challenge 94--draw a spoon

Wow, this was harder than I thought. This is the same spoon in 3 views.

challenge 93--draw an open egg carton

This is an oops sketch. I didn't work my way across the drawing in a measuring sort of way and as a result, the carton ended up too long. But, to show that the sketch is not precious, I went over the lines and made corrections and even am posting it! The point is to draw, and I did, and learn, and I am.

challenge 92--draw a paper bag

A bag from Bread Co. It probably held one of my favorite bagels, cinnamon crunch.

beach, Puerto Rico

A little sketch, done without first drawing, I think, of the beach, looking NNW. And we were on the northeast of the island.

beach walk, Puerto Rico

When we were in Puerto Rico last month, I walked along the beach and collected things that had washed ashore, then came back and sketched and painted them. It was a relaxing way to enjoy the beach. I have never seen so many sand dollars.

challenge 90--draw something with wings

Someone in the Everyday Matters group mentioned that she carries photos of things she wants to draw with her, so that when she has a spare minute, she can get some drawing done. I think it's a great idea, and when I had some time recently to draw, I realized I had this photo of a saddlebill stork, native to Africa, so I drew it. (It gets its name from the yellow "saddle" on its beak.) I had been working on a science scavenger hunt at the zoo for my science students and happened to have it. Otherwise, what a random photo to have along! Now I am carrying other photos...

challenge 84--draw some bread

I'm so behind on these challenges, so I drew some very basic but tasty bread that has been sitting on the counter for a few days and seems to have been forgotten by the cook. I guess we'll eat it tonight with whatever else we are having.

wildlife rescue center

Jenny and I volunteer at the wildlife rescue center, which takes injured or orphaned wild animals, rehabilitates them, then releases them back into the wild. Sometimes we have to wait until the next feeding, especially with the squirrels, so I've been taking my little sketchpad and drawing some of our patients.
This snapping turtle sits in the bathtub in water as he waits for his shell to heal. He was run over by a commercial mower, but the man operating the machine at least had the heart to bring the turtle in. We're not trained to care for snapping turtles yet. So we watch from afar. He's about 14 inches in diameter. Not a small fellow.

challenge 72

We had tickets for game 4 of the National League Division Series, Cardinals vs. San Diego Padres. I had not been to the new stadium yet, so this counts as going someplace new and drawing there. The foul pole down the 3rd base line was in front of us, but it was still fun to be there and we could see fine.

four challenges

Challenge 11--Draw your phone. I was late to get a cell phone, but now I love it.

Challenge 37--Draw some keys.

Challenge 39--Draw your toothbrush.

Challenge 13--Draw your glasses. I had my nose practically touching the page as I did this one. I'm blind as a bat without them.

challenge 41--a landmark of my city

This was a no-brainer. The Arch is our most famous landmark. It is fun to go up, as long as one is not claustrophobic. And another landmark is the Old Courthouse, where the case started that led to the erroneous and later corrrected Dred Scott decision by the Supreme Court. I drew this from a magazine cover. Convenient!

Taking a test

I volunteer at the testing room of the learning center at the girls' school. Kids can come in and take tests with modifications for their learning styles/test-taking styles, etc. Mostly I sit and read while they work. Sometimes, when I'm sure I won't get caught, I sketch them. This young man is very polite. He shall remain nameless.

challenge 10--draw your hand

I wonder how many times I have drawn my left hand. 

challenge 81--draw a lamp post

I drove around and sketched some lamp posts, and then took Jenny's suggestion and did the lamp post from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. I suppose that is the ultimate lamp post! 

challenge 79...draw an ear

This was a fun challenge. I think it is interesting to see the different ears of people in the same family. I still need to draw mine and one more. I like the penciled ears more than the inked ones.

challenge 3...draw a wallet

When DH came back from a trip to Korea, his hosts sent him back with this wallet for me! I used it for years and still love it, although I have retired it. It is faded but has some kind of Korean picture on the leather. I drew it in pen, then colored it with colored pencil. Even after all those years of use, the colors are still visible.
 

challenges 76 and 2

While in Vermont I sketched some flowers and plants, so for challenge 76 (draw a flower) I painted this black-eyed Susan from that sketch and the notes on color I had. The desk lamp is for challenge 2. I'm slowly making my way through the challenges. 

challenge 77...draw something cold

Today the girls and I went to Starbucks for "the usual", and when we tried to pay, we were told that the car behind us was paying for our order. We didn't recognize the car, so I got out to see who it was. It was a man and his daughter. The man pointed to my bumper sticker and said, "Your son is a Marine. This is on me." I thanked them. What a sweet thing to do! I'll have to tell my son.

This is a grande iced tea, a wonderful cold drink when it is so hot outside.

I have heard of people doing nice things for our troops, but this is a first for this Marine mom. 

challenge 8...draw your watch

I drew my watch, which was in pieces due to a need for a new watch band, on the same pages as my sketches from Bread Co this morning.

I did get a new band. 

challenge 22...draw a piece of clothing

Erik's baseball cap was sitting on the swing out back, so I drew it, then later added the color with colored pencils. I think the color adds a lot. I should do more sketches with color, methinks. And yes, (sigh), those are graffiti tags on his hat. Graffiti=art that gets the artist in trouble. 

challenge 15 Draw a tree

Challenge 15 is to draw a tree. This is in our backyard. It turns a wonderful red in the fall. 

fishing on the dock

Rachel and Jenny, sitting on the dock, fishing. They didn't catch anything but they had fun. 

challenge 54-- draw someone you love

This is a little postcard sketch of my sister Sue painting on the beach in Vermont. She is trying out her new waterbrush. We love to get together and, even better, to paint together. We had a great week. And she is someone I love. Next to my husband, she is my best friend. 

sketches from Vermont

When I go down to the beach in Vermont I take some small sketching stuff. Here is my small traveling watercolor set, my waterbrush, and my Cotman watercolor pad, all sitting in the rowboat with my mask and snorkel.




The next sketch is looking north towards Pine Point. Jenny and Rachel are fishing. I have always loved to paint and draw the rocks on the beach.
This is the same scene without the boat or fishers, done in the style of Dufy. It was fun.
Rachel and Jenny on the dock, fishing. 

challenge 74--Draw some clouds

While Jenny gave me a break from driving on our way to Vermont, I played with my watercolor pencils and waterbrush and drew some clouds. The paper in my sketchbook got wrinkly, but I don't mind. I learned that even though some edges of clouds look ragged, one needs to draw them rounded for the most part so that they read as clouds. 

challenge 73--draw your mailbox

I went out at dusk and sketched our mailbox, changing the numbers b/c of this day and age we live in. A firefly happened past and I put him in too, with a little darkness around him.
I used to be a faithful letter writer, and then we got email. I still write a "real" letter once in a while, but not too often. When I think about mail and letters I think of my grandmother Lillian, who was a country gal but educated and she would write the best letters that made me feel she was right there talking to me. When she got into her eighties I started saving them (and regretting all the old ones I had thrown away over the years) and now that she is gone they are still alive with her wit and love and down-home observations of life. I'm so glad God gave her to us for so long. She lived to be 101.  

sketches at the mall

Some sketches from the mall while waiting for the girls. I considered trying to draw for the challenge to draw someplace I haven't been before, and I WAS sitting in the new eaterie at the mall, which was new for me, but it is so pathetic, I'm not counting it. I did enjoy sketching people and I thought of the drawing in public "revolution" and what if I were at the mall and noticed someone sketching me? Would I sit still for a few minutes for them, pretending not to know I knew they were sketching me? Would I take out my sketchbook and draw them? How subtle am I when I draw others? Do they know?

It made me a bit unnerved, to tell the truth. Enough thinking. Just draw. Secretly.