Sketching Monday

I got my sketching done....and as you will see it's been a while!  And I didn't pick an easy photo. But that's ok, cuz I love a challenge!  I do have to say that it felt good to pick up a pencil again!

The first sketch I did was a blind contour drawing.  Basically I looked at the image and didn't look as I drew the edges of the image. In school I used to do these with charcoal and large newsprint.  I just loved it.

The second one I didn't like, so I didn't finish it, but when I went back to take the photo (had to improvise since my scanner died) I didn't think it was so bad after all!

This one is more light and shadow sketching.  I had fun with this one.

This one was more a gesture drawing, just giving the basics of what I was seeing...although I think it ended up looking like I was just scribbling.

It was definitely fun to pick up a pencil and draw again, but I will need to get a larger sketch book, and a new set of drawing pencils.

Have you ever tried any of these sketching styles?  What is your favorite?  Do you have any suggestions on how I can improve my sketching?

Decided to post a few of Katy's photos that I liked!  Not bad for an aspiring photographer?

Inspiration Photo January 23, 2011

The Inspiration photo for this week is:

I chose this photo because I love the shapes 

 the fungus makes, it is also interesting and has great light and shadows.

The Story Behind the Photo:

This afternoon I took my daughter Katy and went to the park near our house so we could take photos.  On the way into the park, there are a couple of horse farms.  One had a pony & a horse in the yard. We stopped so Katy could see them and take some photos.  Because we were so far from the road, she got out and went up closer to the fence.  The two horses just came right over.  They were so friendly, I even fed one of them from my hand.

Katy named them Chestnut & Fluffy

Chestnut eating from my hand

Katy wanted a photo with the horses....

.....but Chestnut wanted to eat her jacket.

I ended up taking over 200 photos, and if I may say so myself, some were pretty good.  It was really hard narrowing down to 1 inspiration photo. These are the other photos that were in the running:

This was my 2nd choice

I can't wait to start sketching tomorrow.  I just need to get my scanner going since it hasn't worked since I upgraded to snow leopard.  If you want to see any of the photos in a higher resolution, I will post them to my Flickr account. 

Facing Forward, Looking Back

As I face my challenge for the new year, I am looking back at what has inspired me in the past.  Probably not a surprise, but my kids are a big source of my inspiration. I look at them today and wonder where my babies have gone, how did they grow up so fast.  So I decided to look thru some old photos and I'm sharing the wonderful love that inspires me most!

Katy's Christening, 2001

they truly love each other,  2002

Shayne running through a fountain in Charleston, 2003

New Year's Eve 2005

Christmas Navitiy, 2005

Spring Break back in NJ, 2006

Katy, Shayne & Cousin John David, 2006 

Lego & Harry Potter @ FAO Schwartz, 2007

excited about the WII, 2007

Cousins on Annual Family Vacation, 2007  

My rock star kids, 2009

Vacation at Myrtle Beach, 2009

I'm a Great Aunt - My nieces son Roman, Katy Shayne & Cousin Priscilla

Sometimes they do still get along, even if it's only when they sleep!

Shayne getting his hair cut short, & getting tall, 2011

I am blessed to have such a wonderful family.  One day I will show you what they create.  Shayne is an awesome artist.  Katy just loves to create anything.  She has a fantastic imagination!  My kids are the greatest, and I love seeing them grow, develop and learn.  They truly inspire me!