My Sketchbook is ugly.....

In school we had to do small thumbnail sketches as prelim work for larger paintings.  Consistently, I was "encouraged" to put a bit more detail in those drawings.  I still don't.  

Much like my handwriting, my thumbnails are "rough".  However, my sketchbook is an extremely valuable tool to me.  

I use it to work out formats and compositions, paintings for classes I teach, & to help me decide if I even want to do a larger painting.  

I'm always in awe of artists who show their sketchbooks & they truly look like works of art.  

That works for them.  My crazy sketchbook works for me.  :-)

Like me on Facebook!

Quickie Sketches....

Ever do 5 minute quickie sketches? I totally recommend it, especially if you don't particularly like drawing. Believe it or not, these short sketches WILL make you a better artist, they don't take long, and they are instant gratification. I had fun doing these seashells. I've got some seashells in an upcoming still life, and small sketches like these help me before I put them in a painting.

Paintings from sketches...

I completed this painting back in Kentucky from some really, REALLY rough field sketches. South of me in the Red River Gorge/Natural Bridge area you can see views like this everywhere. I wish I had brought my sketches down here with me so you can see just how rough they are. I love to do really fast rough "thumbnail" or very small sketches on site/outdoors and then take photos. When I get back to the studio, it's so fun turning them into paintings. Believe it or not, the sketches help me remember the feeling of the moment just as well as the photo does. Maybe more so!

For paintings I have available for sale on ebay, click on the link at the above right.

View From The Trail

5 x 7, Oil on board

Available for sale on ebay after 2/3/2011