Maple syrup......

I ran a weekly challenge at Drawspace this week. I based it on my trip to Northern Michigan, where I visited my Cousin. They were in the process of collecting sap to make syrup. My Cousin's Father in Law worked the evaporator, kept the fire going and watching the temperature on the syrup. He was able to explain to my younger boys and myself the whole process. The boys helped out with all the different jobs. Then we were able to bring home a jug of syrup.

April 2009 VSD......

I haven't done a virtual sketch date in a while. There is a whole new way of signing up, so if I can figure that out, I'll be doing good. Here is my sketch I am working from. The original photograph is from Jeanette. I am showing the sketch first because it goes down hill from here.

Here is my horribly overworked flower done in water colour. I figured I was done but got to thinking what would it look like with a background.


For all that I just swabbed in the background with no finesse, it does show that the background was needed to finish the picture. Good thing to know for next time.

Ballet Dancer Standing....

This is my copy of Ballet Dancer Standing by Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas. They say it is good to try to copy the Masters and I guess I would have to agree. Especially when you are trying to teach yourself.

I can see that my head is at the wrong angle and my torso is too long, which is why my dancer looks like she is standing up with her head turned. Rather than slightly bent over with her head turned and down. So many other things as well, but I guess that is what practicing and sketching is about.

Don't you love the suggestion of a male dancer behind her?

Robofest....

My son William was in a robotics competition last night, Robofest. His team won and made it to the world finals, which luckily for him is right next door in Michigan.
It made for a great place to do some sketching. While William never seemed to be in a good place to sketch, the one little boy on the team sat still for a while. My husband Jim, a coach, stood watching the kids so I was able to get him in in bits on the right.


The same little boy and one of the Moms from another team. The team was huddled around the playing field and I thought I would be able to sketch them but they moved around too much. I should have brought another sketch book or some blank paper. I didn't want to fill up my sketch journal but could have easily sketched for quite a bit longer and at different times during the day.

Boot camp......

Let's Make Art has started a Boot Camp.

Ten to twenty minutes of exercise a day - five days a week. That's what it takes to keep in shape!

Well I have the ten to twenty down, now to just get that 5 days a week in. The first week I did two days, the second I did one day, the third I did 4 days, and this week I have 2 so far.

Just before I got the invite to join Boot Camp, I found a great sale on some moleskin sketch books. That gave me the perfect opportunity to get started right away. It also allowed me to try out a journal of sorts. I love what Dee Farnsworth does with the weather report. There are some others that I love too, I'll find some to show next time I show my sketches.