Lorene calls me out of bed from the back yard at 5:00am to break up the fight between Maple and a racoon! She let out the dog thinking she had to pee, but apparently it was because she smelled the critter!
No, big damage just a few scratches, very lucky, lessons learned about how and when to let her out.
We went downtown to the library to pick up a movie for the night. Such a beautiful evening downtown Plymouth. Perfect weather, and people were out enjoying the evening. As Lorene and I sat talking near the fountain, a little guy was walking with his dog nearby. His dog was a large lab who could easily lead if he wanted. But this dog followed with each tug of the leash, very cute. They stopped at the fountain. It was like the boy was explaining a fountain and what it was for as the lab silently gestured questions...a nice night out.
Saturday morning sketch, feeling a little anxious this morning. Looks like I may need to have some surgery on my leg injury. Not feeling great about this. So this sketch was just a reaction to stress. Putting a face to what I feel is coming up from behind. Maybe it's not so scary after all, just feels uncomfortable now. Time to get to work, have an Alias(CAD) model to finish today along with concept sketches. Also need to work on a drawing class for kids. If you have a favorite podcast or blog for kids let me know in the comments. Thanks
Almost finished and ready to fly, still need battery, receiver and extra propellers and wheels. Flying with the local RC club on Wednesday nights. Summer is half over and he has been focused. He is doing a great job. My trooper!
Sketching creatures is always fun. You can do almost anything and make it work because the subject matter is suppose to be unrealistic, fun and exaggerated. This is a favorite topic for me to bring into the classroom. The more outlandish the better, and it teaches the kids to use their own imagination, not just draw something they see on TV.
This sketch started from thick line thumbnail sketches to just get an idea and gesture in place. I like the inking and line work detail of the process. With a flick of the wrist and a calligraphy pen you can get an evil grin, or expressive eyebrows. The thick and thin is and randomness of the line is what I like about this style. Some of my preliminary sketches are more expressive even in rough stages. The trick is to add detail without losing the energy of the line in the early preliminary work. Keep sketching!
The final image....
Initial color
Here are a few captured warm up sketches looking at simple shapes and gestures and a few faces. Quick studies to loosen up your thoughts and get the juices going. I used to doodle like this more often. I kept a sketch pad by my desk at the office at all times. Now I tend to do these during meetings or anytime I have a few spare moments. These were all done before I went into to work in the morning. Just let the pencil strokes take you where they may. Something always comes from this if you give it a good 30 min. of play time.
To often sessions designed to generate ideas are dysfunctional. Participants seldom taking notes, no one listening to others, leaving with a different idea of what was discussed, what was agreed upon.
Listening seems to be a skill worthy of development and focus in our teams and schools.
Taking notes is the proof. It requires listening with enough attention to actually make an effort to jot down someone else's idea. Maybe it's not the idea but just what was said, often in review, this leads to great insight.
All to often participants seem to think or act as if their sole responsibility is to provide ideas, not build conversation adding to what was said.
I can't count how often someone has an "original" idea, that was mentioned by someone else 15 min before.
Often members seem happy that the meeting even happened. They are not critical about content, participation or follow through as if that is someone else's responsibility.
Innovation stems from good conversation, good conversation means good listening. A lost art form.
In a world of "cut and paste" and digital searches, manual tactile writing engages you brain in a similar way as doodling. We need to teach listening to our children if they are to solve the big complex problems we intend to leave for them.
Let me know your thoughts...
Just a quick sketch while the boy was busy with math homework. Done in Magna studio on my tablet. l am considering a new Surface pro or Ipad Pro. Took the Ipad out for a test drive with its new pencil. It was nice but without Manga studio to test I was a little skeptical. Surface pro seemed better to me as the pencil had more of a textured drag or resistance on the screen. The apple felt like drawing on slick glass instead of paper.
Visiting my brother in MN for Christmas. (We had a great time!) My nephew told me about his high school art project. Create an image around the theme of "human reflex" meaning reflexes like sneezing, kicking, blinking and coughing. this topic. But at times a topic, no matter how broad, can seem confining. There were comments about this being a difficult or limiting topic. I see this with my kids also.
I think some of the biggest issues with creativity come thinking to literal. Art can teach abstract thinking that allows a loose interpretation of a task. This may open up a new way to approach a problem. Maybe a new way to define a question or task.
What feeling do you want your viewer to experience?
-Your image can be literal or symbolic...
-You can use different Materials or different Styles....
-Lastly your choice of Composition should work with your previous decisions
Who is coughing and what type of cough.....
Does it need to be a human? or an object? or show the Environment that you cough in?
Maybe create a stylized expression of a cough....or just the an abstracted graphic representation.....
Materials and Color adds limitless possibilities to this equation
Looking at a fun tall guy pirate for another Pager on body types for Oct 20th and the Pirate sketchbook
Arrghhh!
I am playing with different pens and liking the variation in size. The line work is more like a fine point felt marker and the darks are more of a brush pen. This was done, as usual, in Manga Studio 5EX.
Preparing for a hand out for a school visit. Trying to break down, into small lessons, how to draw a Pirate! The hand out is only 8 pages and it is roughly 4" x 5" so it will be small ...
I am looking at option 1 as it seems the most distinct. Maybe just a single face or a simple scene. Number 4 may be a little less playful but I like to the look of this also. Let me know if you have any suggestions.
Next I will have a page on expressions : Eyes and Sneers and such, showing how to draw the teeth and lips in a good Pirate SNARL!
Different Types of Hair will be next, from squiggles to furry to the pony tail and you have to have the twisted mustache!
The last few will be mostly scenes and different body types. Tall and thin or short and Fat hopefully in some funny situations.
Still trying to get things working! Thanks for downloading and keep sketching!
Talking about Design. Sketching and other fun stuff! ...posting soon.
Last Friday night in Plymouth drawn to the night five modeling sketches. The model was doing yoga poses. This created some challenging views but it was a lot of fun.
Greg,
You asked about me drawing the "Walking Dead". I only saw a few episodes and it kinda' freaked me out! So here is a take on fighting Zombies with kid power! Saturday morning warm up sketching....
Went to the Plymouth Arts Council for live model drawing last night. Small turn out last night, hope to see more people next month. Very fun.
Drawn to the Night in Plymouth...our last month event....live drawing at
smaller turnout than previous weeks. But still interesting and fun...
5 min to 20 min sketches....
