Resting by Reading

Posted on April 5, 2016 by Sarah Sullivan
Woman Reading

Resting by Reading

We have friends visiting so of course we toured the Old City here in Jerusalem. When we got back we all needed to rest. My friend quickly sank into the couch and her iPad and began to recuperate, becoming interested in the news of her family and friends as she read.

I wanted to convey the contrast between her physical tiredness and her mental energy. For the tiredness, I worked on her eye sockets and skin, playing up the purples. Additionally, I tried to capture her posture of leaning back into the couch and cushions. For the mental energy, I emphasized how her eyes are focused on her reading material and her hand is pushed against her face in a way that suggests thinking.

This is an ink and watercolor sketch. I also used Procreate to strengthen the colors and make adjustments

 

 

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Tourists at the Western Wall Plaza, Jerusalem

Posted on April 4, 2016 by Sarah Sullivan
Tourists

Tourists at the Western Wall Plaza, Jerusalem

While our guests took a tour of the tunnels below the Western Wall in Jerusalem, I sketched the tourists in the plaza above. A few birds made their way into the sketch as well.

This is mostly an ink and wash sketch. I have been working more with soluble ink and learning to control its flow when I add water or watercolor to make a wash. I used Procreate to make some adjustments to the sketch.

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Reflections

Posted on April 3, 2016 by Sarah Sullivan
two people sitting side by side

Reflections

I liked their attitude, these two women sitting on the other side of the cafeteria, arms folded and shoulders touching. And I liked their double reflection in the glassy table too. But all I managed was a simple pencil sketch of them before they got up and left.

Being left with a partial sketch happens a lot to me. But this time I put two plastic cups of water down on the table and sketched the cups in place of the women. Later at home I used Procreate to remove the cups and put in the women. The reflections are still not quite right but it gives me something to build on the next time.

This is a pencil and watercolor sketch with much adjustment in Procreate.

 

 

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At the Ice Cream Shop

Posted on April 2, 2016 by Sarah Sullivan
People eating at an outdoor ice cream shop

At the Ice Cream Shop

I look for scenes that tell a story and each time I see this particular grandmother and grandson at our corner ice cream shop they get my attention. He is about 15, enthusiastic, talkative and a bit awkward. She is calm, attentive and exudes love for him. I get a kick out of seeing them and was glad I got a seat close by so I could sketch them.

I focused on capturing their connection through their posture and gaze. He is sitting up straight, looking at her, talking a mile a minute and not too aware of the melting ice cream. She lifts her head to meet his eyes and does not seem to notice the melting mess either. I think this sketch captures something true about their relationship, as I understand it. I included the other two people and the outdoor eating environment to show context.

This is a marker sketch with color added in Procreate.

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Pained Resignation

Posted on April 1, 2016 by Sarah Sullivan
Sketch of people in liine

Pained Resignation

After eight weeks in Jerusalem we should know better than to try to rent a car in the hour before the agencies close at noon for the coming Sabbath- the Sabbath is taken very seriously in Jerusalem. But there we were, with many other kindred spirits, waiting in line. This man’s expression made the wait worthwhile. He embodied resignation. He stared ahead, rolled his eyes a bit over the exchanges between the agents and customers, fiddled with his sun glasses, and inched his way forward. He exuded pain, and we shared it silently with him.

This is a pen and soluble ink sketch on multimedia paper. The color was added with Procreate.

 

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Evening View of Kifar Sha’ul

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Sarah Sullivan

 

Sketch of villages near jerusalem

Evening View of Kifar Sha’ul

It was warm at last and so I went back to the Jerusalem forest to sketch for the full afternoon. I love looking out across the valley to the small villages that sit on the terraced hills. I sketched the village of  Kifar Sha’ul several weeks ago and did several more of it today. Later at the apartment I used Procreate to strengthen the colors and emphasize the evening light. I think I like the sketch from March 10 a bit better. However, this was fun to do and I learned to use some additional features of Procreate which is my learning goal for this week.

This began as a marker and watercolor sketch on multimedia paper and then it underwent significant change in Procreate.

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View from the Balcony

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Sarah Sullivan

 

Sketch of city buildings

View from the Balcony

When we first got to Jerusalem, I sketched the view of the city  from our balcony. It was very cold then, hovering around freezing and I focused on recording what I saw.

This sketch today is nearly the same view of Jerusalem but two months later. The last of a spring storm was moving out this morning.  The light changed rapidly; it was different each time I looked up. I focused on capturing the feel of shadows and sunlight as they cut in and out.

I used Procreate, an app of the iPad for this sketch. It had a big update this week and I am enjoying using it even more than before.

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