5 variations on a daylily

Preparing to teach a workshop about sketching from nature and creating designs. Here is the original sketch in my journal and 5 design variations. The numbers indicate what order I drew the images. Drawing from nature helps me understand the object, and notice geometric shapes. Then when I simplify the image, I can rearrange the shapes into a pleasing design. As you can see, the designs get further away from the original as I progressed. By number 6, you could barely tell it was a daylily unless you saw it in context with the other drawings.

Over the weekend, I attended two concerts at Tanglewood Music Center that included pieces of music with variations on a theme, so that was on my mind as I drew last night.

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5

6

2

4

3

week one

Week one in Jane's class was "designs from the garden". Not much left alive in my garden in December, but I found a rhododendron that was still green. I worked with an 8x magnifying loupe and had great fun looking and drawing.

Sketchbook designs

Here are 3 more pages from this weeks lesson. Combine realistic and stylized drawings on page. This week's theme is "from the mountains" but I found most of my objects in my yard and walking around my neighborhood. I have also experimented a bit with stamps and simple prints from pine trees.

Online Course

I've been too busy drawing to post. Working in my sketchbook, with online course by Jane Lafazio called "Designs from Life". We draw a variety of objects from life and then experiment with simplifying into design motifs. True enjoyment... focus, slow, details, bold, imagine, draw. I'll post some pages over the next few days.

more from sketchbook skool

I just finished my sketchbook skull "beginnings" class. It was a great 6 weeks. It really pushed me to keep drawing, and to try new things. One week between new lessons barely felt like enough time to explore the learnings and then I was off to something new. Even though I was eager to see the next lesson, I think I would have enjoyed having two weeks to explore and draw between the lessons. Here are a few more views from my lessons.

this is the clutter corner in my kitchen!

Sketchbook Skool

I've been taking the "beginnings" course from Sketchbook Skool. The first of 3 current offerings. I'm in week 4, and am really enjoying it. It's a six-week online course, and each week features a different teacher that uses a sketchbook in their own creative practice. I love the diversity of approaches, and am learning lots of helpful tips about sketching on the go. It's a nice change to be drawing from life (outside, buildings, natural objects, household items etc) instead of creating from my imagination. Check out their website: www.sketchbookskool.com

Here are a few of my sketches from the homework assignments:

tea houses

I am trying to revive my blog by posting more often, so you can catch up with all my sketchbook fun from the summer...

teacups

more sketchbook art...

Lara's garden

My neighbor moved away, but I still get to enjoy the flowers she planted in our yard.

from my sketchbook.

more sketchbook

another sketchbook page...

sketchbook

more flowers in my sketchbook.

sketchbook

Playing in my sketchbook to take a break from computer work...

Busy on many fronts

I have been busy busy on many fronts. Here are some of the things I've been doing...

I have opened my first Etsy shop to sell my Baha'i greeting cards and prayer books. The shop is called Bahai Breezes. Take a peek; I'm continuing to add new items. Soon I'll be opening a second shop for my personal art and illustrations. Stay tuned! I'll let you know when it opens.

I've also been taking online courses at Skillshare. This is a great place to learn new skills or you can also design and teach your own course. I've been taking courses about pattern design for textiles using both Photoshop and Illustrator, about hand-lettering, and about selling on Etsy. Great fun. I even uploaded some patterns onto Spoonflower and printed out some samples of my own fabric. A bit expensive, but fun.

I've also been painting: I continue to work on my Quirky Birds series which I hope to turn into Giclee prints and greeting cards. This entailed trying out 3 online Giclee-print services. I think I have found one that I like and will get me started, at least until (or if) I decide to buy my own Epson printer. It's called: I Print from Home.

I'm preparing for a bookmaking workshop for a group of Children's Librarians in Norwich CT in early December. We'll be making a number of simple books that they can share with their children.

And I've been learning about social networking. Trying to read suggestions online, get back to posting here on my blog, update my Facebook Fan pages and exploring the many options for reaching out and making connections online. There is still so much to learn.

Here's a few recent photos from my sketchbooks...

3 birds

more birds from my sketchbook...

bird2

bird2, originally uploaded by jeanniehunt.

Another sketchbook bird painting. just having fun...

bird1

bird1, originally uploaded by jeanniehunt.

from my sketchbook