6 AM

6AM

Staedtler watercolour pencils, 9 x 12 watercolour paper
copyright Jeanette Jobson

I had to a meeting for work this morning and was up early. The sun was streaming through the window and I captured the bright light and shadow in a portrait using the web cam as my 'mirror'.


Later this afternoon, I decided I'd try my hand at watercolour. I searched the house for my pan set of watercolours. Could I find it? Nooooooooo. So I settled begrudgingly for a set of 12 Staedtler watercolour pencils. I don't often use w/c pencils except for sketches. I find they don't always dissolve completely and I can still see the pencil strokes on the paper despite my efforts with water and brushes.

So my colours were limited and some colours a little unorthodox, but I kind of like that effect. The viewer's right arm isn't correct. I need to make that far line diagonal, not straight to reflect the angle of the pose, otherwise it makes the arm look artificially wide. I find that with watercolours, it isn't ise to go back and make too much in the way of changes as it can lose the freshness of the original layers.

Drawing at the end of the day

The Ravine
graphite & coloured pencil 5 x 8
copyright Jeanette Jobson

My time for drawing has been limited lately so I've started to make little sketches once I've gone to bed at night. These are of anything and everything. Some take a few minutes and some take 30 minutes if I start putting in details. Either way, I have been putting something on paper each night.

Most of these images are from things I have seen during the day or something from my imagination that I try to recreate. This sketch is a bit of both. It is partially based on a place that I've been and the colours and some features have been enhanced. This isn't the usual me as most often I need a subject in front of me or a reference image to be able to achieve detail in a drawing. I like seeing how much I remember about a subject, then check the reality of it the next day or simply see how far away I can get from the real thing in another drawing.

Its fun to let my mind run loose at the end of the day and I'll continue this exercise for awhile and see where it leads me.

Virtual Sketch Date

I can't remember if I've shared this drawing or not previously. I was looking through old drawings and found this one. I remember the drawing and the model well, even parts of the conversation of that night in the life class. The model was Pip. The setting was the studio of Tom Greenshields on the farm in Hawkchurch in Devon. The year was...I'd say 1981 or 82. Time does indeed fly.

Its that time again when we start another Virtual Sketch Date. This was the original idea of Rose Welty back in April when she contacted me to become involved in a project that would provide each other with some drawing opportunities, using the same reference image.

Well, it got very popular and now it has its own blog where the reference images are stored and the participating bloggers links are listed at the end of the event.

July's VSD reference be posted on Friday July 18th and you have one week to draw the reference image and post it on your blog. All drawings must be posted on Saturday, July 26th and the summary of all drawing links will be completed on Sunday July 27th. There isn't a limit to how many individuals participate, but you must let me know if you do, so that your drawing can be viewed and your blog listed.

About Virtual Sketch Date

The blog was set up to help administer monthly virtual sketch dates. Once a month a group of artists band together and draw from the same reference image for a week. At the end of the week, each artist posts their image on their blog. A post will be put up on the VSD with links to all participants' entries.

Want to join?
1. Once a month, when the reference image is posted, leave a comment to let us know that you are participating.
2. Sketch from the image
3. On the "date day" post your sketch on your blog.
4. The next day there will be a post here with links to all the participants entries.

Guidelines for Virtual Sketch Date Reference Images

• * All photos must be "suitable for work"
  
• * No camera phones
• * No blurry images
• * Natural light is preferred to using a flash

* Resolution must be at least 800px by 600px (higher resolutions uploaded to Flickr are greatly appreciated)

Relaxing

A cat pours his body on the floor like water. It is restful just to see him. - William Lyon Phelps

This photo kind of makes you rethink that quote doesn't it?

Tripod loves his bed more than food almost, but when he gets too hot in it, he can't decide which is better, the floor or the bed so this is the result. He's done this 'play dead' look before on a warm day. Remember this shot last August?

Apply heat and you have a collapsible cat who sleeps so soundly that nothing wakes him except picking him up body and bones.

I've been playing around with clouds and charcoal lately. I ran out of coloured paper except for this brownish grey one. I finally went out and bought some new paper in various shades of blue on Saturday but I was too far into this one at that point to want to do it all over again. I'll try another cloud on the blue later.

Needs

Tripod snoozing
graphite sketch 11 x 14
copyright Jeanette Jobson

The cat likes nothing more than a lap to sit on and a hand to stroke him. At that point he goes into zen meditation I think, accompanied by purring loud enough to rattle the teacups.

Drawing and painting lately is a bit of an effort for me. Maybe its the heat that causes the malaise. I have the tools and the time to do this, but inclination or inspiration flags a bit. I also consider this blog and wonder what to write to fill the space. I don't want to write simply for the sake of writing, but abandoning it into its two and a half year life seems rather pointless too.

I have so many ideas whirling in my head, I need to closet myself away and make myself put things on paper. I have stepped down from an art association that I was with and am considering a couple of other options. I want to be part of a group that inspires and challenges me at the same time. I want to work towards an exhibition of my work and know that will take at least a year to produce a body of work. And I know that I need those people around me who will push me towards that goal, not impede my progress. I need, I need... The only way to meet my needs is to face them head on and just make them reality.

Shaded ducks

Shaded ducks

Rapidograph pen, Pentalic sketchbook 8 x 5
copyright Jeanette Jobson

On warm days like today, the ducks find a shady spot under a tree to have their siestas. I was sitting on the front step late this morning, having my coffee and thought I'd do a quick sketch of them resting.

I haven't used my Rapidograph for awhile and the first one I picked up didn't work. Sometimes they can be a little tempermental but it may have just dried a little and needs cleaning. The finer nibs are more prone to clogging, but I do prefer them.

I found my favourite ducks, B.D. and Buddy in a newly found shady spot. They usually lurk under the rhododendron bush or behind the steps to the house, but today they found a temporary spot.