by her journal entries — how she captures the simple lines, colors and textures of everyday Japanese items, fashion, culture and scenes. She doesn't shade with her black lines. Instead she uses color or leaves flat outlined white shapes. I am used to using my pen to shade everything, but wanted to try something out with just the black lines, filled in with color. Used colored pencil instead of watercolors. My Onitsuka Tiger boots — whose dirt and wear I have finally accepted (I got over their initiation last season when, brand new, I wore them to help my husband put on chains in the slush and snow as HM waited in the car on the pass, then got soaked with black mud as I was welcomed by a couple dogs upon getting out of our car for the Thanksgiving family feast in Yakima).
Watching TV last night. I NEVER draw men, but thought I would give it a try and post whatever I came up with. So, here it is.
Even though it was lunchtime, I couldn't help stopping at Krispy Kreme with HM after she so patiently ran all my errands with me (and even sat on a stool next to me in the locker room with her apple slices while I did a quick half-blow dry and bang flattening). She loves doughnuts - always the sprinkled kinds. She will meticulously eat all the tiny sprinkles from off the bag or table. Always with the details. I managed to get most of the chubby zoo animal stickers from off the table and windowsill. I think she still has a few giraffes on her pant leg. She is sleeping soundly now after a full morning of playing with the kids while I ran on the treadmill, swimming together, a stop downtown and at Paper Zone — and finally home for leftover spaghetti with raw mushrooms and cucumber slices for dipping in Goddess dressing (her favorite).
Stopped by to see M at work after meeting with some designer friends in the I.D. A windy walk over to Cherry Street Coffee House for a spontaneous coffee date. Thinking we should do this every Thursday since HM is with her Auntie on Thursdays. I had M put another hour in the meter on his way back to work so I could stay and do my sketch of the day. I have always loved the intricate shapes in the metal work here — in the entry way and by the bathroom door. For the first time today I noticed the shadows the shapes made on the walls, and the same shapes lightly painted — almost like a glaze, a coffee stain — on the cement floor. I don't know what happened to my brown watercolor pencil — wasn't in my little pouch. Also, I couldn't get the darks dark enough, so I just finished it in my studio with a bit of Japanese watercolors.
Peppers from last night's fajitas. Sketching after dinner while M puts HM down for bed — a good reason to put off doing the dishes. I can always find an excuse why I can just do them later. Forgot about watercolor pencils — found them in HM's art stuff on top of the fridge. Perfect for a quick sketch — to add some color without making it into a big project.
After the gym Wednesday morning — while HM played with her dollhouse upstairs.
I want to start sketching more — like I did in college, like while travelling. Sketching 50 sketches a week for drawing class. Need to always carry a sketchbook with me. Everyday things. People. My favorite one today done while getting HM + L to nap this afternoon as my tea got cold.
Bathing, vanilla yogurt and mommy's coffee.