Jedi Trooper

Jedi Trooper

Pencil and Watercolor on paper

We had a sick child yesterday, so I missed putting out a sketch on Star Wars Day. Here is a Jedi Clone Trooper sketch I finished today. Better late than never! 

May the fourth be with you, always.

Watercolor: Monster May I

Original sketch

ink on paper

Daisy

9x12, watercolor on Arches Cold Press Paper

Here is the genesis of an idea for a children's picture book. I'm still working on the story, but the idea focuses on the interaction of a "lost" or abandoned monster taken in by a plucky little girl. Themes include facing fears and adoption.

Watercolor Landscapes

Away #1

7x9, watercolor on Canson Moulin du Roy Paper

Away #2

7x9, watercolor on Arches Cold Press Paper

Here are a couple of small watercolor paintings I completed recently. I started out trying to capture a few landscapes that play over and over again in memory. The first painting was taken from a photo and my memory of one of the pastures we wandered as children. I hope to continue that thread in future paintings.

The second painting came as I was exploring the muted earth tones in the series and I saw a photograph taken by friends in Alaska's Denali National Park. The photo of a lone caribou atop a ridge was too good to pass up. Although I altered the color palette and landscape to suit the series, I hope the mood of the photo remains. 

Watercolor: Cat study

Fog

The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on. 

Carl Sandburg

Cat

Watercolor on Canson Moulin du Roy watercolor paper

Watercolor: Backwater Mythology

Backwater Mythology

watercolor on arches paper

Fox in Space!

Fox in Space
Ink and Watercolor on Paper

Do you love Buck Rogers and retro science fiction? Me too. Are you currently interested in foxes? Me too.

Why can't we have both at the same time? My sketchbook says we can. Yes! So here it is.

P.S.
We really have a lot in common. Cool.

Sketch: Batman!

Rainy Day Batman Sketch
India Ink, ink, & watercolor on paper

Sometimes it's fun to go back to an old classic. I had a little time this weekend to break out the India ink and sketch while my children were taking their afternoon naps. I didn't start out with Batman as my subject, but my original sketch of a 1930's era spaceman hero (think Buck Rogers) looked pretty rough. I erased it and started again with less intention.

I ended up with a pretty detailed, modern armored Dark Knight. I didn't like that either. I erased some details and brought it back to a simpler cape and cowl. Once I started applying the India Ink, the cape took on a life of its own and the costume details disappeared.

So it goes. Intention usually gives way to inspiration and trial and error. Then, quiet footsteps across a pine wood floor told me I was finished with this sketch.

"Whatcha doing, Daddy," my little girl asked as she climbed into my lap and scanned the desk.

"Drawing," I said.

"You drawing Batman?"

"Uh Huh, " I answered proudly.

"You painted it."

"Yep. Well, sort of. I used ink instead of paint. But I used a brush. You like it."

She nodded her head and traced one of the bats with her finger.

"Bats," she whispered.

"Yep."

"Daddy, you come and play with me, okay."

She took my hand and led me away. On to other adventures.

Sketch: Robot and Bird

From my sketchbook.

Watercolor and ink on paper.

Hunger

"Hunger"
Ink & Watercolor on Paper

Here is another ink and watercolor sketch from my sketchbook. I'm trying to work with a variety of tools and blends on these small sketches. This piece is 5.5 x 8 inches. I used dip pens and brushes instead of the illustration pens for this one.

Pen and Ink: Sitting Bull

From my sketchbook. An attempt at a pen and ink + watercolor sketch of Sitting Bull taken from the iconic photograph. Trial and error on this one, but it was fun to give it a try.

Golden

A sketch from my digital moleskin.
Digital ink, pencil, and watercolor in the Paper by 53 app for the iPad.

Though torn in two

Though torn in two
We can be one

I, I will begin again
I, I will begin again

~ lyrics from U2's song "New Year's Day"

This a mixed media piece paying homage to the photos and vision used for U2's album War and the era surrounding it. I thought it seemed appropriate for the day and the times.

(Pencil, ink, watercolor on paper)