Wednesday Sketching

"Elf Cat" Cedar Park, 2017
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.2, 1/125 sec, ISO5000
“Elf Cat” Cedar Park, 2017

こんばんは。How’s it going?

Last night before sleeping, I made a quick sketch (above) which turned out looking like an elf. I guess it’s because Koa and I recently have had conversations about The Hobbit, which he is reading over the summer. The sketch was fun to do and I tried to make it kind of exaggerated, with big eyes and a short triangular face shape. Then the mouth looks cat-like and reminds me of the main character in The Cat Returns after she enters the Cat Kingdom.

Tonight I made two more small sketches on the same page to try drawing a face at an angle. It’s pretty difficult, but the sketches are good to do because I can identify the parts I really need to work on. In this instance, I realize that I have no idea how to draw the more distant eye. Also, the edge of the face is something I don’t know how to draw. I was pretty much just winging it here!

"Needs" Cedar Park, 2017
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.6, 1/125 sec, ISO2500
“Needs” Cedar Park, 2017

For my last sketch, I drew it larger and looked at a couple reference drawings to try to get the more distant eye shape correct. I think it turned out okay, although I had to erase a lot. In the photo below, I saw that something looked a bit off, and I realized the eyebrow on the left is too thin. So I erased it and re-drew it with the same thickness as the closer brow. I think it looks a lot better!

"Almost OK" Cedar Park, 2017
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.6, 1/125 sec, ISO3200
“Almost OK” Cedar Park, 2017

I enjoyed working on this one and learned a bit more about eye shape. I also like line-drawings but I also like watercolor shading and it’s something I’d like to do later on when I get better at drawing faces. My goal is to be able to draw faces that look natural, even if they aren’t very realistic. I have a long way to go still, because my drawings so far don’t look very natural.

To see all the sketches I’ve been working on, you can check out the Flickr album “My Sketching Journey”, or my Instagram account barron.sketches which I created just for posting sketches, watercolors, and stationery items.

I hope you had a nice Wednesday!

おやすみ

August 13th Sketch

"Sketch and Eraser" Cedar Park, 2017
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/8, 1/25 sec, ISO6400
“Sketch and Eraser” Cedar Park, 2017

こんばんは。Today’s sketch was one I made to try out a new expression. I had a lot of fun playing with the eye-shape, and the exaggerated triangle face. Also, I learned that I have no idea how to render hair. 😮 I need to work on that!

I also used a new eraser today. The Sakura Arch foam eraser is really great. It’s so soft but lifts up the pencil marks like magic. I love it!

Below is the finished sketch. I could work on it some more, but I’d rather keep it as is so I know what I need to work on.

"Today's Sketch" Cedar Park, 2017
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.6, 1/105 sec, ISO6400
“Today’s Sketch” Cedar Park, 2017

To see all the sketches I’ve been working on, you can check out the Flickr album “My Sketching Journey”, or my Instagram account barron.sketches which I created just for posting sketches, watercolors, and stationery items.

I hope you had a nice weekend!

おやすみ

Sketch from a Photo

"Nounen Rina Sketch" Cedar Park, 2017
“Nounen Rina Sketch” Cedar Park, 2017

Here’s a sketch I did while looking at a photo of Japanese actress/model, Rina Nounen. The past few sketches have been portraits from straight ahead, so I wanted to draw a slightly different angle. I think I learned some of the differences in angles, such as ear placement and face shape. But I think I need a ton more practice. Luckily, even the practice is pretty fun!

To see all the sketches I’ve been working on, you can check out the Flickr album “My Sketching Journey”, or my Instagram account barron.sketches which I created just for posting sketches, watercolors, and stationery items.

My Typical Day

"Pork Donburi" Cedar Park 2017
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/4, 1/80 sec, ISO3200
“Pork Donburi” Cedar Park 2017

Dinner, dishes, and drawing. That’s a typical evening for me lately. I am enjoying life!

The pork donburi with shishito peppers and eggs was delicious, and then while doing the dishes, I enjoyed the pretty clouds as they floated by. 🌥

"View from the Sink" Cedar Park, 2017
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/600 sec, ISO200
“View from the Sink” Cedar Park, 2017

Tonight’s drawing is actually a copy of a previous drawing, which I scanned, printed, and then applied ink with a brush. It was difficult to control (the brush was too long and soft) but fun to try something new. I think I prefer the line portraits right now.

"Inkling" Cedar Park, 2017
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/70 sec, ISO3200
“Inkling” Cedar Park, 2017

To see all the sketches I’ve been working on, you can check out the Flickr album “My Sketching Journey”, or my Instagram account barron.sketches which I created just for posting sketches, watercolors, and stationery items.

I hope you had a good Thursday!

おやすみ

Memory Box

"Round" Cedar Park, 2017
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.2, 1/100 sec, ISO2500
“Round” Cedar Park, 2017

こんばんは。How’s it going?

The other day I was searching for a palette knife for my son, and I checked an old wicker storage chest that I’ve had for as long as I can remember. I keep a lot of old things in there, including some art supplies. I didn’t find the palette knife in there, but I did get lost for a half hour looking through the contents of the chest.

I have used this chest to keep a bunch of personal “memorabilia” safe for so many years. It holds my high school diploma, achievement awards, old photos, maps, plane and train tickets, old baseball and concert tickets, and letters.

The letters were what interested me most, specifically letters from a pen pal that I had in high school. For maybe a year, I exchanged letters with another high school student who lived in Paris. It was so much fun to receive letters from Sophie! I remember every day wondering if I’d get a nice surprise in the mailbox. And I would dream of someday traveling to Paris to meet my pen pal.

I eventually did travel to Paris, but by that time, I was no longer in contact with my pen pal. I wonder what kind of life she is living now… I think I’d rather not know, but be happy keeping it a mystery.

Anyways, tonight’s photo is of a drawing I worked on. I tried to shorten the face but I think it may be too round? I actually like the shape, though. I also tried to blacken the hair using pencil, and I thought that it wouldn’t come out looking nice, but I’d give it a go anyways just to know for sure. やっぱり。。。I don’t think I’ll do that again.   But I am glad I found out.

To see all the sketches I’ve been working on, you can check out the Flickr album “My Sketching Journey”, or my Instagram account barron.sketches which I created just for posting sketches, watercolors, and stationery items.

I hope you had a nice Wednesday!

おやすみ