Sketchbook Project at the Brooklyn Art Library by Carmen Beecher

I am participating in the Sketchbook Project, a challenge by the Brooklyn Art Library to fill a sketchbook by August 15 using one of their suggested themes. Limericks were one suggestion, which is right up my alley. My book is called "My Life in Limericks," and I am writing and sketching about all the places I've lived. I have lived in a lot of places. Here is a bit of my book.

I have come to the realization that art is not all about making money. I am enjoying this project so much, and I hope my enthusiasm continues at this level for all 29 pages. This is a sentimental journey.

Carmen

Art Challenge for May, A Page from My Sketchbook

This month we are challenged to post favorite pages from our sketchbooks.

Kathy Garvey...I’m traveling and have to do this on my iPad and it won’t let me scroll down very far. So here are some favorite pages from my sketchbook and some resultant digital works. They are not in order and won’t let me rearrange them...but they show what I love about my sketchbooks...I can scribble anything that comes into my head and then go pick something to play with in Illustrator or Photoshop when I’m in the mood to create something.

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Unlike a lot of artists I don't use my sketchbook to paint when I travel.  I can never seem to get it together.  But, I am lucky, I have some artist friends who sketch every day and we text these sketches to each other to keep us going.  These are a few sketches from my notebook to show all the different ways you can go with your sketching.  They are all fun, quick and great learning exercises.

This is called blind contouring.  You look at the photo only, put your pen to paper and draw in a continuous line...no peeking.  It's great fun.

This exercise is useful in getting your head into gear.  All it is is drawing lines.

 

  This exercise is fun with kids too.  Just put a line on paper and then try and make something of it.  Also on the bottom I just drew a box and filled it with different shapes.

These are drawings from photos I took.  I use a pen so I can't erase and I try and time myself.  Sometimes it works and others there are lots of cross outs. LOL
Just have fun.

Donna Vines
www.DonnaVinesStudio.etsy.com

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We are in North Carolina helping friends remodel a house, and yesterday we took a day off to go to the mountains. I reached a point in my hike where I knew it was time to stop and sketch in my journal, and I sat on a log and painted.

Carmen

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I almost never paint a portrait, but I do enjoy drawing heads, especially people I know.

My mother, from her high school graduation photo.

My mother's sister, Charlotte

My friend, Linda.


These are all quick sketches, perhaps 15 minutes each.

Carol Schiff
www.CarolASchiff.com

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Jean Thomas

Greetings from St. Maarten!

We recently spent a week on a 44' catamaran near St. Maarten. It was a week full of sailing, snorkeling, eating and drinking and visiting various ports.

 It was a challenge to sketch while the boat was moving, however I did a few while we were anchored. Below is our favorite skipper and first mate, Vincent and Florence, who were both from France. Florence could sail the boat, tend bar, make gourmet lunches and dinners. She was amazing! Vincent kept the boat going (as it turns out, no small feat!)

 As a goodbye gift, I gave them this page in my sketchbook to thank them for an awesome time. Quite a challenge to finish it while the boat was moving and with permanent ink only!
All six of us signed it. So much fun!

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Unfortunately for my artistic development, I do not do much sketching. I have, however, committed to trying to do more in the future. Or should I say "some." 

I did however do a sketch of a detail of a collage I hope to complete this year. It is based on several photos I took on a sail around the island of Capri in Italy several years ago. It was an idyllic experience on an ideal day with good company and plenty of time to stop for a swim or snorkel here and there. I'd like to recapture just a little of that extraordinary memory. 

As I have trouble with determining values, I first made a chart using my drawing pencils. 

Next I tried to find the relative value in each surface of stone on the cliff I hope to represent.

I'm thinking it almost looks like a craggy outcropping. Just what I was aiming for.

PS> That funny little roundish thing on the top left will one day be a little bush. Just saying. 

Fay Picardi

Oh, What a Tangled Drawing We Weave...

Madame X

What do I do when I'm sick and can't lift a brush? I lift a pen. I doodle away in my nest on the couch. The lady above is named for Sargent's famed Madame X, because I like her attitude. This is a Zentangle style (if you don't know what that is, look it up in Pinterest. There are Zentangles a-plenty).

Tangletree

 My tree is not really a true Zentangle-type drawing, though I did use patterns in the shading. I am fascinated by twisty trees, real or imagined.

I am over my vicious virus so it's back to the easel today. Yippee!

Carmen Beecher

Flamingo Dancer, Pen and Ink by Carmen Beecher

$38, Click to Purchase

This is for all those who call "Flamenco" "Flamingo." Just a gentle hint that they are mispronouncing it. I like the rose in her teeth--if she had teeth. After seriously painting so many birds in oils, this is just plain fun.

Fancy Feathers, 5x7 Pen and Ink Drawing by Carmen Beecher

$38.00, Click to Purchase

 I felt a bit Seussical and Zentanglish at the same time, so I made up a bird. It's the Mantilla-Crowned Checkertail.

Fancy Feathers, 5x7 Pen and Ink Drawing by Carmen Beecher

$38, Click to Purchase

Sometimes I feel a bit Seussical and Zentanglish at the same time, and this is the result, a flight of fancy (pardon the pun).

Sketching Downtown

On Monday the Pieces of Eight took to the streets--some painting en plein aire (outside) and others sketching in our journals. The weather was perfect and it was so peaceful. On the left side you can see the 905 Cafe, where Denette and I get the Brie Apple Nut Melt every time. Yum. The giraffes were in the window of the store Go Fish.

My journal so far has various places in Virginia, the Natchez Trace, Memphis, the Everglades, Clinton, Iowa and locations here in Brevard County, Florida. I recommend a travel journal for every artist. Fun!

Carmen