Quick Thumbnail 8 x 10 sketch

Yesterday aft I saw such a beautiful scene while driving down 20th street west---amidst the dark grey skies and rain drizzling down, there stood a bride and her 2 bridesmaids, under the Roxy marquee with their pastel colored parasols, resplendent in their wedding attire. I did not see any groomsmen. The marquee read" I proposed and she said yes" or perhaps it said "I asked her to marry me and she said yes" I can't remember for sure. I am going back to take a picture of the street scene but of course the wedding party will be long gone. For all it's reputation, 20th street remains a street with great character in spite of ramshackle and boarded up buildings.

Pen & ink of goose on Lake Diefenbaker

Ok well I am a bit lazy (or busy)...this is an old drawing of a widowed goose, bugling forlornly in the early hours and keeping us awake. We were camping on the opposite shore of the coulee but it wasn't far. We surmised she'd lost her mate....and Canada geese mate for life. I just decided to post this as a friend posted a pic of 2 of these beautiful birds so maybe it is goose week or something.

I won first place for this drawing in the Prince Albert exhibition. I also have prints for sale.

Another quick charcoal sketch

Looks a bit like Ursulla Andress with those cheekbones.

Quick charcoal sketch

Just a quick sketch today on a odd bit of paper.

You got to know when to hold em

As in cards or just plain old life, knowing when to fold 'em is key...something I so dearly struggle with. Either too dumb or too stubborn to give up. This is probably finished as the tooth is pretty much filled on this paper. Seeing it in this perspective really brings out the flaws....I should try the mirror trick to see how it looks...but I did learn that using complementary colors to gray down the scale works much better than using black.

Hi there

May or may not be done....accidently smeared it with my sleeve...do not like the body, nor the nose....may add to it tomorrow...

Color and foreshortening

Trying blues and purples in the skin tones. Foreshortening of the face, hand and arm! Bit a bit off more than I can chew. Hands are difficult to do so just getting this basic sketch took me about an hour. Mainly due to the hand as well as the angle on the head. Post as it progresses.

Head study-same model

This is the same size as the first drawing, just the head study. It is much easier to work with a larger area, rather than try to exact a line on a eye that is only maybe half-inch at best. I have a 36 color hard stik set plus a few conte pencils. From what I have been reading, a 90 color portrait set is what is recommended. As well apparently you can put soft over hard which is where I find the challenge, so perhaps my next shopping excursion will entail finding some soft pastels. I may try incorporating some wet painting/brushing to see how that works.

As well I can see the bracelet is not hanging as it would in real life.

Pastel Figure

Bought some pastel papers and a couple of new conte pencils. I realize now that I am out a few shades for skin tones and having the same problem with blonde hair.

Used a figure from a catalogue and decided to omit the dress. However I then decided I should put a skimpy nightgown on the poor thing. As well some of the proportions are out but for not drawing much in the last 20 years I don't think its too bad.