Back Home
Hello, everyone. It’s so nice to be back home. I’ve been traveling for about two months now, and while it was fabulous to visit all our friends, new places, and exotic locales, I can’t tell you how nice it is to be surrounded by the comforts of home.
This month I’ve decided to share this painting with you which, in a way, symbolizes for me the comforts of home. Here is a simple scene from a kitchen, the heart of most every dwelling. This particular painting was inspired by a photo, which I no longer possess, from the Victoria magazine. It is in no means a copy of that photo, as much has been changed, but it clearly was inspired by it. This is a great method for beginners to consider. Below are a few close-ups for you to enjoy.
“There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.”
Another thing I wanted to do this month is encourage you in your sketching. Sketching spans both being at home and traveling. I want to really encourage you to get in the habit of taking a sketchbook with you wherever you go, so I’ve decided to share with you what I do and the tools I use. The information I’m about to share with you is in no means definitive or particularly instructive, but just my approach to sketching currently and what works for me.
I have a variety of sizes of sketchbooks. I have one that I carry in my leather tote that I take with me when I am biking or hiking or just sitting by the sea. I have another one that is a larger size that I enjoy taking with me on trips. I have one in a lovely Oberon leather cover that I carry with me in my purse, and I have a smaller version that I stick with me in smaller purses for when I need to be more discreet.
I really encourage you to consider having a sketchbook with you at all times. You just never know when or where you will be that you will find yourself with a moment to sit and sketch. Here are a few of my sketches I have made that, if I hadn’t had a sketchbook in my pocket, never would have become a reality.
These sketches are in varying states of finish. I don’t share them to try to brag about just how great they are, but what I really want to do is help you relax, to feel encouraged to enjoy art no matter your level of capability. Sketches are for your own personal growth and enjoyment.
This is a quick sketch of a pastor that I made while watching a video in church.
I really enjoyed creating this sketch of a lovely couple who were enjoying listening to the sermon.
This scene from San Francisco was drawn at a sidewalk café.
This sketch was done on an airplane, flying back from the Caribbean.
As you can read in the above photo, I have found it to be of great fun to leave a little comment in my sketchbook about where I was. I also make sure to sign and date my sketches. It’s always good fun to look back through your sketchbooks, as they accumulate over the years, and to be able to have a good idea of when and where you were when you made the sketch.
This particular sketch was made in the airport while we were waiting for our flight. It was late at night and all the shops were closed. We were too tired to talk. It also just happened that my reflection was in the window in front of me, so I had fun creating this little self-portrait of myself making this sketch.
These are the tools I use that I find most helpful. The pencils I like to use are a 4B and a 6B. You can, of course, enjoy the other sizes of pencils, but I’ve found I enjoy the character of these sizes the best for my drawings. I also enjoy using blending stumps and tortillons. The eraser I use is a white Magic Rub. I also carry a pencil sharpener with me. These few supplies are easy to tuck into a pencil case to take with me wherever.
There are all kinds of books written and resources available to help you “learn” to sketch. I put learn in quotation marks, because I believe that the best way to learn is just by jumping in and going for it. However, for those of you who are insecure about the process, I would like to recommend the Urban Sketchbook. It has simple exercises that will teach you to look for the big shapes of things and makes sketching accessible for everyone.
Well, that’s it for this month. I hope that you have enjoyed reading this blog and learning a little bit about my approach to sketching. I hope that the simplicity of my paintings and sketches encourages you in your own pursuit of art. Art is your creative expression. It doesn’t have to reach any standard. It just needs to bring you joy and satisfaction. I really want to encourage you in your own artistic pursuits.
Thanks, once again, for subscribing to this blog. Each of you mean the world to me. Thanks, too, to all of you who have taken the time to leave a comment. If you know of anyone who would be encouraged by reading this blog, please feel free to drop me a line and we’ll get them on the subscription list. Thanks again.
