sketches

Day one hundred and eighty-nine: Nothing fancy to complicated today. This simply painting was inspired by a fleeting view of a tunnel in an episode from the new Sherlock Holmes series that I was watching after dinner, desperately hoping to be inspired to draw rather than fall asleep. It’s been a long, wonderful, busy week of learning in the new job. Oh, and at the last moment, I decided to use today’s sketch as an opportunity to test some advice from Kurt H., who recommended drawing straight lines with my whole arm, and not just my fingers. While this still takes practice, I have to agree that they are easier to produce (and straighter than usual) when done this way. I’d also add that moving the arm steadily, smoothly, and not to slowly, helps too!

Day one hundred and eighty-five: This morning I found that the remaining cherries I bought at the market a couple days ago were very ripe and needed to be eaten. I immediately thought about making a pie. There wasn’t enough fruit for a full one, so I added some nectarine, blueberries, and strawberries, which is why the pie filling has so many colors. Pastry baking is something that comes pretty naturally to me, and it was easier for me to make the lattice-top crust than to paint it. My reward for sketching the pie was the chance to try a piece, which I’m eating even as I write this. A delicious way to celebrate the 4th of July.

Day one hundred and eighty-three: Today marks the midway point of what my fellow daily sketcher, Sara W., has called a “possibly doomed” 365-day challenge to make a drawing a day for a year. Some days I’m inclined to agree. This evening I had no idea what to sketch, and stared at a blank white screen for several minutes. Then I remembered discovering the Rittenhouse Square Saturday market and the quart of fresh picked cherries I bought and brought home to rinse in a shiny new colander. They are delicious!

Day one hundred and eighty-one: My mom commented that yesterday’s sketched with Caprica riding in a car looked like a children’s book illustration. Today I decided to continue the theme and draw the UHAUL trailer. To work in my green-cheeked conure, changed the festive picture and the name of the city on the side. I like this version much better!