Make lemonade

So I started this sketch at a doctor's office, and wouldn't you know it, I got called into my visit and had to leave. I only got her hair, forehead, eye and nose done. So the next day I added the rest from memory. I think I nailed it. 

[zebra sarasa 07 gel pen, PITT warm gray markers, and a white gel pen in a toned tan Strathmore sketchbook]

Toned tan gems

After taking a portrait drawing class I feel like my people are getting better and better. Here are a few gems from my Strathmore toned tan sketchbook. The first one was done at Barnes + Noble a few nights ago. The gentleman sat down with his Economist magazine and didn't budge for 30 minutes or so. The second was sitting in my dentist office and this guy was glued to his iPhone like a 14 year old girl. The third is also from B+N.

[zebra sarasa 07 gel pen, PITT warm gray markers, and a white gel pen in a toned tan Strathmore sketchbook]

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2

3

Fuel 16

My sketching buddy Genine and I wanted a new place to explore and sketch. At the same time an old (as in time past, not age!) advertising friend invited me to an event where copywriters would be sharing stories. It was a launch event for Cohber Press and their FUEL idea. It was a nice night of being an art-geek and catching up with some old friends! 

[namiki falcon with DeArtementis Document ink. Added at home: D+S watercolors, and a water pen with water and J. Herbin Pearl Noire ink in a Stillman & Birn Alpha sketchbook-landscape] 

more toned tan

[pilot V5 pen, ball point pen, PITT warm gray markers, and a white gel pen in a toned tan Strathmore sketchbook]

Toned TAN (sketchbook #15--starting)

I can't get enough of the toned paper from Strathmore. It's wonderful for adding grays, and white highlights are awesome. The book is a great size for a "take anywhere" book, and with three pens, you can have a great sketch session. Their toned gray book, I think, is a touch too dark, and not cool enough (as in cool on the color temperature scale, not hang ten! cool man!). Their toned tan is pretty much goldilocks--just right. 

Here is the start:

greenfront creepin'

tried to capture the inner restaurant--still working on this, so stay tuned

[pilot V5 pen, ball point pen, PITT warm gray markers, and a white gel pen in a toned tan Strathmore sketchbook]

One man Canandaigua Sketch Crawl

Not much else to do on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon so I explored the city I live in with a one man sketch crawl! 

Greenfront Creepin'

If you live in the area, do yourself a favor and head over to the Greenfront and get a burger. They are delish. You might see me in the corner sketching people and stuffing food in my mouth. 

[pilot V5 pen, PITT cool gray markers, uni-ball signo white gel pen all in a gray toned Strathmore sketchbook]

Meetin' and Creepin'

The first few days of school are chock full of meetings and more meetings. I cannot sit there and pay attention without doing something. Doodling got me through HS Chemistry and sketching during my meetings gets me though my adult life. 

[Uni Pin pens, D+S watercolors in a S+B Epsilon Series sketchbook]

Zoo time!

Things I learned while sketching at the Seneca Park Zoo:

1. Rhino farts are loud. Really, really loud.
2. Animals, not even sloths, sit still for very long.
3. Elephant roars, grumbles, whatever you want to call them, are terrifying.
4. People in public places think they are the only humans in existence at that very moment.
5. Lions like presents that contain goat heads and cow legs.
6. Lions are terrifying.
7. Orangutan's are eerily similar to humans.
8. I know how to spell Orangutan now.
9. For 12$ the zoo is a great sketching haven
10. Kids are way more interested in what I am sketching than adults. 

[pentel brush pen, Lamy Safari M-nib with Deartamentis ink, uni pin pens, pitt gray brush pens, W+N watercolor markers, D+S watercolors in a S+B Epsilon Series sketchbook]--basically whatever my front pockets could carry. 

Toned gray catch-up (or mustard, whatever you prefer)

I've been dragging around my toned sketchbook to different events like:
-the Food Truck Rodeo
-our principal's rock anthem year end assembly

[PILOT Coleto 5-ink pen, a gigantic PITT white marker in a gray toned Strathmore sketchbook]

New Toy

Recently I obtained a "Pilot Hi-Tec Coleto" which can hold 5 different ink refills. Thanks to Jetpens.com I got a few other goodies because I just had to have free shipping. 

[PILOT Coleto 5-ink pen, a gigantic PITT white marker in a gray toned Strathmore sketchbook]

bejeweled-farm-blitz-gram-book

My lovely girlfriend was getting some alone time in while playing "bejeweled-farm-blitz-gram-book" on her phone. She had this cool pose going that was a combination of comfortable & intense. I thought it would be a good idea to try and sketch her! I've always avoided sketching "pretty women" because they come out all "not pretty". But since her knee was in the way--no fear! 

[pentel Graph Gear 1000 pencil w/HB lead, in a S+B Zeta sketchbook]

Gray skies, gray sketches

Pouring rain and a night alone means a trip to the Greenfront for some eats! And sketching! 

[pilot V5 pen, PITT cool gray markers, a gigantic PITT white marker in a gray toned Strathmore sketchbook]

Curriculum night

I had two hours to kill between work ending and our spring curriculum night/vote night starting. I inhaled a cheeseburger sub and sketched the view outside the pizza shop. During the wicked good performances I sketched the paparazzi, I mean, parents. 

[pentel pencil, namiki falcon with DeArtementis Document ink, D+S watercolors in a S+B Zeta sketchbook]

Greenfront creepin'

More Greenfront creepin'. 

[pilot V5 pen, PITT cool gray markers, a gigantic PITT white marker in a gray toned Strathmore sketchbook]

Mall creepin'

I hate, and I mean, HATE, Starbucks coffee, tea, desserts, even their napkins are horrible (try using them to clean brushes while painting). BUT the devoted fans lined up tapping on their cell phones, ordering half-calf, double espresso, caramel, non-fat, non-sweet, chocolate, cappuccino, latte, iced coffee dessert drink make for great subjects! 

[pilot V5 pen, PITT cool gray markers, a gigantic PITT white marker in a gray toned Strathmore sketchbook]

Sketchbook #10

I finished my glorious Stillman & Birn Zeta sketchbook and dove into my stash of Handbook journals. These were my go to sketchbook when I first started a few years ago--but now that I have tasted the good life, these are far from my favorite. I like the shape, and size, but that is about it. The paper is okay, a little too thin for my liking. The binding seems weak--pages shuffle and get loose. The cover is weak, and too easy to bend. And the yellow tint of the paper is way too yellow. But since I have 2 of them in stock, I have to use them. 

Sketches at our 4th/5th grade band concert:
[uni pin pen in handbook journal]

 Sketches at our 2nd grade musical:
[lots of pens in handbook journal]

Some 2nd graders working:
[inktense watercolor pencisl in handbook journal]

Lunch sketches: