Promise 17: Four Cherries

We're at Vashon, so I missed sketching yesterday, but here's today's effort. It looks better in person. I'm off to lay out in the sun with a big glass of lemonade! Another good day today. The cherries aren't finished, but I decided to stop before I ruin it! You know my reputation for overworking everything!

Promise 16: Cherry No. 3

Finally, a good day in the studio.

Promise 15: One Cherry

Who could imagine it would be so hard to draw one little cherry. The top one is my 'real' effort and is not finished. The bottom one was just a playful quick draw and is probably better than the one taking more effort. Maybe there's a lesson there?

Promise 14: Apple

What can I say. I seem to be going backward. I need to calm down, relax and focus.

Promise 13: Lemon, Pitcher

I was so tired today when I started sketching--far too late in the day--it was hard to make myself do anything. A few reworking touches, again, on the little cream pitcher that I am still not happy with. Then a quick drawing of the same lemon, for the fifth time, because I was too tired and lazy to look for anything else to sketch. The poor little lemon is still there in the studio, close at hand. But I kept my promise and that's good. Any practice is better than no practice. I put in at least 14 hours sketching this week.

Promise 12: Cream Pitcher

I couldn't leave the little pitcher as it was yesterday. I reworked the sketch today and I think it improved. It's certainly more difficult than the lemon or pear!

I think one reason is that with the fruits if I am 'off' on the outline of the object, it doesn't matter too much since all lemons, pears, etc. are unique and never perfectly shaped. But with the little pitcher, which is man made and structurally balanced, the tiniest error in its form shows up in a big way. I read yesterday that when you start a work with errors in it (like yesterday's outline of the pitcher) those errors will grow as the work progresses and constant attempts to fix the errors (which are now built in to the piece) usually don't work. It gets worse.

So my initial drawing errors in the pitcher couldn't be corrected by shading. It needed to be redrawn. I tried today, grew tired and quit. I will give it one more try tomorrow (especially the bottom of the pitcher), then on to the next and new sketch. Even if I sketch the pitcher again, it's on to a new blank sheet of paper.

By the way, it was the fourth sketch of the lemon and the pear that seemed to work for me. Not only is this a more difficult subject, but this is the first time I've sketched it. So, we'll see...Thanks for reading all this rambling.

Promise 11: Cream Pitcher

Whoa what a tough day. I sketched, even though I was tired all day long. I woke up tired! I took this picture with my computer's built in camera which reverses the image. Boy, it sure shows all the sketch's shortcomings. I think I could have improved it if I had kept working, but I was tired, ready to quit, and I'd kept my promise to sketch. So I let myself stop. Not sure if I will revisit this little pitcher to try and improve it, or just move on. I will post a better pic when Bill comes home with the camera. The computer camera will have to suffice til Wednesday. Believe me, I did consider NOT posting a pic at all. But a promise is a promise. Eleven straight days of sketching. A record!

Promise 10: Pear No. 4

Had to do the pear today. Time for the poor old pear to hit the trash or be eaten. Little lemon is still good for a few more tries. A quick and not too difficult sketch today. I'd say the results are fair, not great. But the best news of all is that it is becoming more fun. And isn't that what it's all about anyway? Work, but fun--not such drudgery. Wish I had put the lemon in the sketch with the pear. But it's too late for this particular pear. Next time.

Promise 9: Lemon No. 4

I could see today like I've never seen before. And the way I have to see to draw and paint the way I want to. What an exciting day.
Forgive the extra scribbles in the sketch. I was just playing around, and then started seeing. So I stayed with the sketch.  A really good day.  Thanks so very much Karen!

Promise 8: Lemon No. 3

A very difficult day sketching. I simply cannot see what I need to see...especially the midtones. I squint and look and move the light and it only helps a tiny bit. I think I could draw it if I could only 'see' it. I have to practice seeing. It seems that is not an easy thing to do. So on to tomorrow and the lemon...one more time.

Promise 7: Lemon No. 2

Hmmmm. Seems to be getter harder instead of easier. I'm sticking with this lemon until I get some results I'm happy with. And the last two tries are not IT! See you tomorrow.

Promise 6: Lemon

Not a good day in the studio. Every minute was a struggle. So it goes. Back to it tomorrow.

Promise 5: Pear No. 3

This is the first time I've used charcoal since I was in 8th grade. I told you I have a lot to learn and practice. I was trying to capture the look and feel of the pear just coming out of the dark. What do you think? It wasn't as hard today once I got started, but getting started is tough. I think that doing these little sketches helps a lot since they're not major undertakings and seem manageable. I've been studying a lot of Paul Foxworth's art and blog. He is amazing. Take a look at his work by clicking his name under 'Links." See you tomorrow!

Promise 4: Pear No. 2

Same pear, different angle. Doesn't seem to be as 'jaunty' or have as much personality as yesterday. The sketching went faster today, but I couldn't seem to see as well as yesterday. I used a 'stomp' to smooth the sketch, for the first time today. I am such a novice with so much to learn. That part is discouraging. The old 'the more I know, the more I know I don't know' sure applies here. But a promise is a promise, right? So I forge ahead tomorrow. Thanks for being on this journey with me.

Promise 3: Pear

Pears seem to make beautiful subjects and that's why it's hard to believe this is the first time I've ever used a pear. It needs work, but the sketch came more quickly today. It was as if I could 'see' better today. Surprise, surprise.

Promise 2: Chinese Bowl

This is really difficult. But I'm keeping my promise. No painting, only sketching and learning values for 30 days.

Promise 1: Glass Decanter

I've promised myself that I will sketch something, anything...for the next 30 days. Here's today's. I'm tired, but sketched nonetheless...see you tomorrow.

After Tea

Spent today learning how to transfer a sketch from paper to canvas, then making the transfer.  Thanks to Karen Appleton and Sadie Valeri
for the lessons on making the transfer. I think it came out pretty well!

After Tea

Hmmm.  Some progress today on the sketch.  Unfortunately, it's still on paper, not on a canvas.  Yikes!  Anybody know how to transfer this to canvas?  Help.

After Tea

Holy mackerel. This is impossible!  Spent so much time working on this today and so little result!

After Tea

Started a new painting today and here's a picture of the subject.  I thought it would be an easy little thing, but just the initial sketch has proven me wrong.