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| 8 1/2 x 11" sketchbook acrylic, colored pencil and pitt pen |
It feels like vacation right now. I am not painting anything intended for the gallery or my Etsy shop...I'm just working when I feel like it in my sketchbooks. I never did finish the sketch in my last post. The children looked sweet as they were so I left them alone. Leaving things alone is good practice for me because I often keep painting to the point where I wish I would have left it alone. :)
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| sketchbook sweeties tiny sketches in a tiny Moleskin graphite pencil |
Lately my practice is to stop in the middle of the day and do a quick tiny sketch like these sketches in my sweetie book (the tiny Moleskin). It goes like this...start some laundry, do a sketch, wash the dishes, do a sketch...and so on. My favorite time to sketch these little ones is at night because that's when I'm too tired to do anything else. It's like saying your prayers at night...only with pencil instead of words.
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| sketchbook sweeties tinted charcoal left graphite pencil right |
In 2010 my husband and I went to the Kansas State Fair and I took a multitude of photographs of prize bunnies. I had every intention to paint them, but never did. Well, recently I've been thinking a lot about these bunnies and decided to sketch one. That's him on the right and he turned out pretty cute. Maybe I will paint bunnies some day. But for now, I feel like sketching and experimenting in my sketchbooks...
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| What I'm reading |
...and reading this book. It was sent to me by a generous blog friend and it is a good read. It has a lot of great insights for us blogging/tweeting/facebooking artists who share our stuff every day. This is an easy read and I recommend it if you are interested in being more in-the-know about sharing your work in a way that is effective and interesting for others. I wish this book had been around in 2011 when I started my blog. I would have included fewer photos of my feet.
I hope you have a great weekend! Thank you hugely and muchly for your visits and comments!
♥ Lisa
Beautiful Lisa!
ReplyDeleteThank you Pam and I really appreciate your visit!
Deletelove, love, love your sketches - please let us know more about what you found helpful in this book!
ReplyDeleteHi Myra, thank you. What has been so helpful about the book is just that it's so relevant to us blogging artists...many of the ideas won't be new to you, but many of his ideas might be refreshing to read.
Deleteah lisa, this is all so smile making... it's probably just me, but there's something about drawing/painting in books that makes them seem even more special. to me everything here seems extra special...
ReplyDeletexoxo
Thank you Lynne. I am beginning to feel that way about sketchbook work too. They are fun to thumb through and we can always refer to that work if we want to make a painting that goes out into the world. :)
Deletexoxo
It sounds like painting for fun in your sketchbooks will be a welcome change for you. I think your painting is beautiful and it shows that you really enjoyed painting it. It's nice to see your sketches too. The little bunny is so cute.
ReplyDeleteThank you Fuzzie. The sketchbook painting was a fun one to do. I probably should have fixed that arm...but who cares right? :)
DeleteLove your sketches…the bunny is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Becca...I am not surprised you like the bunny, being the animal lover that you are. Me too! :) xo
DeleteI love this whole post....I especially love the bunny. What a perfect expression. I think sketching is indeed a prayer!
ReplyDeleteThank you Celeste. I find myself thinking about your sketches a lot...I especially love ti when you do your Sargent sketches.
DeleteBunny is special for sure and I love your daily routine. Housework - draw - you are so smart. The drawings are great so it obviously is a good routine for you.
ReplyDeleteRight way or wrong way I have always loved your blog - feet and all!!!
Thank you Julie. I don't always keep that routine...but on those days when the routine is mundane, sketching or looking at art books or reading a blog or two always helps the day seem a lot more interesting and fulfilling. :)
Deletexo
Lisa!!! I can't believe it! I'm reading that book too. It is very interesting especially as I often doubt whether what I make is good enough. Get it out there and share.someone will love it. If anyone reading this hasn't bought this book do so now. It may change the way you see yourself!! Btw live the bunnies. ;) x
ReplyDeleteHi Morag, what a coincidence about the book. I don't know why you would doubt whether your art is good enough to share...I love your art...you are a master at texture...and your landscapes especially are so incredibly complex and FULL of colors and patterns and everything in between.
DeleteYou're right about the book...we all have something to gain from it.
Thank you for your comment. :) xo
Always love your sketches. I play the work-play game too. I do it with a timer. Thirty (or 15) minutes of dishes, sweeping, dusting, etc. gets me 30 (or 60) minutes of art play. The book sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Sharon. I think you would really like the book too!
DeletePerfect blog for me today. I am going to run right out and buy this book. My blogging and FB posts need an uplift in a simple way.
ReplyDeleteI've been enjoying your blog Carol. Your sense of humor is super and of course you know I love your pretty paintings. Happy weekend and thanks for the visit!
DeleteYour routine sounds so balanced! :-) Love all of these sketches - especially the bunny!
ReplyDeleteI read Austin Kleon's first book and felt there wasn't much substance - are you getting a lot out of this one? Any help about getting your work out there is a good thing!
xxoo
I read a lot of reviews on "Steal Like an Artist" and for some reason never read the book even though it seemed interesting. To answer your question, I AM getting a lot from this new book of his. There are just so many things that have left me feeling inspired in different ways. He writes about the stuff we already know as far as the venues for getting work out into the world (blogs, twitter, facebook)...but it's HOW we do it he touches on and has caused me to rethink how and what I share with followers. It's an easy read, and one you can easily thumb through any time to refresh those ideas. Thanks for your comment Judy! Bet your bizzing about your beautiful garden today. :) xoxo
DeleteI love that little painting at the top with the bed! and your bunny sketch is so cute-maybe you need to add a few bunnies to your paintings!!
ReplyDeleteHi Janet...thank you! The little painting above the bed is unfinished. It was going to be sort of a still life with vase and flowers. It's only roughly blocked in and you can see pencil marks from my initial drawing. I got to a place where I just didn't want to paint on this anymore and stopped. But it seemed to work out fine. Funny how that goes. There is an artist named Olivia Pendergast (I have featured her here before on a "Share Sunday" post) and in her paintings you can often see pencil marks and very raw areas. I love how it looks, so this was my own little 2 x 2 inch stab at it. :)
DeleteOh I love this dreamy spread in your journal.....and your sweeties, so different. And of course the bunny wunny. xox
ReplyDeleteThanks Corrine! xo
DeleteGreat sketches and a great idea too. Keeps your hand in without the stress of producing a finished piece for sale. I like the rather disheveled girl in the spread opposite of the bunny. Reminds me of me about 50 years ago. Still does except for the age, I'm still rather disheveled and messy haired!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jan...and you made me chuckle. :)
DeleteI really like your sketchbook sweeties, and the idea of the sketches being like saying your prayers...
ReplyDeleteHi Sharmon, thanks for your visit. I took a look around your blog...oh your cabin...yes. Your artwork is wonderful too!
DeleteAn interesting peek into your sketchbook, some of the sketches would look amazing in big !
ReplyDeleteHi Jane, once in a while these sketches DO become paintings. Thanks for your visit.
DeleteWhat a wonderful visit into your world, and I love the sketch-and-go approach to finding small snippets of time to expand your work. Lisa, I love your unique style, so totally individually you.
ReplyDeleteBises,
Genie
Hi Genie, I am so happy you stopped by. Thanks for your kind words. Your photos of Paris have been so so wonderful to look at lately. It's still on my bucket list. :)
DeleteKnowing when to stop is a common problem among us art folk, Lisa. The sketches are cool!
ReplyDeleteIt sure is a common thing and I think it all boils down to preference. Whenever I post a painting in progress there are always people who like the WIP version more than the finished version. I wish there was a way to rewind should I prefer the WIP version as well. Thank you for your comment Dean!
DeleteOh, that book looks like a great book! I have his Steal Like an Artist book and it's so inspiring. Love the idea of sketching like evening prayers. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine. I finished the book a couple of days ago and it was also very inspiring. Steal Like an Artist looks good too. His writing is personable and it's almost like you've just sat down and had a cup of coffee with him.
DeleteThanks so much for your visit.
I just love seeing your sketches. What a great idea to stop every so often and take a sketch break. Hope you are having a wonderful week my friend.
ReplyDeleteHugs~
Hi Linda my traveling friend and thank you! It is fun to break up the day that way. You could do it with your photography...do some work...take a photo...
Delete:) Thanks for coming to see me.
Hi Lisa ;o)
ReplyDeleteI know I am late coming around! Really behind in the blog world! I love your bunny ;o) I do hope you paint one ;o)
I love this line you said- My favorite time to sketch these little ones is at night because that's when I'm too tired to do anything else. It's like saying your prayers at night...only with pencil instead of words.
I think I am going to start sketching at night ;o)
Hope you are well ;o)
Big Hugs ;o)
Hi Stacy...thank you for coming to see me. I hope you do start sketching at night. Your crows might have something different to say at that hour. :)
Deletexo
I just read the same book for the third time. I love his simple way of telling us what to do. As always, I totally enhoy looking at your art and watching your progression.
ReplyDeleteThanks a million for visiting Teresa! I've enjoyed your TBT photos on FB!
DeleteHave you read Steal Like an Artist?
Haven't read it but will.
ReplyDeleteYour bunny is adorable. I'l love to see more!
How wonderful to be painting without requests to fulfil but your own.
xo
Thank you Carole. It is a wonderful way to create...no agenda! xo
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