On Our Way

I will be continuing my sketch challenge on my trip, but will then add watercolor to many of my pages as I did here. The pen only sketch is below.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 26

We're leaving in the morning and I am taking my journal with me in hopes that I'll actually use it on the trip. I also intend to keep up with my sketch challenge. After sketching this in pen, I added watercolor to it, which can be seen below.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 25

This nightlight in the shape of a lighthouse was another favorite gift from my son, who is good at selecting gifts for people.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 24

This was harder than I thought it would be. It isn't quite right, but it's close enough to be recognizable (I think - it's my hairbrush).

The Black Flower by Howard Bahr

This was my favorite book about the US Civil War that I've read so far this year.  It is the story of Bushrod Carter, a Confederate soldier from Mississippi who serves in General John Bell Hood's Army of Tennessee.  It describes the fear and friendships that occur during wartime.  When Bushrod is wounded in the 1864 battle in Franklin, Tennessee, he is taken to a house that has been commandeered as a hospital, where he meets and is cared for by Anna.  It has that lyrical quality to the writing that I so admire and can't really describe, and it is a really good story as well.  I  rate it 5 out of 5.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 23

The little camera I carry in my purse.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 22

A shell seemed like a good subject to use a water soluble Tombow pen.

Outside 1

Lesson 4 of Jane LaFazio's On Location class is to get outside and sketch. I went to the OSU Botanic Garden today. I was so taken with this unique metal sculpture that I had to sketch it instead of flowers. I may have to go again to sketch flowers.

This was only our second nice day after setting the record for the number of days over 100 degrees. It was so nice to finally be able to sit outside.

I tested my new camp stool that I'm planning to take with me when I go to New Orleans in November (for an Imaginary Trip Made Real with Laure Ferlita). I'm happy to report that the stool will be adequate for my needs. It also reinforced my decision to take a backpack for my gear rather than a cross-body bag; I just find it so much more comfortable.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 19

A metal cat sculpture that my son and daughter-in-law gave me a few years ago. I really like it because it's a cat, it's so unique, and my DS and DDIL gave it to me. I used a sepia pitt pen, even though it looks more like black in the scan.

Sketchbook Challenge - Unfurl

I have 3 African violets, and my oldest one rarely blooms anymore. But it is getting ready to bloom any day now. I greatly simplified this, as the plant has divided in the pot a number of times. I wanted to focus mainly on the bud and one leaf.

Done on a piece of Strathmore Aquarius watercolor paper that Laure Ferlita sent me - thanks Laure!

September theme for the sketchbook challenge is unfurled.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 17

New rope toy for the dog - he loves it.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 16

My cordless phone.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 15

I need to wear my glasses to draw, but I have a second pair that I use for the computer, so I could draw them. I couldn't get the angles of the ear pieces right on the top sketch, so I tried again with them folded up. That was a bit better. Since I was on a roll, I did the case too, but ran out of room on the page! I'm pleased that I haven't missed a day in 15 days. We'll see if I can continue for another 60 days.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 14

Sketched my sleeping dog with Tombow water soluble pen (no pencil).

On Location - Museum and 75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 13

Lesson 3 of Jane LaFazio's class Sketching and Watercolor Journal Style - On Location was to sketch at a museum. I went to the Sheerar Museum, a small museum dedicated to the history of Stillwater, Oklahoma, which is where I live. I was the only visitor during the time I was there.

I used a water soluble Tombow black pen and touched it with water for shading. No pencil on this. I actually had some detail on the braided rope attached to the Speaking Trumpet, but when I touched it with water, it was too dark and I lost all the detail. I tried blotting with a tissue, and it turned the color you see. Lesson learned!

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 11 & 12

For Brenda Swenson's 75 Day Sketch Challenge - drawing in pen and ink only every day for 75 days. The challenge can be seen here.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 10

For Brenda Swenson's 75 Day Sketch Challenge - drawing in pen and ink only every day for 75 days. The challenge can be seen here.