Day 11: Create a vegetable

Well, I couldn't wait to try out the kitchen scrubber, so today I made broccoli.  It has some smooth parts and some bumpy parts.  Though the stalk is largely smooth, it still has some bumps and ridges and leaves.  And, of course the top is nubby.  I hope I captured broccoli!

Day 10: do a sketch of your fruit in some kind of setting, or doing something fun

 

Ok, had all kinds of fruits with goofy faces and puns come to mind, but kept going back to this photo.  So, here's my banana for today.  Not really much of a setting, but some shading to help.  These sketches are coming quicker now, perhaps I'm getting used to moving the powder.  Or, maybe because it's too cold to stay in my basement studio for long. 

 

Here's my sketch up against the inspiration photo.

Day 9: Using your homemade tools, business card, sifter, and /or fingers, create a sketch of a piece of fruit.

Here's my apple and pear.  The actual fruit was posed this way.  Although the outlines are too thick and dark, I like the sketch.  With my fluorescent lights, it was difficult to see where the shadows should fall and how dark to make them, but I think this works.  I added a simple background line just to give the fruit some composition and reference.

 

The powder is either getting easier to move or the fruit was an easier subject for me.  Either way, the sketch didn't take too long and it resembles what it should!

 

This challenge is certainly challenging for someone like me who can't and doesn't draw, but I am determined to keep going.  I know a "style" will emerge at some point.  I'm still sketching only in black on French Vanilla, still not signing them, still dumping them back into the jar, and still can't overload my brain with the coloration of these sketches.  However, there are 21 days left!  I also still have hope! :)

 

Day 8: Use something as a tool to make a sketch

Ok, so yesterday, I used a spiral from a notebook.  This afternoon, I took a sneak peak at others' postings for today and discovered that other people had used tools I was thinking of using - the dish scrubber, stringers, etc.  So instead, I chose to use the edge of some pieces of Bullseye glass to make background mountains.  This is something I'd like to perfect, using various shades of blues and/or greens.  My husband said he thought this was my best sketch yet.  I like the way the flash from the camera landed on the house and makes it look like the lights are on inside.  Couldn't help but think that maybe this is where Phil Schroeder resides in Heaven... seems like a place he would like to be.

 

Day 7: Create a tool and use it to make a sketch

Used a spiral from an old notebook... instant fence!

Day 6: 5 5-minute sgraffito sketches (fingers, business card)

Same assignment.  It's easier to create from a photo or picture than from my head.  Still, five minutes goes by so fast.  I like the sunflower best and I did most of that with my fingers.  Hmmm... less is more! :)  I don't know that this is getting any easier yet.

 

Yep, it's a cardinal.

Looks nothing like the photo, but I still like it.

Still so elementary.

Conveys the idea, though ugh!

Like the flower, not the leaves.

Day 5: 5 5-minute sgraffito sketches (fingers, business card)

I did seven 5-minute sketches today to make up for only four yesterday.  Five minutes goes by so fast!  But, I'm going to keep doing these till I loosen up.  I want to be able to do trees well, but also want to be able to do nature scenes as well as buildings (I have plans...!), so I think a variety of practice subjects is good.  Still trying to get too much detail.  Have to do less powder, more suggestion. 

 

Still looking very elementary...

 

They look good when you're building them, but they don't look so good when you see the photos.

Not enough time to develop the stump.

 Yep, looks like a dog...

 

but not like the dog in the picture!  Still, passable.

Ugh!  Still doesn't convey any feeling.

Got stuck on the shed, ran out of time. I like the fence though! :)

Well, who doesn't like bunnies?

Ok, this was much more than 5 minutes and the sketch doesn't capture Sterling the dog well, but I think I managed to get a little depth into it.

He looks a little sad... maybe 'cause he's going back in the jar!