Early Christmas Gifts… sketched!

I have four sisters, and one lives in another country. She has been visiting this month, so we decided to exchange our sister gifts (which we do with my mother as well, so six of us total) now while she is visiting, instead of waiting until Christmas. I sketched things on the front and back covers of a notebook for them, trying to find something that would interest them.

I did them so one side can be written in, and flip the book over, write in the other side… two notebooks in one! But… really it was because I did the first one upside down accidentally. It all worked out in the end.

For my mother, who loves birds (and these wrens really do sit like this!!):

For the sisters, by age (I’m youngest) She likes Emily Dickinson, so I just did quotes:

One loves roses:

One has starfish in her decor, and has an ice cream business:

One is a JMU fanatic, having graduated from there, will be moving to the mountains, and likes bluebirds:

 

I know it has seemed like I haven’t done much since “Inktober”, and I certainly haven’t posted often… but I wanted to show you that I had done SOMETHING artistic recently!

Day 186 (Wed July 5) Me and Wonder Woman

Something I read suggested writing pages of your name to play around with fonts and lettering. I like my name, but I need a better one with more letters to do this project justice.

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Day 155 (Sun 6/4) Lettering

Working on a lettering project for my son-in-law…using gansai tambi paint, which lays down and flows thick and dark like ink. Here is a link to the 18 color pan set at a particularly good price of  $15.27. I wish I’d found this set when I was looking! I got this set of 36 colors  for $29.85, still a good deal pan for pan… but the $15 set is a good one for trying something out. I don’t know if the color selection is good or not.

Also interesting to note, this paint is shiny if you lay it down thickly enough. (an unusual attribute!) I tried out this tiny brush I received in my Art Snacks monthly subscription box last month… Prima white gold flat shader 2… it worked really well. Very nice lines! One particularly crooked letter. Maybe he can adjust digitally? Otherwise I’ll paint it again this week.

Day 76: (fri 3/17) Happy St Patrick’s Day!

I couldn’t get my pen to load with ink, which doesn’t explain my sad letter spacing, but kind of explains the distraction I exhibit. Celebrate (or don’t) however you love today, with those whom you love most! And don’t forget to wear your green!

Day 10: (sick) quick lettering

I still have that nagging little cold, and I don’t feel like being creative, but I did SOMETHING. And I even learned something. (I learned that I don’t love writing with the kuretake brush marker, although I liked drawing the angel with it two days ago. I do love the idea of it, so I’ll keep trying it and other brands of brush markers. I also learned don’t think so much about the letter while writing. Just write) Usually I’d try both of these again until I liked them, but I’m too tired today. And maybe less if better anyway.

Artists and crafters… what do you do about pen smears? Ideas for avoiding them? Brands that dry quickest? Definitely plaguing me. Weigh in with opinions, PLEASE. And thank you all for helping me get started with my 2017 project! New watercolor paints coming in a few days, just got slowed down by the blizzard, so I’m really looking forward to that!

I’m hoping to add a drawing/drafting table to my studio soon. I don’t NEED one, but I do WANT one. Let me know if you see a fabulous deal somewhere!!