View from a window seat

Posted on January 3, 2016 by Sarah Sullivan

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The view from an airplane window seat allows you to see straight ahead, 45 degrees to the left if you look out the window ahead of you, and 90 degrees to the left if you turn and look straight out. It is a bit unusual to try to combine all three views on a single sheet of paper but my long 5 x 16 inch sketchbook makes it possible. One of my learning goals is to learn to use perspective and it was interesting shifting vanishing points as I tried to include all three views into a single sketch.

I sketched this in ink and later added watercolor. Then I took it to Procreate to make a few adjustments.

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View from the cell phone lot

Posted on January 3, 2016 by Sarah Sullivan

Cell phone lot view - 1 (3)

I used to dislike waiting but how can I complain with a view like this from the San Diego airport cell phone lot?

I wanted to catch the animated feeling of the holiday traffic so I drew with quick gestures, holding the pen from the end to keep the line lively. We have an incoming storm and the sky had rich colors, contrasting darks, and a bright sun pushing through the clouds.

I sketched with an ink pen and watercolor and then later added more of both.

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Waiting for the New Year

Posted on January 2, 2016 by Sarah Sullivan

New Year's Waiting - 1 (1).jpg

We had family from the east coast for New Year’s Eve and played games in order to keep them up while we waited to celebrate here on the west coast.  I sketched a bit while waiting for my turn. I liked the way the three of them were dogged about staying up and caught some of this in the way the three arms support the three heads, the three sets of eyes are bleary but focused on the game, and the three mouths are smiling. We were all happy to be together.

I drew with an ink pen and later scanned the sketch into Procreate where I added some sleepy colors.

Happy New Year!

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A hat for the new year

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Sarah Sullivan

New Year's HAt - 1

For the final 20-minute pose at open studio, our model put on a New Year’s party hat, a creation made of feathers and a teacup. She had large soulful eyes, a downturned mouth, and a reproachful attitude, all of which I had been trying to capture for the full three hours of the session. This is as close as I got.

I drew with marker and watercolor. Later I used Procreate to add the gray background.

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Listening

Posted on December 30, 2015 by Sarah Sullivan

Tara - 1

One of my major learning goals is to convey a story through images. While waiting a bit this morning for the others to coordinate schedules, I captured the expression of someone who was listening to a story being told. The chin on a hand, arm on a table and focused eyes helped to show that listening was going on. Later I went back and experimented with color options, finally deciding to use flat color with some additional colored lines because these simple choices emphasized the body language of listening, especially in her eyes.

I used the app Procreate for both the initial quick sketch and then later for adding color.

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A low key Monday

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Sarah Sullivan

Minds - 1 (3)

It was a relaxing morning. We sat around in parallel, each doing our own thing on this Monday in the midst of the winter holiday. In my case, I was learning to use the Apple pencil with the iPad and Procreate, an app. I sketched family members who were reading and writing, hoping to convey a vacation feeling. I caught a bit of amusement on the female’s face and relaxation bordering on a nap in the male’s face, expressions more commonly seen on vacation than at work.

I notice that digital media has its own character and the less I try to make my digital work look like traditional ink and watercolor, the more I like the results.

I sketched in Procreate using an Apple pencil on my iPad.

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A dog’s point of view

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Sarah Sullivan

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The house is full of people talking, eating and playing games at the table and Luke is spending a lot of time beneath the table. I wondered about the winter holiday from Luke’s perspective, and I think it may be about waiting under the table, getting extra treats, skimping on walks and looking at legs.

I drew in pen, marker and watercolor. Later I used Procreate to make some adjustments to the shading.

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