Paper and Threads

I joined the EDM group in September and slowly worked through earlier challenges using Pigma micron pens.  In December, I pledged to myself to do a daily ink/watercolor wash drawing every day during 2006.  For challenge #62 I decided to repeat my sketch of mugs - and to add a watercolor wash because I'm not ready yet to move beyond these pens and my limited watercolor palette.  The perspective is still wonky and I continue to wonder "Why are circles and ovals so hard for me to draw?"

Posted by Shirley at 9:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

My springtime allergies are bothering me, so I sketched my steroid nasal spray medication yesterday.  Then I remembered that I sketched it almost 3 years ago when I was drawing only occasionally.   It was fun to compare the two journal pages and realize that I now add a watercolor wash to every sketch - adding color has become a really important part of every journal entry.

Posted by Shirley at 7:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Yesterday was a beautiful day in New York City and everyone was outside enjoying the early spring weather.  Central Park was full- many ball games, bike riders, walkers, runners, sun bathers and just plain folks sitting on the benches.  There were several beds of daffodils at the park entrance on E 86th Street and I stopped to sketch a few while I was walking with my granddaughter in her stroller.  I was delighted to see the EDM challenge for this week because I already had my grouping of 4 different daffodils and just needed to finish painting them today.  Within the next 2 weeks there will be many beds of tulips in bloom as spring definitely arrives in the Northeast.  I'm watching and periodically sketching one specific tulip plant that is growing in a flower bed in front of my building.  I can't wait to see what color it is!  This daffodil painting was going to be one of my series of Color projects since I'm exploring YELLOW this month.  Now there will be one less to add at the end of the month.

Posted by Shirley at 2:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

I sketched and painted cars twice already in 2006, so for this challenge I decided to use my Grandson Henry's toy New York City checker cab.  Since I will soon start my yellow month, as part of the Color Project that I am doing, it was exciting to get an early start. 

Posted by Shirley at 7:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I found another tree that is no longer dormant on the block that I walk between my office and parking garage.  Most of each of the branches are red or red brown and the largest of the buds are only 1/4" maximum.  The buds are extremely complex when viewed with a magnifying glass (see separate sketch of buds at the bottom).  There are 4 petal-like structures and where they are open you can see 8 or more circular structures that are darker in color.  Each one of them is barely larger than the tip of a pin.  The buds are arranged in fours - around the stem - or as a pair on opposite sides of the stem.  I decided to watch this tree change over the next few weeks and then to try to ID the tree type.  My walk is more interesting since I now have a sweet gum tree and this unknown tree to observe over time.

Posted by Shirley at 1:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)