A new thing: Visual Journal

Oh no! Not another new thing? Well, kind of. Just a different style of expression I'll be exploring in the same old sketchbooks.

I had reached my limit of the Siamese Twin on Monday and went for a 3-mile walk to run away from her. Went a bit too fast and got a blister and shin splints for it. She had jury duty Wednesday. I had to stay close but it was almost a whole day of "me" time which I chose to spend at Barnes & Noble. Helped immensely! Glanced through a couple Creativity books and found my inspiration which has been floundering since I got laid off.

The original words in the clouds have been digitally edited because they are more personal to me. This is my first "success" after four pages in my large moleskine. Two more pages to use and I can put Sketchbook #10 to rest.

Pet Rock

People showing their pets in the OP forum and I needed a pet for scavenger hunt, so I went in the yard and adopted a rock. Look, I've already painted it in acrylics!

I'd teach it to roll over, but it looks the same on the other side.

Acrylic Sketch #39 & #40

Each 5x7 inch in my 9x12 inch sketchbook, about 1.5 hours each painting. I haven't managed to paint a WDE reference successfully in about 6 months. I was so happy to break the block. I like the textures in "Kitten at Mt. Petit," I did most of it with a knife. References from Robert Sloan. Hmm, I wasn't liking the crepe myrtle but against the black, it pops! Yay :)

Big page

I've been wanting to draw big but I haven't been just because it's easier to be portable and faster to work smaller. The 4x6 Aquabee sketchbook is probably my favorite, even over Moleskines. This page of scavenger hunt sketches is (together) 24x18 inches of drawing paper. I used all kinds of media: pencil, gel pen, paintastics, watercolor, acrylic ink, even a touch of acrylic ink.

OP #92 & #93 of 100

A cup from scavenger hunt I'm hosting this week.
From a travel catalog. No idea on the details, but this puts Sketchbook #9 to rest. There's actually many attempts at a drawing (artist block since getting laid off). Started with a watercolor, covered with 3 or 4 attempts at an acrylic sketch, finally covered with black acrylic and drawn with Neopastel oil pastel.

Ventura Harbor

Got to have a couple hours of Plein Air (sans the clingy parental unit--YAY!) this morning. I've been working on color lately and my perspective skills have been failing me. The first drawing had major problems so I wanted to work on another with better perspective. I'm much happier with this. Graphite in a really old 12x12 scrapbook with non-archival paper.

Acrylic sketch #38

Barbie's in acrylic paint, the rest is acrylic inks. First time for the acrylic inks. Items from scavenger hunt #137 hosted by amdewitt. One more page left in the 10x7 inch Cotman watercolor pad and I can put Sketchbook #9 to bed.