Tag Archives: Sktchy

Comfort and Solace

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Since I’ve been ignoring this blog for too long I’ve started clearing out a bunch of half-done and currently irrelevant blog posts. This one was saved because it shows how I work out the stressful times like I had late last summer.

I go basic. Pen and ink and my journal.

I had to refresh my memory by revisiting that journal but it’s clear now. I drew this at the end of a long day in the midst of a long month of long days.

Fortunately, things have gotten better or maybe it’s just that I’ve gotten better at handling the stressful times but I’m going to continue to carve out time for pen and ink drawings. They are my comfort and solace.

Portrait of Megan Semple from Museum by Sktchy…De Atramentis Document Black ink on Strathmore 500 Mixed Media paper.

Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

— George Bernard Shaw

Meditation – 23 July 2021 – I Worried

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I Worried
by Mary Oliver

I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers
flow in the right direction, will the earth turn
as it was taught, and if not how shall
I correct it?

Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven,
can I do better?

Will I ever be able to sing, even the sparrows
can do it and I am, well,
hopeless.

Is my eyesight fading or am I just imagining it,
am I going to get rheumatism,
lockjaw, dementia?

Finally, I saw that worrying had come to nothing.
And gave it up. And took my old body
and went out into the morning,
and sang.

The Eyes Have It

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These eyes are from the final image… notice the more rounded iris on the left… still a bit cross-eyed… but nowhere near as bad as in my first draft.

Over the summer I painted this fella from a photo in the Sktchy app on my phone. First I drew in a rough sketch in pencil and then painted a light base layer.

I’m using an Arteza Watercolor Journal – 9 in. X 12 in. This paper sucks up paint and I knew I needed layers to get the desired contrast and vibrancy.

Better. I even thought I was done. But no. I’m sure you can see it too… there’s something wrong with the eye on the left. His eyes aren’t tracking correctly… he’s cross-eyed in my journal but not in his photo. (I’m sorry I can’t show you the photo but he owns the copyright and I don’t have permission to post it. You can see it linked to my work in Sktchy.)

Anyway… it sat on my desk for months before I attempted the fix. It’s subtle, but I rounded the iris on the left hoping to separate the two irises and correct his focus. It seems to have helped… sort of… not entirely, but it’s time to move on, turn the page and select another victim.

Confession: I am an Art Supply (but Not TP) Hoarder

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How did it get to be Friday?

I can’t be the only one unable to keep my days straight during this Stay-at-Home thing.

Thank goodness I have been hoarding art supplies over the years… no shortage here! (Pretty good on the TP front in case you were concerned for me.)

… and of course,

Do Your Part – Stay Apart

(Sktchy portraits in a Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketch Book – A5 portrait)