December songs

Posted on December 6, 2015 by Sarah Sullivan

December music

Yesterday when I was sketching at Spanish Village in Balboa Park, I was able to get three sketches of a musician who was playing as part of the December Nights weekend festivities. She had spark, spunk and energy and I wanted to capture it in a sketch. I finally exaggerated her smile and hair and this helped convey the flair I saw in her performance. I also left most of the background out of the sketch, settling for two strands of lights to set the context.

I drew with a black marker and added watercolor later back at home.

Posted in Body Language, Facial Expression | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Contentedness

Posted on December 5, 2015 by Sarah Sullivan

image

I sketched today with Rachael’s group at Spanish Village where there was tremendous bustle as the shopkeepers and vendors readied themselves for the big December Nights weekend. There was live music and at some point I looked over and saw a couple sitting on a planter, listening and cheering the musician on. It is easy to imagine how others feel and even easier to be wrong but I was struck by how very contented they seemed as they listened together to holiday music on this sunny December morning. I worked to convey this through their relaxed posture, pleasant expressions, harmonious color, and the use of white space.

I drew with a black marker and added watercolor later back at home.

Posted in Body Language, Facial Expression, Groups Interacting, Telling a Story | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Open studio

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Sarah Sullivan

Version 2Our model today was expressive and her personality transferred to our collective work. I worked in pencil, pen and ink and when I got home scanned several sketches into my new ipad, where I used an app, Procreate, to add color. I am a bit mistified by layers, brushes, colors and such but can already tell that these will be a big help to me soon. I spent a tremendous amount of time experimenting with color combinations that ranged from no color to very intense color.

 

Posted in Facial Expression, Uncategorized | Tagged | 2 Comments

What is so interesting about the exit?

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Sarah Sullivan

Museum - 1

I was at the museum and noticed people hanging out at the entrance. I was curious about the attraction of that location but glad to capture some of the figures in this sketch. Although I think this sketch meets my major goal of communicating an idea, I am still puzzling through how to use white space, lightly painted space and unpainted space as compositional elements, my learning goal for this week. The floor and wall had plenty of empty space but I gave them a light wash and left the figures unpainted with only the pencil line to define them. I am still thinking about the impact of this.

I sketched in pencil at the museum and added watercolor later at home.

Posted in Groups Interacting | Tagged | Leave a comment

Buying a treat

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Sarah Sullivan

Buying a treat - 1 (1)

This is a quick in-the-moment sketch of a couple buying dessert at a little deli. Each seemed a bit put off with the other and neither could decide what to buy. I think the couple’s indecision is caught in the woman’s face and the man’s right arm and back, and the sweet nature of the waiting clerk shows in her face.  I left large areas fairly empty of detail but some lightly colored washes snuck in somehow, despite my stated goal of including more white space.

I drew in ink and added watercolor later.

 

Posted in Body Language, Facial Expression, Groups Interacting, Telling a Story | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Catching up on work

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Sarah Sullivan

Catching up on work - 1 (1)

What if everyone liked their work so much that if they needed to rest a bit from the rigors of vacationing that they could do this by retreating to their work? This possibility reverses the typical relationship between work and holiday and I want to capture it in a sketch. I think I got the ‘tired and interested in the computer look’ by showing the figure slumping back into the chair with a focused and mildly pleased look on his face as he gazes into his screen. However, this sketch needs more context so the viewer knows that the man is on vacation and is resting up by working.  I got into difficulties here since I was also working to use white space to lend interest to the sketch.

I drew in ink and added watercolor later.

Posted in Body Language, Facial Expression, People Learning, Story Creation | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

At the museum

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Sarah Sullivan

At The Museum of Man - 1 (1)

A visit to the San Diego Museum of Man gave me a chance to think about using empty space along with line and color to better communicate a message, my practice goal for the week. I wanted to say something about the range of reactions visitors appear to have when viewing the stone monuments in the Maya exhibit and thought the open floor and large wall space would make a good contrast to the varied postures of the people.

I used an ink pen to sketch at the museum and added watercolor later at home.

Posted in Body Language, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments