SKETCHES FROM PARTY PHOTOS

This morning I decided to sit in front of my computer and do some sketches from the photos I took yesterday at the SCVWS party. I need to do this more often. I take so many photos that go languishing, never to be seen again. By sketching, I discover which images have the most potential for larger works, plus I get in all that practice with a wide variety of faces. I discovered one wonderful face that I want to work with in the future. If you think you recognize yourself in any of these drawings, you are mistaken! It's not you. Somebody else that kind of looks like you, wearing the same outfit and going to the same hairdresser. Names have been changed to protect the artist from irate friends.

I am using a Moleskin sketchbook which has pale yellow pages. If the yellow photographs too "loud", I just convert it to black and white. My old computer doesn't have the adjusting capabilities in the i-photo program that the new one does.

Yesterday was world-wide sketch crawl day. You can go to sketchcrawl.com to see some of the results and fun photos of the large groups all over the world. A great concept. There were very big groups in San Francisco in Golden Gate Park and other places. I hope to be able to participate next time I think it will be early April.

FOSTER CITY SKETCH CRAWL FOR ONE!

I spent the morning preparing half sheets of watercolor paper with gesso texture and collage etc. Tomorrow is the Drawing Marathon at the Palo Alto Cultural Center and I wanted to try some different ideas for the 20 minute poses. I missed the water aerobics class at the JCC, so I decided to take a walk and do some suburban sketching for the day's exercise. The day was gorgeous and I had my new touch iPod warmed up, so I set out. I am so jealous of those fantastic artists on Urban Sketchers who do these near perfect architectural drawings. I think the rule on their site is no working from photographs. I am just in awe of their ability. It is very humbling to stumble through my attempts at on sight sketching. Practice, Practice, Practice! I am getting better at evaluating the perspective angles but I have a long way to go. My windows in this building are all different sizes!! It is a puzzlement how I can draw a face so accurately and the figure, as well, but buildings and mechanical things, et al are so darn hard. Drawing should be drawing, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Well, I did enjoy the fresh air and the challenge. Anyway, Life isn't any fun if you have mastered everything. It's always good to have something to aim for that is just out of reach. If it is too easy, it's boring for me and I'm ready to move on to the next thing. I think that's why I like watercolor so much. It's always a challenge and a genuine sense of accomplishment when it comes out they way you wanted. None of these watercolors rates a gold star, but tomorrow is another day.