My inaugural Sketchercise post. I just joined Sketchercise, a network started by Katherine Tyrrell, of the always fabulous, thought-provoking and informative blog Making a Mark, to promote sketching done on-site while walking, biking, kayaking or doing some other physical activity.
I first read about Sketchercise on Cathy's blog, A Sketch in Time, where she beautifully chronicles life in Johannesburg with really stunning drawings and paintings of the landscape and vibrant street life.
I want very much to develop the habit of drawing regularly; most of the drawing I do is preliminary to watercolor painting, though I do enjoy making little watercolors sketches with no drawing. I'd like to do more drawing for its own sake.
Fishing, I think, kind of stretches the idea of "exercise," unless you count lugging all the equipment to the boat and cleaning it all afterward. But, fishing is what I did yesterday, so ...
Bijou box, water brush, and 3x5 Moleskine watercolor sketchbook. I keep this little kit in the tote I bring fishing, which also contains sunscreen, bug spray, hats, sunglasses, lip balm, a sweatshirt, reading glasses and a book.
I have another watercolor kit I keep in my bike's handlebar bag; I think I'd like to add pencils and ink pens too.
Two versions of the view from our little boat while flounder fishing in the back bays off Wildwood on Sunday.
It was a lovely day for fishing and we caught two good-sized flounder--next time I catch one I'll sketch it!
Great start on sketchercise, Laura! I joined at about the same time as you, but won't have anything up until Friday. BTW, I'm sure lugging counts as excercise -- but we'll need to know how many steps it was to that boat!
ReplyDeleteLaura, thanks for posting the link to sletchercise...i'm not up to date with what's going on in the blogland anymore! I am a fan of this kind of quick on location paint-sketching. If scanned in at a really high resolution, some small quick studies can make great high quality prints and cards.
ReplyDeleteMaggie
So, I'm not only jealous of your art, I'm jealous for your fishing. Flounder - yum.
ReplyDeleteI think these are beautiful little paintings, Laura! I love them both. Fishing sounds fun! I remember the first time I ever went fishing as a small child--I was told whatever I caught was going to be my dinner. I was a nervous wreck: we were on the ocean, and I caught an eel, a flying fish and a blowfish!! I kept thinking--why can't I just catch a normal thing like other people!? Friends wound up taking us out to dinner, but I was a nervous wreck of an 8-year old! I love the notion of the sketchercizes. What bijou box is this, Laura--I like it!
ReplyDeletebeautiful views from the boat and good to see your gear checking sketchercise now
ReplyDeleteGood for you: flounder and sketches, quite a catch! These are fresh and lovely. I like your portable kit, as well as your enthusiasm for watercolor sketches. I never seem to be anywhere long enough to make a sketch (except for my studio), so the idea of doing sketches "on the go" is quite a novelty to me.
ReplyDeleteHi Laura,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sketch paintings. I like the idea of toting your painting gear with you wherever you go.
Take care,
Barbara
Oh, Laura... I've been out all day and not seen this - thanks for the very nice mention, and I'm so happy you've joined in. I think it's going to be good - am looking forward to my next walk, even though it's freezing cold and windy here - that's a first! Your sketches are just lovely - I haven't learnt how to control the waterbrush and paint that well yet. I'm sure fishing is exercise - especially if the fish fight back!
ReplyDeleteE' bello il tuo racconto, oltre che i tuoi acquerelli, e fa capire quanto consideri importante l'esercizio del disegno. Mi fai pensare a pittori famosi che ritenevano il disegno come la spina dorsale di ogni arte.
ReplyDeleteCiao, buon lavoro e buona prossima pesca!
These are both lovely loose watercolors but I particularly like the first one. I like the way you try different variations on the same subject. A great way to learn about the nuances of color and composition.
ReplyDeleteJean
Good for you, Laura! These are lovely.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I can see how this can train one to plan ahead, travel lightly and work quickly with concentration.
ReplyDeleteOh I like your watercolor sketch! I may have to check this out!
ReplyDelete