A Few Quick Sketches

I've been asked quite a bit recently as to why I got away from painting and drawing birds.  My answer was of course that I wanted to learn to paint and draw other things and that I didn't want to be know as just a guy who paints birds.  But the truth of the matter is that I like birds and painting birds.  So, I've started drawing them again, and sketching a few.  Maybe this will even lead to a few full blown paintings.

Given that this is a quick sketch, I used some old paper.  When I scanned it, it must have had some dirt on it that really showed on the scan.    Its not quite this visible in real life.

Well, working my way back to painting birds and having a good time.

The Next Drawing

Ok, here is the next drawing.  I even managed to erase the gridwork over her face.  I know you need to put dark next to light when drawing.  It helps to add form to what you are drawing.  I tried it with this.  Not sure if it is working for me or not.  Well, I think this is a good effort none the less.

Lunchtime Drawing

So, I am determined to become better at drawing.  So, today during lunch, I drew a face.  Here it is.  As you can see I used a grid to make sure I had all the proportions and everything right, and set apart to draw it.

Well, as you can see, it helped, but not enough to make it look great.  I guess there is still a lot more to learn.  I'm gonna be sticking with this whole grid thing for a while at least in order to figure out proportions and what not.  I've got a grid draw on the photo I drew this from so you may see this one again at some point.

Hope you enjoy looking at this slightly cross-eyed girl.  lol

Eye Study

Just  a quick study of eyes.  A few weeks ago they seemed so hard to draw.  Like many people, I used to think they were almond shaped with a round thing in the middle.  Then throw in a black dot and you have an eye.

Well guess what, I've learned a huge amount about eyes.  They aren't really almond shaped.  The iris is lighter in the middle and darker near the pupil and edge.  The sclera isn't white, or fully white anyway.  You have a lid flap that covers your eye lid, and the whole thing is shadowed by the brow ridge.  Who knew?!  Like i said, a month ago an eye was an almond with whiskers coming off of it.

By no means do i think these few simple drawings make me an expert at eyes, but they have helped to show what eyes really are like.

Expect to see more simple studies like this one.  They really do help you to understand the subject.

Enjoy.

Things to Watch for Next Week

Just a quick look at what is coming up next week.  I've got a good start on the Top Dog Coffee Shop here in Morro Bay.   The lower picture is another one of Giovanni's Fish Market.

Seeing the pictures in various states of finish will also give you a little insight into what I go through in order to create these paintings.

Enjoy