Thursday, March 15, 2012

PPF: Watercolored Sketches

I just started taking the online course, The Art of Wild Abandonment, taught by Junelle Jacobsen and Christy Tomlinson. The first week's lesson introduced me to the idea of working in a sketchbook.  I sketched some lavender sprigs and colored them with watercolor pencils and a waterbrush:
I'm really quite pleased with how they turned out because, before this year, I would have said that I couldn't draw!  Practice really pays off.  Working in a sketchbook is completely new to me.  Although I work in art journals often, the sketchbook feels different.  The sketchbook pages are done more quickly, and I feel even less concern about whether the drawings turn out "right."  It's a very freeing process.  And I'm really beginning to understand how my sketchbook will provide tons of ideas for things that will become art journal pages - or prayer flag samples, canvases and other works of art.  I think I'm hooked!  What about you? Do you work in a sketchbook?  How doe you see it as different from your art journal?
I'm sharing this as part of Paint Party Friday.  For more painterly goodness, check out the artists listed in this link.
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30 comments:

  1. KokopelliMarch 16, 2012 at 3:09 AM

    Oh, I can't wait for the lavender to bloom over here. Will take some months..... Happy PPF!

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  2. NordljusMarch 16, 2012 at 3:44 AM

    These drawings are so pretty! Really great job, Rinda. I have several sketchbooks for different purposes, and I use them for my drawing and sketching exercises. I really love to take time to sit down with them and practise drawing. Happy PPF!

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  3. KarenMarch 16, 2012 at 3:47 AM

    I love these. I think it's so interesting that working in the sketchbook seems so different from the art journal. Since I do neither I'm not sure I would have thought about how much more freeing the sketchbook is.

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  4. NettyMarch 16, 2012 at 3:55 AM

    very pretty sketches. Happy PPF and have a great weekend, Annette x

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  5. CheriMarch 16, 2012 at 5:37 AM

    I didn't realize you were in this class Rinda! I'm still busy watching the videos and so far the only sketching I've done is in my book where I take notes for meetings at work... but I'm trying! Your lavender is great... nothing in bloom here to sketch yet!

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  6. carol l mckennaMarch 16, 2012 at 5:47 AM

    lovely sketches ~ very delicate and tastefully done ~ thanks, namaste, Carol ~ Happy Weekend ^_^

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  7. SianMarch 16, 2012 at 6:08 AM

    Wow, I'm fascinated by the new direction your art is taking!

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  8. GlorV1March 16, 2012 at 7:31 AM

    Rinda, your lavender looks awesome. You are really getting good at this. Yay for you!! I'm thinking of taking the Doodling Class with Traci Bautista. I haven't been in my journal for about a month, so I better get to doodling. I'm really happy that you are having so much fun. Happy PPF!

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  9. DebbieMarch 16, 2012 at 7:52 AM

    Good for you for drawing in your sketchbook regularly. I've never been very consistent with it, even though I know I should be. Your sketches are really lovely.

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  10. AbelaMarch 16, 2012 at 8:06 AM

    Having a drawing pad is important, I'll always take in your bag, you never know when you'll see something important. Saludos

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  11. BeverlyMarch 16, 2012 at 8:33 AM

    I love your lavender study, Rinda. I do use a sketchbook, I feel looser and less structured and know it's more for inspiration and practice. With an art journal I feel more compelled to "do it right"

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  12. trisha tooMarch 16, 2012 at 10:20 AM

    Lovely pages, Maria--it sounds like a wonderful course!

    Thank you for letting me know "Girly girls" is yours, I edited the post and linked your blog.

    :)

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  13. Mary C. NasserMarch 16, 2012 at 10:43 AM

    My favorite is your lavendar tied in a loose knot. :)
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  14. HeatherMarch 16, 2012 at 10:43 AM

    you have captured the essence of the lavendar so well...I can almost smell it! great - and yes, you can draw!
    happy ppf!

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  15. Anne MandaMarch 16, 2012 at 12:18 PM

    Very pretty! <3

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  16. Cris, Artist in OregonMarch 16, 2012 at 12:20 PM

    Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting. I love Lavender. Cant wait for ours to bloom. Some people use a journal as a sketch book.. putting in everything from shopping lists to great drawings. Its all in how you what to use it for. I seem to want to do careful drawings in a journal and work in a junk sketchbook on things to put in the journal. Someday maybe I will put them all together like some I follow.

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  17. UnknownMarch 16, 2012 at 12:49 PM

    Beautiful... I love lavender... everything about it... and yes practice makes perfect... :)

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  18. bohemiannie! artMarch 16, 2012 at 1:48 PM

    Love your lavender. I play with my sketch book / art journal and kinda sorta feel like they're the same thing to me.

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  19. Ayala ArtMarch 16, 2012 at 4:30 PM

    I love them! So sweet

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  20. HeARTworksMarch 16, 2012 at 6:19 PM

    Hi maria, Practice really pays off! I started drawing in my journal in 2006 and now I've really improved in my drawing and coloring! I don't have a sketchbook but I have lots of notebooks! Patsy from
    HeARTworks

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  21. carlareyMarch 16, 2012 at 7:39 PM

    Sketching is pretty addictive, isn't it? Especially when you can draw fun things like lavender blossoms.

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  22. Alexandra MacVeanMarch 16, 2012 at 8:27 PM

    Maria, your different pieces and stems of lavendar are wonderful. SO love the smell, too. :)

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  23. Lynn CohenMarch 16, 2012 at 9:12 PM

    I have a huge bush of these in my front yard so I know yours are well done as they look just like the real thing! Happy PPF.

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  24. PetreaMarch 16, 2012 at 9:32 PM

    These are lovely! Happy PPF!

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  25. UnknownMarch 18, 2012 at 12:10 AM

    They are so lovely!!

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  26. *jean*March 18, 2012 at 9:42 AM

    well done, rinda! you are right, practice really does make a difference...i have a blank sketchbook by every space where i spend time in my house, i keep one in the car and a small one in my purse...i have been known to pull it out and draw while waiting...keep up the good work!

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  27. EVAMarch 18, 2012 at 1:48 PM

    Great job on the lavender.

    I differentiate sometimes between an art journal and sketchbook and other times combine them.

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  28. alexaMarch 18, 2012 at 3:55 PM

    Your lavender is lovely ... I'm taking the class too and just starting to learn to draw so it's all a bit new. I've got some watercolour pencils and a book on how to use them so I will be following you avidly!

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  29. Jen @Sadie InspiredMarch 18, 2012 at 11:09 PM

    Oh, I bet that class is just wonderful! Lovely sketches and enjoy your class. :)

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  30. JennMarch 23, 2012 at 8:20 PM

    Ooh pretty! I especially love the one where the stem is tied!! I understand what you mean about the sketchbook...it almost feels like a playground where you can just experiment and try things out!! So glad you are enjoying the process!

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