Rome Sketches in Ink

These are some ink sketches I did in Rome Italy. It was at the Piazza Navona (Navona Square), it is called the "Four Rivers Fountain" sculpted by Bernini.

Mini Rome Ink Sketch

Another sketch done in Rome.  This one is 2x3 inches.  Drawing small forces you to abbreviate the details.... thus teaching you to think in ink.

Rome Sketch in Ink

This is a sketch I did while in Rome.  I love ink sketching.

Beaux-Arts Academy Arts & Architecture in UTAH!!!!!

Its not very often that I post something that isn't my own art.  Why? because this is my art blog.  Anyway I am going to be attending a school in Salt Lake City that will teach arts and architecture in a classical and traditional way.  Everything from wash rendering to multi-figure painting.  I have been waiting for training like this for years.....and I am so excited.  This is the website http://www.baa-utah.com/ .

4th of July American Flag, Pen Sketch

Here is another pen sketch of the American Flag.  I love America!

Face Sketch, Ink with Watercolor

I am love to draw with pen and ink.  The watercolor looks nice as a background.

Provo Airport Dike Road

This is a small pen sketch of the Provo Airport Dike Road.

Pen and Ink Sketch

I have been using an ink grinder and an ink stick to grind my own ink.  Lots and lots of joy....... and much fun!!!!!!!  It actually works better than the normal waterproof india ink on the water color paper.  Plus I can get some great variety in tone.

Work in Progress

This is some of the progress of the painting that I am 

working on.  I am so excited for this painting.  

Pen Face Sketch

I found myself sitting and waiting...... so I did 

a sketch.   Regular "Bic" Pens are fun because 

you can get a half-tone with a light touch.

Learning from Nathan Fowkes

Nathan Fowkes came and did some lectures, I was able to go to some of them.  He answered many of my art questions that I have had for years.  Nathan did a demo of a landscape that was awesome.  Here are some of my feeble attempts of trying to apply some of the knowledge that he shared.  This is his blog: http://nathanfowkes-sketch.blogspot.com/

Dirty Socks Sketch

This is a pen sketch that I found the other day.  Dirty socks anyone???

aaaahhhhh there's a Beetle in my Sketchbook!!!!

I was just looking through some old sketchbooks to get some ideas.  I found this drawing that I did about three years ago.  I remember really enjoying this drawing.  It's fun to look at old drawings and measure your progress.

PS I love smoother paper in my sketchbooks.

Pen Sketch of Trees

More trees.  I love trees.  This one was fun.

Another River Sketch

This one I tried to go with a dark tree.  I don't think I like this approach.  It looked better without the tree darker.  It is so fun to experiment!!!!

Provo River Trail Sketch

These are teaching me so much.

Pen Sketch of the Provo River

I saw some fish while sketching.  Maybe I should be fishing??

Pen Sketch of Trees

I did this at Fircrest Park in Salem, Oregon.  My hope is that pen sketches will eventually help me to paint better in oils.  It is tricky trying to decide what has emphasis, and what detail should be left out.

This is for the 4th of July

This is a pen drawing from my sketchbook.  Happy 4th!

Andrew Loomis Creative Illustration

I have been reading a book called "Creative Illustration" by Andrew Loomis.  This book has been a great help.  He discusses how to better work from a photograph although he suggests that getting a real model is the best way.  Anyway in the book Andrew suggests that the reader do a copy of one of his photos.  So this is a pencil drawing that I did of a photograph in his book.  (This is one of those books that I wished I owned.)