DRAWING OF ONE EYE OF A MAN

I wasn't kidding about my continuing problem with drawing the left side only...I was working out the size of the ear and the position in relation to the eye. Maybe I should go into the One-Eye-Portrait business.  Could be lucrative...

DRAWING OF ONE CAT EYE

I don't know if it is just that I am left handed, or what...I usually do the left side of the face or animal that I am  drawing. It is the first sketch that I do, before I continue into a more detailed and finished piece, or a painting.  I guess I am exploring the dimensions of the face, checking on the subject, and whether I want to continue with the project.  Maybe I am seriously needing therapy...

CONTOUR LINE: GIRL WITH GUITAR

My family is a musical one.  I learned to play the guitar at about the same age as this girl.  My nieces all play as well.  Music is the interpretation of the world around you, and I think we want to express that at a tender age.  I loved doing this contour line drawing as an interpretation of that love of music.

HERE'S A QUICK CONTOUR DRAWING OF FLIPFLOPS

I was inspired by the line of my flipflops today.  They aren't in proportion, but just a simple line drawing, in appreciation of the design and function.  I think they would make a great ink stamp for scrapbooking!

HOT PEPPER INKS

With summer comes the wonderful inspiration of the Farmers' Market!  I am able to find lots of drawing material with the seasonal veggies onhand.  I am allergic to everything, so don't spend a lot of time outdoors, nature lover though I am!  I admire it from AFAR! Anyway, I draw whatever I can get my hands on, and explore my world (and interpret it) through my art.  I suppose eventually I will have to dig deep into my psyche and emotionally interpret my peppers, work on a series of deep manifestations...but today I am a surface dweller!

PHEASANT INK DRAWING

Normally I use a basic cross hatching technique in my drawing, but today I decided to use a scribble style, especially for the funny texture of the pheasant cheeks.  I am enjoying the experimental feel of it...I don't know if you can actually tell it is a pheasant without the distinctive colors, but hubby knew what it was immediately...and I don't think that he cheated and peaked at my reference ahead of time!

PAINT CHIP DRAWING #2

 I did a few more paint chip drawings, and found that some pens don't work well on the slick texture.

 The wildflowers were nice, but they didn't have the same impact of the mushrooms.

I am planning on framing these tiny drawings sort of dimensionally...with spacers to raise them up from the matt board.  I hope it comes out like I am visualizing it!

DRAWING ON PAINT CHIPS

I spend a lot of time in the hardware store, for various reasons...and my favorite section is the paint swatch area. 

The colors are so inspiring, and I wanted to use them in some way.

 I had read in my "Draw Like Da Vinci" book that a good way to get the silverpoint drawing look was to take a paint chip and draw on it with a brass key.

I didn't have much luck with that, but started using a basic Pilot fine tip pen, and I am so pleased with the color background for my mushroom sketches!

TENNESSEE WILDFLOWER MANDALA

This mandala I chose to do for the colors.  When it is complete, I will have a wonderfully balanced piece with a variety of lights and darks, lots of color, and an enjoyable experience of the creation!  I worked especially hard on varying the lines, choosing flowers for their shapes, and movement.  I added background leaves for some, and took them away where I wanted the negative space.  I forgot about the meditational values, and I think that is where I succeeded...I lost myself in the project, and it became meditational in it's own right!  I can't wait to watercolor this one...

LEAF MANDALA

 I am continuing my nature mandala explorations, and this time divided my circle into 8 sections.  I also altered my paper to a slick, watercolor paper so that I can use some washes of greens and browns on this particular piece.  I also went just a bit more abstract, having read a bit more on the mandalas, and the process of adding structure and rhythm to it for the mindlessness of working, opening up the brain to allow thoughts to flow (yeah, I am trying to figure it out!  I really want to do this right!)  I did add a few shade lines with a Copic Cool Grey pen, just to add a bit of depth to the leaves.  I am looking forward to getting the color in!

LIZARD SKETCH

I enjoyed doing the linework here with this lizard.  I wanted to draw him with only a few indications of his scales, yet enough to show the elegance of his pattern and form.  I found his 'inner' ear a bit strange to draw, not really knowing the anatomy of it, so I will definitely be doing a bit of research to understand it better.  Isn't he cute?!

MUSHROOM MANDALA

The more difficult my life becomes, the harder I search for peace, serenity and a way to cope with it all.  I have been doing a few nature mandalas lately, and found a way that works for me. I used a 6" saucer and traced around it with a light pencil.  I then divided the circle into 6 sections, and started drawing in ink, the 6 different types of mushrooms that I like.  I then erased all of the pencil lines and started adding in simple details to distinguish the different mushrooms.  During the process, I made sure to have a 'safe' place to draw, with no interruptions, and concentrated on only positive thoughts (this is what they suggest you do when drawing any mandala).  I will complete the mandala in the next session when I find quiet time, and will be doing the color pencil work to give the mushrooms dimension.  They say that working inside a circle helps you to complete a thought, find balance and work through things.  I am sure it takes quite a bit of practice!  I have troubles just quieting my mind!  I will be doing more of these, though, simply because I LOVE CIRCLES!!!

MUSHROOM LOVE

I am so happy to do a mushroom drawing!  I love that it is earthy, it grows into all of it's flaws, splits and stains, and there is perfection in all of it's gills and growth lines! This was drawn with a Pilot Fine Tip Pen, and I did a lot of light line work to show the delicacy of a mushroom.

CHIPMUNK DRAWING

This is an Eastern Chipmunk.  I do not feel that I captured the essence of this little guy...something is missing from his eyes, and the angle is all wrong.  Just goes to show you, not all ideas work out well.  I will have to try again...