Sketching from just about any place at any time...

I've been trying to sketch a lot more & from just about any place possible lately...

The other day it was on our daughter's field trip during the 2 hour bus ride. I've sketched in the pre-school parking lot before pick up, in between projects for work, in the line at the grocery store in my mini moleskine, or at 1am in the morning when the world stands still... but my most favorite spot to spread out & sketch or paint, is on our deck while the kids play on the swings & yard.

It's so hard to find time for everything we want to get done in a day, but I've been using those tiny left over moments where I would usually check Facebook for a second, or read the last chapter of a book to sketch in the sketchbook instead... even if it is for only 5 minutes at a time.

Renee had a great post on her group blog recently and I tried her circle trick with very light pencil lines. It helped a lot!!

If you are looking for an ongoing challenge to get you moving try the always faithful Illustration Friday, or Sketch Dailies: or Daily Doodle @daily__doodle (Facebook.com/DAILYD00DLE)

Happy Sketching ;)

#dailydoodlers "Doodles" #2-6

I have been working on @danidraws #dailydoodlers sketch challenge this month. (I love challenges that really push you).

So far the words have been: Cat, Captain, Disney, Hand, Korra (who I was not aware of until this challenge), Last book your read, fairytale and today's word is Irish. I'll try to post a sketch from today later on.

Here are a couple of sketches that show how I interpreted those words. It has been a lot of fun seeing everyone's doodles. You can search Twitter, Instagram or Tumblr by by typing in the hashtag #dailydoodlers. It's not too late if you want to take on the challenge.

HohoDooDa #1 & #2

Have been a little busy this weekend with Birthday celebrating, but had a few minutes to doodle a little. Day one was my birthday and every year my Grandmother calls and sings Happy Birthday. I starting thinking about what a simple woman she is and how a cup of tea & some toast is all she needs in life! The first doodle is a memory of how simple her purse was too. She still carries with her: pink lipstick, wet ones, a little comb, some square shaped gum (that has juice inside) and sometimes she has a bottle of water. These images will forever be etched in my brain! Love her so much.



Today I was practicing creating characters from random lines or squiggles. Since its almost Christmas and Easter products should start showing up on store shelves soon, it seemed appropriate to pick this doodle of the bunch to share.


- sent from iPhone

25+ days of Sweet Squares...

I have not finished all 30 days yet, but here is a compilation of 25 of my squares so far... started a little behind so I have a few more to go. Honesty I don't think I'll stop at 30 either.

It has been a joy doing a new drawing or trying a new technique each night and I feel that I have improved in a couple of small areas. I have many sketches and things that I've Illustrated in the past few weeks that have not made it on to the blog, but I hope to turn them from sketches to compositions soon.

Thanks Diandra Mae, for sparking more creativity in this fun challenge, and thank you Aja Wells, for your great insight & inspiration over the past couple of weeks! You have been so kind!

Sweet Square #19

Great weekend. Worked on a new idea of sketching out first and then going in with detail. Have not finished the entire piece, but here is the initial concept sketch.

I think I like working this way better because it helps get you to create the entire scene and out of the rut of just creating a vignette. Really takes me back to the days of creating storyboards for commercials too...

Sweet Square #18

Sitting on the back deck over looking the golf course at my Sister in law's house. My nieces asked me to draw a picture, so I used their toy pony as a reference. Can't say that I've ever drawn from a sculpture or toy, but I like it. Lots of contrast and texture to play with.

Sweet Square #2 - #6

I needed to catch up so last night & this morning I drew a couple of things...

Pen & Water Color Pencil

Pencil Character sketch

Breakfast this morning

Duck sketch in Brushes on the iPhone

Quick Not so great sketch of my Husband & our daughter watching the football game last night... thought they would be still but they were busy cheering, and so was I!