Calisthenics in the Park

I try to at least sketch from life a little bit every day. Although some sketches are good and some sketches are horrid, it's okay either way. For me, it's calisthenics. I figure that each time I sketch I am getting just a bit better at observing, or depicting what I observe. I also hope that I am developing "muscle memory", and that my hand just might move the right way next time.

As you have seen if you have followed my blog, a lot of my sketches are done at eating establishments, but sometimes I sketch parked in my car beside a small neighborhood park.

The pencil drawing above and the conte' pencil drawing below were drawn in my Moleskine on different days. [The first meets Everyday Matters Challenge #214 "Draw something representing a favorite hobby" because I love to read.]

I think it is interesting how differently they came out even though the subject matter is similar.







Other quick sketches in my Moleskine at the park include this small sketch in pen (while not quite horrid, this one leaves a bit to be desired):














And this sketch using a watercolor pencil (she left before I could add more detail, but I like it).






All in all, sketching is just another day at the park, don't you think?

Illustration Friday: Talisman

This week's theme for Illustration Friday is "talisman". My submission was done in pastel, with some details in color pencil.

Last week's Illustration Friday topic was "poise". I did not finish that one in time. I had drawn only the outline of an Olympic athlete in a floor-exercise pose. This week, though, I had an ace in the hole. Change the outfit, grow the hair, add the talisman and the forest and voila! It is I that have performed magic!