I’m going back to my travelers notebook theme this year, using the smaller passport size for daily sketches, birding notes, and an exercise log. The larger, A5 journal has one booklet of sketch paper, one of multimedia, and one general notebook for art notes. My pencil is the Tutto 3 mechanical pencil with three different lead sizes and types, a .3, .5, and .7. So far, I’m loving this system, and I hope to stick with it for a year.
Sam Savitt is my favorite horse artist. Known mostly for his children’s book illustrations, I think he captured horses so beautifully, with an effortless style envied by other artists.
For over four years, I’ve admired the paintings and drawings being sold by Sam Savitt’s children. I couldn’t muster up the courage to purchase anything until this lovely pencil sketch wouldn’t leave my mind, and I decided it could be a wonderful Christmas gift this year. Luckily, my husband agreed, and all of a sudden, after four years of dreaming, I own an original Sam Savitt drawing.
I had it professionally framed, and we love it. Instead of hanging it in my office, we decided it should be hung where we can see if off and on throughout the day. Honestly? The framing cost more than the sketch, but it’s worth it. This is one of those presents that I’ll cherish.
In the end, these six ornaments turned out great–but I would not recommend using Spectrafix Natural Glass as an adhesive. As a varnish, yes, but as an adhesive, no. Most of the paper pulled away from the mat board, and I ended up using Tacky Glue instead. The star, the Cardinal, is still questionable because I never found a good way to put it on the tree, which is a gigantic Norfolk Pine we’ve had for years and years and is now 6′ tall (including the pot). I also made a Downy Woodpecker, which turned out great.
One last lesson to remember–getting these to dry flat is difficult was they stuck to the glassine paper. I had to carefully peel it off before they were totally dry, and as a result, some of these have a wavy look.
This Blue Jay was calling over and over in our crab apple tree the other day. I could hear another answering back from across the neighborhood, and I don’t know if they were telling each other about the food at the feeders or if they were saying hello or if they were saying stay away, these peanuts are all mine.
I nearly gave up on this drawing after realizing I had made the bird too big for the frame, which I had already drawn in pencil and it wouldn’t erase. After considering it for a day, I simply let the tail push past the lines. I also went a little bit overboard on the white gel pen, which I can’t seem to give up with ink drawings.