Retro Lovelies

I've been on a bit of a retro + neon kick lately.  Nothing to do with Whidbey; everything to do with fun!

More Portrait Practice

Work has kept me from sketching with my Whidbey Island Sketcher pals latelyl.  But on my own I've been practicing portraits over the past couple of weeks.  I'm all over the map and envy artists who have a very discernible style.  Here's how undiscernible my style is...sometimes watercolor + pen, other times Neocolor II, other times watercolor only.  But I'm having fun.  Alas!!!            

These first two are Faber-Castell Pitt pen and watercolor.

  

 

Last two - Left:  watercolor only.  Right:  watercolor, pen and Neocolor II.

Cig Gal

Ok.  So this has nothing to do with Whidbey Island.  To add insult to injury, it's sketched from a photo.  You know what?  I don't care; I just love sketching people from photos... trying to capture their expressions.  It's the most sketching fun I have.

Ok, now back to sketching in places, plein air with the gang at our next sketch meet-up.  In the meantime, thanks for indulging me.   

An afternoon of painting

Spent this winter Sunday afternoon - all afternoon - painting,sketching, experimenting with different media and techniques.  Here are the results from today. 

2.  watercolor, Neocolor II water soluable wax pastels

1.  watercolor only

3.  pen, watercolor (and artistic license)

4.  pen and watercolor

Grisalba

I finally got to draw Grisalba, the beautiful server at La Casita. I've always wanted to sketch her because of her fabulous hair and exotic features, but busy waitresses don't have time to sit still for a sketch. So, I got her a gig as as our first model for the new Monday night figure-drawing group at Studio 106. Since she had never done this before, we couldn't believe how flawlessly and elegantly she sat for 3 hours (with breaks at 20 minute intervals). A natural!

Neocolor II Beats the November Grays

The perfect way to combat our dreary, grey rainy November days?  Neocolor II water soluable crayons made by Swiss company Caron d'Ache.  Think of them as Crayolas with an attitude!  They produce extremely rich color and are a heck of a lot of fun. 

Here are some gray-day-busting pieces using a mixture of Neocolor II, pen and regular watercolors or Prismacolor markers.

 

Ink Ladies

And now the opposite of my previous post, Watercolor Ladies.  Starting with ink - and lots of it - and then just a little watercolor wash.  Which do you like best?  Watercolor/light pencil only or these? 

 

Watercolor Ladies

I love to sketch portraits, but after my watercolor class I've been loving using watercolor only (on top of just a little pencil) for a change and new intensity.

Struggling with Perspective

Some days the sketching muse is just not with you!  For me yesterday, the sketching muse was nowhere in the vicinity of Bayview Corner. 

After struggling, struggling, struggling, struggling with multiple perspectives (I include - at left - my unsuccessful view into the Star Store to illustrate this mighty struggle!), I finally retreated to my comfort zone, sketched a nice lady in the Hub, had a glass of birthday wine with Kris, and called it a day. 

Alas.

Only Two More Weeks for The Edgecliff

Tim, co-owner of The Edgecliff

We just learned a few days ago that the Edgecliff is closing November 28. It's very sad news for many reasons. But one of the reasons we'll miss the Edgecliff is that it has been a wonderful place to sketch. The owners and staff have always been very tolerant and supportive of our sketching in the bar. We always felt welcome at the Edgecliff. And the abundance of interesting and colorful characters passing through was inspiring.

As a sort of tribute and thank-you, Kris and I did a portrait of the owner and one of the servers, both of whom have always been interested in and supportive of our sketching.We'll miss you. And we'll miss those happy hour burgers. Best deal in town.

The lovely Stephanie, Edgecliff server

Lisa, new owner of The Braeburn

Patron who left before his sketch was complete

This guy got up and left, too!

The Edgecliff Bar

Practicing with Portraits

I've been doing a lot of portraits from photos lately.  Trying out new techniques, different brushes and line weights.  Experimenting with subtle color and bold color.  Laying down color first, mixing it up with different pen colors.  Here's a sampling.  Entire series can be seen in my "Portrait Party" flickr set.