KenKen in a different light

Posted on November 28, 2015 by Sarah Sullivan

 

KenKen in a different light - 1 (1)

This is the same sketch as yesterday’s ‘KenKen’ but developed further. I had been admiring Rosin Cure’s use of white space in her sketches and was practicing including more white space in mine. However, in yesterday’s sketch it gave the look of daylight or bright light rather than white space in a late night setting. In addition, I just did not like the look of the soluble purple line. So today I took a lot of colored pencil and some marker to it thinking I could strengthen a look of late night relaxation. I also cropped it hoping to develop a warmer tone. In the end I gave up my goal of using white space and instead strengthened the notion of a relaxing late night game, I think.

My deliberate practice goal for the coming week will be using white space, line and a very limited set of colors, much like Rosin Cure. The purpose will be to sketch strong images that clearly communicate a message.

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KenKen

Posted on November 28, 2015 by Sarah Sullivan

2015-11-27-0002

KenKen is the type of puzzle that keeps you up late at night trying your best to make digits fit nicely onto a grid. It is addictively relaxing.  I drew 6 versions of this trying to convey the relaxed nature of an interesting game rather than the intense focus of research that I sketched on November 16. In both today’s sketch and the November 16 sketch, there are two figures working together on a common sheet of paper. In today’s sketch the body language of the figures is relaxed and interested, rather than anxious and intense. This is conveyed mostly through the figures’ shoulders and arms, although the choices for background color help send the message too.

I mistakenly used a soluble purple pen for the drawing and then intentionally added watercolor washes, trying my best to keep the original line intact. 

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Clean-up team

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Sarah Sullivan

Thanksgiving - 1 (3)

Every great meal should end with a clean kitchen. This team has it covered, one focused on licking the dishes clean, the other on rinsing and stacking the dishwasher. I put down lines using a quick gesture style because it conveys the disarray that comes of preparing a complicated meal. The color is simple with lots of white space and does not give too much definition to the dishes and cupboards. I like this sketch because it tells a story through image, line and color, which is one of my learning goals. I think it captures the focus and good spirit of both the man and the dog.

I sketched in ink and watercolor.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted on November 26, 2015 by Sarah Sullivan

Thanksgiving - 1 (1)

Developing an image for Thanksgiving was a different type of challenge than my usual interpreting and sketching of an observable scene. I had to think which symbols of Thanksgiving aligned with my own thoughts. Then there was choosing a style of drawing, a color scheme, and words. I went with a cartoonish style because it lent itself to the inclusion of visual icons of Thanksgiving and was lively and happy besides. The captions are also cartoon-like in that the words and meaning are standard, which was the best I could come up with. I often find it hard to really express my feelings and fall back on common phrases, such as the obvious, ‘Thanksgiving reminds us to be grateful.’ Because these phrases carry deep significance for all of us who in fact have lived amazing lives full of richness, relationships, and good fortune, my hope is that the reader will understand that the expression of the sentiments would be more individualized if only I knew how. The fall colors were an obvious choice that is in harmony with the season and holiday.

I used pencil, gouache, and pen.

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More Poinsettias

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Sarah Sullivan

Poinsettia - 1 (2)

I was sketching a houseguest but having trouble conveying her depth and personality.  Impulsively, I brought in a poinsettia and drew it on both sides of her. Suddenly the slight tilt of her chin downward was echoed by several of the red leafs. The red leafs also accentuated the bits of red around the eye and in her hair. Altogether the new composition indicated more of the intricacy that characterizes this guest. I need to think more about how the addition of the poinsettia added complexity to the sketch and brought it closer to my goal of using images to tell a story through my sketches.

I used a water-soluble pencil, watercolor and color pencils.

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Poinsetta

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Sarah Sullivan

Poinsettia - 1

My favorite holiday decoration may be poinsettias. I placed a sprig of one into a vase and spent some time in the last few days sketching it.  I tried a variety of mediums and somehow this bold angular version in markers grabs my eye.

I sketched in ink and then added color with markers.

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Watching the dancers

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Sarah Sullivan

watching the dancers 1

This is a revision of a sketch from a wedding last week. The original sketch did not tell a story, which is one of my goals for this blog, so I made a few changes.

While the bride and groom were dancing their traditional first dance, I was sitting close to the bride’s aunt and uncle. I thought the aunt and uncle’s expression as they watched showed love, pride, regret, and a bit of envy. I changed the original sketch somewhat by putting the woman’s hand across her face and making the man purse his lips. This helped add in the expression I remembered but did not capture in the original sketch. The umbrellas and flowers suggest a party and the somber colors in the background echo the complex feelings I thought I was seeing.

I used pencil and watercolor.

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