Sketching Big A4

Yes, that's right. I completed the rest of the pages of my Moleskine Sketchbook A4 size on November 25, 2017 during the 'unofficial' NYC USK outing at the New York Public Library on 42nd & 5th Ave!

I first used this sketchbook back in January 3, 2016 from a workshop in Jersey City with Hugo Costa, an architect, from Porto, Portugal.

See the first sketch and the last sketches from this book.

A view of the lower Manhattan from the Jersey City waterfront.

The Rose Main Reading Room at the New York Public Library. 

Shades of Grey

This scene in Byram, CT always fascinates me so I went about sketching it earlier this month.  A happy accident; I thought the pen ink was water resistant.  It wasn't.  However, good shadows and shading results comes with a moistened paper towel dabbed against the non-water proof ink lines.  Do know when to stop, though.

A Window Scene

Geometry wasn't my thing but is invaluable in perspective drawing.  On this test sheet, I puzzled how best to translate the kitchen window image in front of me when I sketch it.  What to do?  Only through a keen observation that a slight angle difference exists between the bottom and upper window frame.  Line angles do make a big difference in the depth perception.  Compare the colored windows against the pen and ink drawing.  Notice any difference?

#10 Bond Street

Last Saturday, I joined my USK NYC friends sketch at Bond Street and Broadway but only had an hour to spare.  I marked my lines on this Moleskine 11 3/4 X 8 1/4" drawing album using the Platinum Carbon Ink Pen.  Having a comfortable camping chair that sits low to the ground afforded me a great view of this scene.  More lines and watercolor were later added at home.

A view at 10 Bond Street, New York City

   

A Case for the Backwards and Upside-down Upper Case Letters

It was said that Leonardo Da Vinci often wrote backwards.  I remember doing the "writing backwards" exercise when I was in college because I saw someone doing it and it looked like fun to me anyway.  The other day, I came across an article with a lesson on drawing your name backwards and upside-down.  Hmmm...deja vu?

"Why not write the alphabet in upper-case and in lower-case letters, backwards and upside-down?" I thought.

So I did.  Writing the lower-case letters "b,d,f,g,h,p,q" backwards and upside-down presented me with some difficulty in where to orient the "post or leg" of the letter - left or right, up or down?  After a few missed attempts, I eventually learned where to correctly place it. 

But something brilliant came about in writing the upper-case letters of the alphabet. Who knew that the letters "I,O,S,X,Z" are already written backwards AND upside-down?  Try it for yourself and see.

Note: As a result of this learning, I will use the letters "XZOIS" for a handle.  Sounds like "choice", don't you think?

Fast Forward to October 2017 - Part 4

Continuing with more sketches I made for the #inktober challenge.

Day 17:Byram Beach

Day 18: The Ball Field

Day 22: The Backyard Trees

Day 24: The Utility Van

Day 25: The Crabapple Tree

Day 26:  Port Chester, NY

Day 27: The VW Classic

Day 29: The Bench

Day 30: The Summerfield Park

Day 31 + 1

Day 31: The Three Pine Cones

Fast Forward to October 2017 - Part 3

Continuing with more sketches I made for the #inktober challenge.

Day 12: Columbus Circle

Day 12: W4 Subway Station

Day 15: Cort Theater

Day 15: At the Hagi Bar

Day 23: View from inside the Bakery

Day 21: The Dyckman Farmhouse

Day 19: The Long Island City Courthouse

Day 16: The Garage on the Boston Post Road

Fast Forward to October 2017 - Part 2

Continuing with more sketches I made for the #inktober challenge.

Day 7: The Stone Wall

Day 8: A Fall Leaf

Fast Forward to October 2017 - Part 1

Have you ever heard of the Inktober drawing challenge?  I don't know about you but I've participated in it this year. It's fun to create some artwork with the pen and ink medium.  I missed a few days of entries but already I'm seeing the progress in my work.

Day 1. None

Day 2: At the Pizzeria

Day 4: At the Rye Beach Park

Day 6: At the Train Station

Day 5: A wine glass

Day 7: The Garage

Day 10: The Train Passenger

A Beginning...

While vacationing in Spain in the spring of 2015, I took a day trip to the beautiful El Escorial Palace just outside of Madrid.

Inside the Palace Basilica was the Altarpiece

- a sight to behold - but alas, no picture taking allowed.  A roving attendant stood at the ready to dissuade offenders. 

Well, I thought I could sketch it, at least.  I sat on the last left-side pew, before reaching for my little Moleskine notebook and a pencil in my bag.  Marking the lines wasn't easy at first yet I felt relaxed, peaceful, and content sketching the scene before me.  The occasional and approving glance from the guard brought me a smile. Do I still have it?

I used to enjoy drawing when I was much younger. How could this activity lose favor in my life?  When was the last time I did that?  It doesn't matter.

Between the measured look at the altarpiece and the not so straight lines I penciled in on my little notebook, I reckoned I did okay.  Little did I know this instance would kickstart my love of drawing again.  

Since then, I slowly picked up on drawing.  Many times, the results were of poor sketches saved for one or two.  However, when I look at any one of my sketches, it easily transports me back to the place and time I was creating it.  And that makes for a good story telling!