As promised, here are more random sketches from my Monologue Basics sketchbook…
I deviated from my usual technique in this marigold sketch. Instead of doing a line drawing, then painting light, medium, and dark glazes of color, I did a quick initial freehand painting with watercolor, then, after the paint had dried, I did my drawing. The color doesn’t always match up with the ink lines, but I like it that way. I think it adds interest to the sketch.
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| Drawn with a Noodler’s Nib Creaper Flex Pen and Noodler’s Walnut ink |
I used a Koh-i-noor Magic Pencil for this sketch of the front of our house.There was so much yellow in the pencil that it was hard to get a dark line, so the whole sketch is a little washed out, but it also gives the impression of the bright sunlight that was washing over the scene.
I cleaned out my ancient Winsor & Newton Pocket Box watercolor set and filled it with fresh paint, so I did this little sketch as a record of what colors I chose.
I hate wasting time sitting at a car repair shop or waiting for an oil change. There are so many other things I’d rather be doing! But at least I have the option of sketching to help pass the time. The guy sitting next to me at Monro Muffler and Brake struck up a conversation about what I was doing and ended up telling me all about his college art classes that he really enjoyed and how he’d like to get back into drawing someday. Who knows? Maybe he’ll think back on our encounter one day and decide to pick up a pencil and draw.
My Chrysler minivan goes through brakes at an alarming rate, so I have quite a collection of sketches with titles similar to this one…
I always feel a little self-conscious sketching in church, but since I sketch so many other parts of my life, it seems only natural to sketch there, too. On this particular Sunday, I drew one of the pretty stained glass windows in the sanctuary, surrounded by Zentangle-like borders and the words from one of the praise choruses we sang that day.
I love how this next page turned out. The colors are so light and happy. I painted an overall wash of blue, pink, and yellow first and let it dry, then did the line drawing over it. Finishing off the painting was easy, because all the light tones were already painted. It was a simple matter to add the mid and dark tones to finish it off.
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| Farm along Route 221 in Lippencott, PA |
Here’s another sketch done with the Koh-i-noor Magic pencil – this one had a darker mix of colors in the lead.
Memories of fall….
More sketches from my Monologue sketchbook coming soon!
One Comment
Leslie, I just had to take a minute to say thank you. We met some years ago at one of the window covering conventions or at a seminar or maybe even at the school. I always remembered you had the cutest sketches on your blog back then. Recently I took an online class in watercoloring and stopped by your site to take a closer look at those old sketches. I was so thrilled to find no only many, many more sketches but tutorials and tips as well. I can't tell you how much just skimming your site has helped me in the watercolor learning process! You are a very, very talented lady and I knew that already from the wonderful draperies and such you produced! I hope one day I get an opportunity to take one of your drawing or watercolor classes when you criss-cross the country teaching, which you really need to do. I guess Michigan isn't that far away from PA, but the classes spanning several weeks might pose a problem. Just know that if you do ever decide to do online classes, I'll be the first to sign up! Again, much appreciation to you for sharing your talent and instruction. Your work is unbelievably inspiring! Regards, Ellen Wigginton