Only better than discovering a new medium is rediscovering it after a few years pass and liking it more than the first time around.
A student set of Studio, and two artist’s sets, Caran d’Ache Neopastels and Sennelier. I found the Derwent Drawing Pencils to be nice for details as long as the pastel isn’t too heavy.
I dusted off my oil pastels and sketched the cow portrait. I was so pleased with how it turned out I quickly decided to do a big project. Did I bite off more than I can chew? Yes, I did.
Oil pastel on a 20”x30” Stonehenge illustration board. The image measures 16”x24”. I prepped the surface with clear pastel ground first.
Although it isn’t the worst thing I’ve completed, it’s certainly not the best. Next time, I’ll stick to a smaller size and choose one focal point instead of having everything fight for attention.
How many can claim a fifteen-year old blog? Happy anniversary to this little corner of the web where I’ve documented all the arts and crafts I’ve obsessed about since 2006. Even with that strong blogging habit, at some point over the past year I slowed down on blog posts and increased Instagram posts. Instagram is easy and popular, and it’s all too easy to forget about writing. Recently, I decided I missed keeping up this ancient blog and it needed an update—and perhaps Instagram needs to go away. Long story short, you cannot control reels on your feed, and I found many objectionable.
So, here’s an update on the ol’ blog. I’ve not been as artsy lately, but I’ve still managed several sketchbook sketches…
Caran d’Ache Neocolor II Mars Lumograph Black pencilsPen and ink on gray paperMore pen and ink, plus some water soluble graphiteAcrylic markers, Inktense, and Neocolor II
I also sketched this large landscape using Derivan Liquid Pencil tinted with blue and yellow.
Graphite, liquid pencil, Mars Lumograph Black, and Conte Pierre Noir. This measures about 14”x21”
A quick pen and ink landscape…
And a still life on Pastelmat.
Neocolor II and Pablo colored pencils
Here’s the question: Will this little blog still be here in another fifteen years?
I started a little 3.5”x5” Stillman and Birn Nova with gray-toned paper. It’s perfect for plein air botanical sketches. Art supply-wise, I traveled light for our three-hour hike yesterday, only bringing this sketchbook, a fountain pen, and a white gel pen for these quick studies.
I’ve also started a new, larger Strathmore 500 Mixed Media sketchbook. It has a warm color paper, and it seems to handle all the various mediums I use: ink, washes, graphite, colored pencil, etc.
Jack in the Pulpits, ink and washThis pheasant was running alongside the road and I snapped several pictures, Inktense pencilsMilkweed, colored pencilI struggled with this silverpoint sketch. I first primed the page so the metal would “stick.” It looks like a rough draft at this point. And here’s a fountain pen sketch, a quick test of my new (birthday) pen, a Sailor Realo with a Zoom nib, an amazing pen.
