Sketchbook Revival 2025-Face and a Blue Door

 I enjoyed the lesson with Toni Burt on Faces Made Simple (previous post) that I decided to do another one in a bigger sketchbook with much better paper! In fact, I have sketched off a third face for the same technique...

I didn't re-watch Toni's video for this one. I just sketched the face, added a bit of watercolor, and added some collaged pieces from a magazine, a napkin, a piece from one of my gelli plate prints, part of a teabag, and vintage sheet music over her scrapbook paper dress. A lot of fun and I love her! Can't wait to see how the next one evolves!

This little watercolor vignette is from Shari Blaukopf's lesson in "The Urban Vignette" in watercolor and ink, which I followed along with her from one of her photos, except I painted in our front door instead of the one in the photo. It was a challenge for me, but it was fun, I learned some things, and it made me want to go out and sketch things with my watercolors and ink. 

I still live in the little, very old, town on the river that I was born in, and there are so many old and interesting things that would be fun to record in this way. Only problem would be that everyone knows everyone (you're either related or you went to school, church, or work with them, or got acquainted with them in the grocery, drug store, or bank) and they would want to visit with me while I sketched. I can't talk and do anything at the same time. Maybe I'll just go through my old photos. I have a ton that I've taken myself over the years, plus I inherited all of my parents old photos, so I have a treasure trove to sketch from! 

But, for now, I'm on to the next lesson, which I already have started, and it happens to be a hoot owl with Tamara Laporte!

I've been doing one or two classes a day since the beginning May 27, and I started one day before yesterday, but had to skip yesterday to go out of town back to the Retina Specialist for a three month check-up. He said my eye still looked good. No bleeding, so I didn't have to have a shot in my eye, but I still had to go through my eyes being dilated, tested, etc. I still had blurry vision when I went to bed last night, and my pupils were still a bit dilated. My eyes are a bit scratchy feeling still this morning, but my vision is back, thank goodness. I have to go back for a check in three months, unless my vision starts going in that eye again, in which case I have to go back right away. Prayers that it stays okay!

That's it for this post. I want to work on my current lesson, the hoot owl, and I need to do my physical therapy exercises for my back/hip. I've skipped three days of PT, due to busyness, company, and the retina specialist, so I sure don't need to skip today. Don't know when I'll find time to vacuum and dust! Yikes!

Hope to see you in the next post! Take care and keep learning and trying new creative things. You never know what's possible, or what you will find out that you love, when you try something new!

Sketchbook Revival- 2025-Mark Making

 These two classes deal with mark making, and I had a blast!

Expressive Sketchbooks: Nature with Helen Wells

The lesson is about using tools that you find in nature, and ink, to make unique experimental marks inspired by nature. Things like twigs, moss, leaves, rocks, feathers, etc. that many of us like to pick up on our walks anyway.

I did five practice sheets with ink, both ends of a stick, a feather with both ends, and a thin pottery shard, then I  used the same tools directly on a sketchbook sheet for the first photo, and I cut up the practice sheets and collaged some of the pieces onto the other two skbk pages. This is what I came up with. I loved doing them and want to do maybe a whole sketchbook full of them at some point!

"Overgrown"-It reminds me of an overgrown flower bed or something!

Fearless Drawing: Make Your Mark and Silence Your Inner Critic-Deb Putnoi

I almost didn't try this class, but I'm glad I did. I learned some things about mark making that made me more confident about making marks!

For the first page, I just used my Zig Writer pen and made separate rows for each thing she suggested I do, but after seeing a couple of examples, on the second page I used different markers, pens, pencils, paint pens, etc. to make the marks in different colors lapping over one another however I felt like making the marks. It was fun and informing, plus I liked the page I made!

I know. It looks like a child did it, but that's the point, to learn to relax and play with our art, and I'm gaining in confidence and looseness, and that's what I want. I've always been too up-tight and hard on myself. I'm learning to let go of perfection one step at a time, to not be afraid of messing up, and to just go for it and have fun!

I'm so glad I went ahead and paid for access after the free binge fest. There are so many more classes I want to sample and add to my own art!

Take care and keep practicing!

Squiggle Girls on Toned Paper

 I initiated the first page of each of my three new toned sketchbooks with a squiggle girl using my Zig Writer pen and a white pastel pencil, just playing. I've never tried toned paper that much, except with pastels, so I am very timid about it, but I figure if I don't like it for sketching I can always use it for collage or something. 

The books are 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" and are blue, gray, and tan. I would have preferred different tones in one book, but didn't easily find one. I may make my own book with some of each color in it. It's just something I worked in among the online classes I've been taking. 

At least, if my hands and mind are busy sketching or arting I'm not eating! And that's a good thing! Ha!

Last of Sketchbook Revival Free Binge Fest 2025-Classworks (4)

 These are the last four classes I got in before the free two weeks ended on June 9, but I signed up for the VIP  package, so I have access to all the classes for the last five years, plus other stuff from now on, so I will continue. Totally worth the price! I have enjoyed it so much, have gained in confidence, am less afraid to try new styles, and I've learned so much!

The Goose Girl with Toni Burt

This was a mixed media class that I was brave enough to give a try. I used Toni's drawing to sketch from and followed her instructions, and this is what I came up with. It wasn't as easy as she made it look, but I love it, and I learned from my mistakes! The yellowish on the dress is actually metallic gold paint and the dress is from one of my gelli plate prints.

Cosmic Smashbooking with Catt Gellar

This was also a mixed media class, but was about finding answers to things that are bothering you. There are three layers of writing, a layer of paint, a layer of mark making, and collage. Smashing the pages together, then wadding them up and straightening them out was also involved, but my paper was too thick, so I didn't get to do that this time, but I want to try another page where I can. I was surprised that the top collage was a response to the questions in the writing and intuitive mark making. I enjoyed the class a lot.

Toni Burt's Faces Made Simple

This is a second class with Toni Burt, called Faces Made Simple, which I couldn't resist, especially after I had done the girl with geese. This is also mixed media with pencil, gouache, and collage. I followed her instructions, but I made the mistake of using my Kuretake watercolors, because they were handy, instead of gouache. I can see why the gouache would have worked better, but, again, I learned a lot from her and will try another one. In fact I did the prep work in a better bigger sketchbook today! Loved it!

123 Let's Draw Cats with Este Macleod

This class was a fun exercise that also worked my problem solving brain. I started with the numbers 1-9 and drew a cat character starting with the particular number. It's amazing how many one can come up with, and they will all be different! I may also add accessories and color later on. Fun stuff!

That's it for this year's binge fest, but, as I said, not the end of my learning adventures! I managed to complete twelve classes during the two weeks, but there are so many more I want to try! I love learning the processes. I have watched two classes today and finished one, which I will share later.

I have let everything go for the last two weeks to do this every day, and I have formed a habit that I don't want to stop, but sooner, or later, I have to do some house cleaning. I also have a third appointment, after three months, with the retina specialist on Monday. I was hoping I wouldn't have to get another shot in my eye, but I'm thinking I probably will, because I'm still having a bit of a problem. I don't mind though, if it'll save my eye.

Anyway, life is full of twists and turns. We just have to take it a minute at a time and deal with it, with God's help. Take care and keep learning and creating!

Sketchbook Revival Binge Fest 2025-Post 3 Classwork (1)

 This is the class I did today, and is the eighth class so far. Also, this will catch my posting up for now! 

This is from "Sidewalk Cracks" with Carla Sonheim, and I used her reference of a photo of cracks on a sidewalk to draw images from.

A simple image drawn from looking at the photo of sidewalk cracks, and coloring it in with a pencil, then using an eraser for feathers. I made the mistake of using a Stablio pencil, which doesn't erase easily, so I used a blue colored pencil to try to make feathers. It didn't work well! Shading didn't work well either...

These are fun whimsical characters to look for among the cracks. Also good practice!

This bird emerged from the cracks on the sidewalk for me, and I colored him in with a marker and a bit of colored pencil after watching the tutorial of a dog image.

I sketched along with the teacher on her image drawn out of the cracks, except hers was a pink poodle where mine is a blue mutt done in markers. Fun stuff! I love pulling images out of other patterns and stuff!

I printed off copies of the reference photo in different sizes and glued the small ones in my sketchbook to practice on. When I turned one upside down vertically this little dog with its back turned appeared. I've only drawn the lines so far, so it's a work in progress, of sorts.

When I started to color the image in with markers I suddenly saw his face and I added another leg to make him facing out. Later I picked up the book and saw the start of another dog head, so I gave him a buddy in orange. I love their expressions!

On a large copy I saw this quirky rabbit with a bird on its back emerge. I've only drawn the lines so far on this one too. I'm going on to another class for now and will come back to these later.

This is from the same reference sheet of cracks, only larger. The bunny appeared, then later the bird's head, so I perched him on the bunny's back. I'm having way too much fun with this class!

That's what I've done so far in the last week and a half, besides completing the 100 Days of Stitch Meditations challenge June 2. Yep! I finished it!

Not sure what class I'll take next. We have to run errands out of town tomorrow, so I may take a couple of days break. Maybe not...

Sketchbook Revival 2025-Post 2 Classworks (4)

 The next four classes I chose to try in Sketchbook Revival. I've been very busy!

On June 1 I chose "Playing With Animal Characters" with Nina Rycroft. She taught me a way to draw dogs that I hadn't tried before. It helped me a lot, and can also be applied to other animals, which I haven't tried yet. But I will! I sketched these from Nina's reference sheet of dog breeds.

On June 2 I chose "Sketching Seahorses" with Christine Elder and, using her reference, sketched the little fellow below in pencil. I love seahorses!

On May 30 I chose "Whimsical Buildings" with Tamara Laporte and worked on it a bit for the next four days in mixed media. Again, I strayed from the lesson some, and the page and paper was not really suitable for this type of painting in mixed media. I still lack some of the details, and I want to do another one on larger better paper soon. I like this one though!

Also, on June 2, I chose "Sketching our Intuition" with Angela Fehr in watercolors. Loved it! I wish the metallic gold showed up more. It's much prettier in reality. I think I like it almost as much upside down!

That's the first seven classes I've taken so far, all very enjoyable and fun, and I will do them again! 

My soul is dancing with all the art inspiration in the Facebook group. Love it!

Sketchbook Revival Binge Fest 2025-First Classworks (3)

 I started the Sketchbook Revival free Binge Fest 2025 on May 27. It was free for two weeks, but there are so many classes to choose from that I saw that I wasn't going to get all the classes that I wanted to try done, so I paid the VIP price to have access to all of them from now on, plus all the freebies. I have already gotten my money's worth with the ones I've taken, but I can now take my time and relax and enjoy all the classes I want! 

There's a wide range of mixed classes, so who knows what will show up in my posts here! Mixed media and most are in my too small 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" sketchbook with hot pressed heavy paper, which is not the best choice, so I may change at some point.

The first class I chose was "Things With Wings" with Val Webb, which I enjoyed very much. It was a class on drawing birds and doing an India ink sketch of a heron.

My first attempt at sketching a heron...

Sketch of a heron in India ink and brush...

Pencil sketches of three other birds I had never tried from the teacher's reference sheet of birds...

The second class I chose was "Scribble Studies" with Amanda Grace. This is my page of notes in my large sketchbook. These are three exercises in sketching like a child to loosen up my art and just have fun. All three are mixed media, and not much like the teacher's. I tend to watch the videos, then try to do them from memory, and my memory isn't that good, so my work often strays a bit from the lesson. They are more reminders of what to do to create my own version on better paper.

The third class I chose was "Portrait Party" with Koosji Koene. It was on sketching a self portrait using only one line without lifting the pencil from the paper. The first page is six selfies where I had to trace my face with one finger while keeping my eyes closed and sketching with the other hand in different markers with one line.

The other exercise, which I did two of, was trying to keep my eyes on a photo of myself while sketching a selfie without looking in one continuous line. I didn't succeed in not looking at all. I had to glance at the sketching a few times. Very hard not to look!

It was hard to stop on each of these classes to move on to the next! I did these three before I decided to do the paid package, so I was feeling rushed a bit, but I really enjoyed all three and want to do more of each!

So this is my new adventure! I hope you enjoy what I share of my work. It's all a bit wonky, but that's ok. It's supposed to be fun and experimental!

Let's see what classes I chose next in the next post! I've done eight so far and am ready to choose another...

Try something new that takes you out of your comfort zone once in a while. It's good for your soul!