Sketchwork

Sketching During Sketching Class

2012-01-30T10:00:00.000-06:00

Collection of Cups, Color Testing, and Math

2012-01-29T12:16:00.000-06:00

Sketching in Color

2012-01-28T10:37:00.002-06:00

This is what I've been spending most of my time on lately, teaching a class at Flicker Street Studio called Sketching in Color. I learn so much by just preparing for the class, that I can't seem to stop myself from getting ready for the class, until it's time for the class. Then I learn more from the students. It's pretty awesome.

These are from the second class, which was on Thursday.

Slightly Droopy Plant

2012-01-25T15:58:00.001-06:00

2012-01-14T16:54:00.000-06:00

Today I've been working on my new class for Flicker Street Studio called Sketching in Color. It starts this Thursday, January 19th, and runs for three weeks. We'll be having a lot of fun playing with colored pencils, pens, markers and watercolor. Sign up now!

Fun with Color and Weapons

2012-01-10T11:00:00.000-06:00

I decided to try something different while sketching at the Armed + Dangerous exhibit and sketched with colored pencils in the same way I would with a regular pencil (left). While making these sketches I was thinking about my upcoming class Sketching in Color at Flicker Street Studio. This will be a fun exercise!

More Armor from the Brooks Museum

2012-01-09T11:00:00.000-06:00

Armor

2012-01-08T13:00:00.000-06:00

This is my favorite sketch that I made at the Brooks Museum yesterday. It was like drawing people, but more fun.

Brooks Museum Today

2012-01-07T17:10:00.001-06:00

Today I went to the Brooks Museum with the Memphis Urban Sketchers and sketched the Armed + Dangerous exhibit. It was the perfect exhibit for sketching!

My Rocks

2012-01-06T10:29:00.000-06:00

This is my last sketch from our Christmas trip in Arkansas, the sixth sketch I made on Christmas day!

These are my rocks. They are giant rocks; this sketch does not really do them justice. They were right outside the big windows on the main floor of the cabin, and we both spent a lot of time just staring at them and watching the waterfall.

Can I go back now?

The end.

The Bushmaster Cabin

2012-01-05T10:23:00.000-06:00

This is OUR cabin, The Bushmaster. I almost don't want to tell you about it and keep it our secret place!

This is the front of the cabin, and where I was standing there were giant rocks/rock wall behind me and to my right. To the left is the creek bordered on the other side by the rock wall that you can see from the bedroom windows that I mentioned a few sketches ago.

Longbow Cabin

2012-01-04T10:16:00.000-06:00

This is the Longbow Cabin, which is close to the cabin we were in, but it is around a bend in the road. The folks staying there left on the afternoon of Christmas Eve, so I was able to go over there and peek inside on Christmas. It is an amazing, unique space.

The exterior is amazing, too. The cabin is built among the rocks, which are actually incorporated into the structure. The back of it is a natural pool with a waterfall. That's right: a natural pool with a waterfall. It's simply gorgeous, too gorgeous to try to draw ;)

I included a picture of the actual cabin with the sketch below, just to prove that it's real!

Trees in Arkansas

2012-01-03T12:10:00.000-06:00

This view is from the wooden bridge that connects the road and parking area with the cabin. I sat on the bridge and sketched the view up the creek to more big rocks in the distance.

I started to feel like I was developing a sketching vocabulary for the main elements of the landscape: vertical lines for trees and close vertical lines for trees in the distance; bits of texture for fallen leaves; horizontal lines for big rocks. I'd love to see how I might expand on that with more time.

Back to Pencil

2012-01-02T12:06:00.000-06:00

This is the rock wall on the left from the previous sketch. I tried to capture how water was dripping down over the wall into the pool.

Landscape in Watercolor

2012-01-01T11:56:00.000-06:00

On Christmas Day, after a breakfast of bacon and eggs and some chilling-out time, I took another hike up the creek to "Diana's Pool," where the big waterfall flows into a pool between two rock walls. The wall on the right curves in, and you can see how water has shaped it over time. The wall on the left goes back into a cave-like area with giant rocks in it. I found where someone had made a stack of small rocks on one of the giant rocks, and I added my own small stack next to it.

I am trying to use watercolor more. It's a lot easier and more fun with views like this!

Also, HAPPY NEW YEAR! Let's all sketch a lot in 2012!!!

More Christmas Eve Sketches

2011-12-31T11:48:00.001-06:00

On the top left is a big rock. That place was lousy with great big rocks. They are really amazing!

Below that is a doodle of the view out of the bedroom windows. You look out at basically a rock wall, but it's not just a wall as there are trees and fallen leaves and more rocks. To the left is another set of windows and lying in bed you can see the trees reach up to the sky. I saw eagles!

Christmas in Arkansas

2011-12-30T14:54:00.002-06:00

We spent Christmas in The-Middle-of-Nowhere, Arkansas (really at the Longbow Cabins, outside of Prim, AR). The drive there was nice, and we must have seen thousands of birds flying and hanging out in in fields and water.

We made it to the cabin just before dark and were actually able to see it. It was precious; tiny but just enough space for us. We could hear the constant rush of water from the little waterfall and creek outside. Later we went out on the upstairs deck and looked at the stars - we forget how many there are!

On Christmas Eve I hiked up the creek a little and sat on a giant rock in the middle of it to make this sketch.

(click on sketch to enlarge)

Madison Avenue

2011-12-23T10:20:00.000-06:00

Studio and Stamps

2011-12-22T10:17:00.000-06:00

Another Christmas Season, Another Band Concert

2011-12-21T10:15:00.000-06:00

More Food in Pen

2011-12-19T08:58:00.000-06:00

Baseball Hat

2011-12-17T11:40:00.001-06:00

Otherlands and Article

2011-12-16T09:43:00.001-06:00

Here is another sketch from Otherlands. That is the camera of Mr. Mike Maple, a really fantastic photographer who was taking photos for this article in the Commercial Appeal about Memphis Urban Sketchers.

Gift Guide for Sketchers

2011-12-14T20:34:00.004-06:00

Here are a few ideas for gifts for the sketcher in your life! Or for yourself!

(clockwise from top left)

1. A clever band by Clever Hands on Etsy

2. Pencils! Stick with the B's over the H's for good darks. Here's my favorite brand; I recommend 4B.

3. I love Moleskine sketchbooks, and they now have really big ones: 8 x 11 and 11 x 16! Any size will do.

4. Head over to JetPens.com and get a nice set of pens.

5. You'll need a place to store all of your new pens and pencils, so while you're at JetPens.com, make sure to get a pencil case. It doesn't have to be orange.

(clockwise from top left)
6. If you feel like splurging, get a fancy bag to make it easier to carry all of the sketchbooks, pens, pencils, and orange pencil cases. This one is handmade by Moop on Etsy.

7. Wouldn't it be nice to sketch in comfort! An easy-to-tote camping stool is a good choice for the sketcher who likes to spend some time in one place.
8. Every sketcher should have a scanner. Might as well have one that is also a color printer! This Canon PIXMA MG8120 was reviewed well and looks pretty cool.

9. Brush up on your art skills or learn some new ones! Sign up for a class or give a gift certificate to Flicker Street Studio!

Otherlands Coffee Shop

2011-12-13T09:03:00.000-06:00

click sketch to enlarge

Cocktails in Pen

2011-12-12T10:38:00.000-06:00

Front Room and Food List

2011-12-09T07:44:00.000-06:00

Ladies Legs 3

2011-12-08T09:48:00.000-06:00

Ladies Legs 2

2011-12-07T09:47:00.000-06:00

Updates!

2011-12-06T22:21:00.002-06:00

My website has been updated
and my Flickr has been updated.
Also just posted to Listwork
and to Memphis Urban Sketchers.
All of this can be found on Twitter.
Have you seen my Tumblr? It's not about anything in particular.
I get around. I might be in the paper next week!
Oops, I forgot Facebook!

Inspiration

2011-12-06T10:20:00.001-06:00

All of the sketchbooks of Lapin, French illustrator, from his blog.

Ladies Legs 1

2011-12-06T09:46:00.000-06:00

Midtown Nursery @ Central and Cooper

2011-12-05T13:31:00.000-06:00

Outfit

2011-11-26T10:14:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T10:11:00.000-06:00

Big Guy in a Little Chair

2011-11-23T10:10:00.000-06:00

Sometimes you see a big guy sitting in a little chair and you just have to draw him.

Sketch Class Three

2011-11-22T10:07:00.000-06:00

I forgot to take pictures of class two. Here are all of the supplies and materials, and below Robbie is sketching the snacks I brought.

The Sketchbook, Class One

2011-11-07T09:49:00.000-06:00

Last Thursday my class The Sketchbook started at Flicker Street Studio. It's a three-hour class held on three consecutive Thursdays, and in it I help the students get comfortable with the blank page, with sketching quickly and imperfectly, and with thinking of the whole book as one work of art. In this picture a student is collaging back into her sketchbook after sketching for two hours.

Sorry for the Multiple Postings!

2011-11-05T15:41:00.001-05:00

Sketch Group at India Fest

2011-11-05T12:51:00.001-05:00

Coffee Table

2011-11-05T09:13:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to Shannon!

Rhodes College

2011-11-04T09:12:00.000-05:00

Band Concert at White Station Middle

2011-11-03T07:25:00.001-05:00

October 27, 2011

Shelby County Clerk's Office

2011-10-31T11:13:00.001-05:00

How's this for scary - standing in line to renew your tags on the last day of the month! It wasn't that bad, but I didn't really go on the last day.

Happy Halloween!!!

Fragments

2011-10-28T08:42:00.001-05:00

These sketches are from the opening of the Fragments show at Harrington Brown Gallery on October 7th. Because the purpose of the show was to have poets respond to the work of artists or vice versa, the opening was really an event at which the poets read their poems and the corresponding artist's work was unveiled. Due to my lack of comfort with both formality and performance, I sketched the whole time in order to feel more comfortable. Also, it was definitely a sketching-appropriate event.

Click on an image to see the details better.

New York Trip Day 4: Central Park

2011-10-26T14:05:00.000-05:00

Goodbye, New York City, 'til next time. I love you!

New York Trip Day 4: Mmmm... Coffee

2011-10-25T14:03:00.000-05:00

New York Trip Day 3: Birdland

2011-10-24T14:01:00.000-05:00

New York Trip Day 3: MOMA Sculpture Garden

2011-10-23T14:00:00.000-05:00

New York Trip Day 2: Drawing in the Dark

2011-10-22T14:58:00.001-05:00

click on it to see it larger

New York Trip Day 2: Food-Related

2011-10-21T14:56:00.000-05:00

Conquer Your Fear of The Blank Page!

2011-10-20T15:51:00.001-05:00

I hope you'll sign up for my class, The Sketchbook, at Flicker Street Studio. It's fun!

3 Sessions
Thursday Evenings
November 3rd, 10th and 17th

6pm-9pm

An artist's sketchbook is a bedrock for ideas, recording impressions, feelings, and thoughts. The class will focus on shapes, mark-making and shading, while experimenting with a variety of materials.

Call: 767-2999

Flicker Street Studio
74 Flicker Street
Memphis, Tennessee 38104

New York Trip Day 2: Mementos and Water Tower

2011-10-20T14:55:00.000-05:00

New York Trip Day 1: Total New York Stuff

2011-10-19T14:41:00.000-05:00

pizza, Empire State Building, subway, creepy guys

New York Trip Day 1: Getting There

2011-10-18T21:32:00.001-05:00

Sears Crosstown Tower 2 - Forgot to Show You This

2011-10-11T14:15:00.000-05:00

Sears Crosstown Tower - Forgot to Show You This

2011-10-11T07:07:00.000-05:00

with Memphis Urban Sketchers

Happy Anniversary to Us

2011-10-10T14:03:00.000-05:00

20 years and counting

New Sunglasses

2011-10-08T07:55:00.000-05:00

Mmmmm... Breakfast

2011-10-07T07:10:00.001-05:00

Found

2011-10-06T21:40:00.001-05:00

I found this on a legal pad at work. I was testing a new pen I got at a conference while I was in Sacramento earlier this year. This was my hotel room.

Giveaway Winner!

2011-10-03T19:51:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Lauren Bowman! Lauren is the winner of the Tiny Painting Giveaway! Thanks to everybody for playing, and for visiting all of my sketches and my tiny paintings!

Sketching in the Sears Crosstown Tower

2011-10-01T11:14:00.001-05:00

Tiny Painting Giveaway!

2011-09-28T07:59:00.001-05:00

As a big thank-you to all of my readers for visiting, I'm giving away this tiny painting!

To enter, just leave a comment on this post by midnight, CST on Sunday, October 2nd. Let me know where you are in the world, and I'll pick a winner at the beginning of next week!

Thank you for visiting!

Edit 10/3/11: Lauren Bowman is the winner! Thanks so much for visiting!

Another Sketch from the Ryman Auditorium

2011-09-27T07:30:00.001-05:00

Sunday's Best

2011-09-26T07:47:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, for my husband's birthday, we drove to Nashville, ate at Noshville, then saw Elvis Costello at the Ryman Auditorium. And drove back to Memphis. Not bad for a Sunday night.

Favorite

2011-09-24T13:08:00.001-05:00

I'm gallery-sitting at Flicker Street Studio today. I was just looking at this painting thinking it might be one of my favorite paintings I've ever made.

Come See My Show and I Promise I'll Stop Talking About It

2011-09-09T15:11:00.000-05:00

Elizabeth Alley

Go Change

New paintings at Flicker Street Studio

74 Flicker Street, Memphis, TN

Opening tonight! Friday, September 9, 6-9 PM

Hair and Wardrobe

2011-09-07T13:20:00.000-05:00

Casablanca

2011-09-06T13:16:00.000-05:00

I've switched back to a small sketchbook (a 3.5 x 5.5 moleskine) mostly for the sake of my shoulders. When I carry a bigger sketchbook I carry a bigger purse and everything I own ends up in it, and therefore hanging from my shoulder. Smaller sketchbook = smaller purse. Somehow the small sketchbooks end up with more writing in them.

Forain at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens

2011-09-05T13:13:00.000-05:00

Alley August Birthday Extravaganza!

2011-09-04T13:10:00.000-05:00

My birthday and my brother's birthday are 12 days apart. Actually, 1 year and 353 days apart. Regardless, sometimes we celebrate together.

Sneak Peek

2011-09-03T15:55:00.000-05:00

These are some prep sketches I did for a project I call Drawing Stories, which will be part of my show Go Change at Flicker Street Studio.

Blue

2011-09-03T10:36:00.001-05:00

Yes, I Just Copied This from Listwork

2011-09-02T21:03:00.001-05:00

Where I, or my art, or both will be in the upcoming days and months:

Saturday, September 3rd, 8 AM (more like 9 AM) - 1 PM: (That's tomorrow morning!) I'll be sketching with Memphis Urban Sketchers at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens. First in the gardens, then in the gallery. Should be awesome!
Friday, September 9th, 6 - 9 PM: My new show, Go Change, at Flicker Street Studio. Have I mentioned I'm having a show? Please stop by the opening and see the new work, I'm really excited about it.
Tuesday, September 13th, 6 - 9 PM: Interactive Critique at Flicker Street Studio. $10 per session, these sessions are for artists to get feedback on their work in progress and engage in discourse with other working artists. No instructor, but I'll be facilitating to help with the flow. Call Flicker Street Studio to book your spot 901-767-2999. (Two additional sessions October 11th, November 8th, facilitated by other FSS teachers)
Thursday, September 15th, 5 - 7 PM: Some of my work will be in the Cooper Young Invitational Exhibit at David Perry Smith Gallery. The show will also be up during the Cooper Young Festival, Saturday, September 17th.
Saturday, October 1st: With Memphis Urban Sketchers, most likely at (and in!) the Sears Crosstown Tower! Fun! More details to come.
Friday, October 7th: Opening event for Fragments at Harrington Brown Gallery, works by artists and poets, paired together for inspiration.
Thursdays, November 3rd, 10th, 17th, 6 - 9 PM: Teaching at Flicker Street Studio - The Sketchbook. Conquer your fear of the blank page!
Saturday, November 5th, 11 AM - 2 PM: With Memphis Urban Sketchers at India Fest! At the Agricenter.
Saturday, December 3rd: Memphis Urban Sketchers, location to be determined
Saturday, December 10th, 10 AM - 2 PM: Teaching a workshop at Flicker Street Studio - Exploring the Landscape, about drawing from direct observation.
Whenever: I have some work at Harrington Brown Gallery that you can see any time.

(Listwork)

In the Paper

2011-09-02T20:53:00.002-05:00

Information about my upcoming show in the Commercial Appeal

Studio Night

2011-08-30T21:33:00.001-05:00

Last Day in Vancouver

2011-08-27T13:09:00.000-05:00

More Vancouver

2011-08-26T13:01:00.000-05:00

This one below I did at the Vancouver Art Gallery (museum!) in their great outdoor cafe. With that top right drawing I felt like I finally realized how to use my Faber-Castell Pitt artist pens. Finally!

The two gentlemen sitting to my right, who had been speaking Korean the entire time we sat there, noticed my drawings and spoke to me in English. They asked where I was from and when I said "the US, Tennessee," one of them said, "I've been there, to Memphis. I lived in Germantown for six months." Of course this Korean man living in Vancouver has a Memphis connection! You can find those connections all over the world.

I did more pen drawings as Toby and I sat for hours at the Winking Judge pub watching the world go by.

Oops No Posting - Oh Well, Come See My Show!

2011-08-25T18:43:00.006-05:00

I haven't posted in almost a week! Oops! I even have three more Vancouver sketches I didn't post. The reason? I have been staring at this every night and all weekend for weeks.

Except there have been a variety of paintings spending time in that blank spot, as I've been finishing them up for my show at Flicker Street Studio in two weeks.

I'm so excited about this show and I hope you'll come see it. Here's a sneak peek at one of the paintings.

Hope you'll join us!
Go Change
Flicker Street Studio
74 Flicker Street, Memphis TN
Friday, September 9
6-9 PM

Vancouver Art Gallery

2011-08-19T10:03:00.000-05:00

Best way to get over a sketching rut is to go on a trip. This is day 3, sketch 9, and only a third of the way through this day's sketches.

This is colored pencil and regular pencil.

Joan Miro and Salvador Dali

2011-08-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

From a painting by Joan Miro and Salvador Dali's lobster phone at the Vancouver Gallery of Art. I meant to find out while I was there why it's called a gallery and not a museum. Because it's a museum, and an expensive one. The Surrealism show these were in was impressive.

That's Right, JAPADOG!

2011-08-17T10:59:00.000-05:00

Testing My New Pen

2011-08-16T10:58:00.000-05:00

Boats Off Granville Island

2011-08-15T10:57:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to My Brother!

2011-08-14T09:54:00.000-05:00

Today is my brother Richard's birthday.

I made this sketch on MY birthday 2 weeks ago, in Vancouver BC. The bottom portion is from Toby and me testing out pens. I bought the Cretacolor one.

Happy Birthday to Me!

2011-08-13T11:52:00.000-05:00

My gift? A hotel room in Vancouver for 4 days.

Smithe and Burrard, Vancouver BC

2011-08-12T11:51:00.000-05:00

Day 1 in Vancouver

2011-08-11T11:50:00.000-05:00

Niece

2011-08-10T11:50:00.000-05:00

She's way cuter than this in reality.

Hammock

2011-08-09T11:49:00.000-05:00

Sketching Rut? Over.

2011-08-08T19:34:00.002-05:00

Yes, it's another parking lot, but it's a different parking lot. Also since I work in East Memphis and therefore spend most of my time there, parking lots are difficult to avoid. Regardless, I'm really happy with this sketch.

Yeah, More Parking Lot

2011-07-31T10:23:00.000-05:00

Yes. It's another drawing of the parking lot. But at least it's a different medium: a PITT pen.

I'm kind of in a sketching rut at the moment, but mostly because I'm spending most of my time painting in the studio. I hope to remedy the sketching-rut situation soon. Until then, there's always the parking lot.

Trees and Sticker

2011-07-30T10:20:00.000-05:00

On top is an early morning sketch and below is a sticker I had made of one of my paintings, Blue Dress. That painting recently found a good home with my friend LC.

Testing Sketching Supplies

2011-07-29T10:16:00.000-05:00

Top: Faber-Castell PITT artist pen
Middle: Watercolor and pen
Bottom: graphite and colored pencils

Winner: graphite and colored pencil
Second: Faber-Castell PITT artist pen
Needs Improvement: Watercolor and pen

Took Myself Out to Lunch

2011-07-28T10:14:00.000-05:00

Last Week to See My Show

2011-07-27T10:18:00.000-05:00

My tiny outfits are on view at Harrington Brown Gallery until August 2nd. Go see them!

Pen and Marker

2011-07-23T09:15:00.000-05:00

7/19/11

Sketching with Pen

2011-07-22T09:08:00.000-05:00

7/18/11

Last 10 Minutes of Work on a Friday

2011-07-21T09:37:00.000-05:00