Grey Paper Sketches - Old Bells & Bent Bangles

I picked up a toned grey paper Strathmore sketch book the other day and I've been experimenting a bit with different mediums to use in it.

These are the first few sketches I've done in it so far. The old bells were drawn with an old black pentel brush pen & a white Gelly Roll 08 pen. The drawing of the bent bangles was done with a 01 Micron Pen and the same white Gelly Roll 08 pen.

 

Old bells

Bent bangles, earrings, and a hair clip

I'm hoping that i'll have time soon to try out some different combinations of pencils, inks, white gouache, and other pens to see what I like best.

Life Drawing at Dr. Sketchy Vancouver

Here's a couple sketches I did Sunday night at Dr. Sketchy Vancouver.

For anyone not familiar with Dr. Sketchy, it's life drawing mixed with burlesque dancers, acrobats, or costumed performers. It runs twice a month in Vancouver, and is definitely worth checking out. Artists and non-artists are all welcome!

Not-so-Monthly Maps II

Well, I think my idea of having a monthly post about maps was well intentioned, but isn't something I'm going to be able to continue, at least on a consistent monthly basis. I've discovered that I've been spending way too much time working on maps, and I've completely neglected to do other art. I love making maps, but right now I don't have the time needed for them and my other existing art projects.

That being said, here are a few maps from a little while ago. They're all a bit different from each other stylistically, and I'm not entirely sure what I think about them yet. I was trying to experiment a bit with how I draw in order to figure out what I like and what I think works for me.

The first map was entirely an excuse to try drawing trees in a different way than I normally approach them. I think I like the effect but I won't know for sure until I explore that route a little more in some bigger maps. 

The only thing about the second map that's different than the way I usually draw dungeon maps is the trees just outside the cave. I think I need to come up with some better trees :P 

The purpose of the third map was to come up with a way of drawing waterfalls. I like the way that one worked out.

The last map was really fun to make, but I'm not sure how successful it is in conveying that it's a multi tiered city. I haven't figured out a good way of showing elevations in maps that are so small and so dense. It's also a bit hard to see some of the tunnels, and to make out what's going on without having to stare at the image for a bit. I'm sure drawing bigger would definitely help with some of that.

Monthly Maps I

I've decided that since I like drawing maps so much, I'm going to try to do a monthly post about some of my maps. 

Here's a couple maps of some coastal areas that I drew not too long ago. They are both drawn in a moleskin sketchbook using micron pens sizes 005 and 01. 

A Few More Octopuses

Here's a couple more.

Quick Octopus Sketches

Here's a couple octopus sketches that I did for http://weeklysketchart.blogspot.ca/

More Maps!

Here's a few more maps from my little dungeon map sketchbook.

Octopus Sketch

TLDR: Octopus sketch done in a Moleskin sketchbook (3.5"x5.5") with 4H Staedtler pencil (that I forgot to erase once I was done) and Micron Pens sizes 01 & 03.

I have the bad habit of falling in love with a new sketchbook, buying it, drawing a couple pictures in it, and then never getting around to filling it. Many of my sketchbooks never get more than half a dozen pages sketched on. The same thing happens to me with other art materials. As a result, I've put myself on a bit of a self-imposed art supply ban until I start filling up the sketchbooks I already own and using up my current supplies.

I found this nice little old forgotten sketchbook over the holidays and decided it would be the next one I'd fill. A 3.5"x5.5" Moleskine sketchbook that I would have bought back in college, back when everything I drew was so small that I'm surprised I haven't gone blind as a result. Perfect size for my purse!

This octopus is the first new picture drawn in it so far. Knowing me it'll probably be the only somewhat finished looking drawing that ends up in the sketchbook. The rest will probably end up looking pretty loose and rough like all my other sketchbooks if I ever get around to filling it.

My Little Book of Dungeon Maps

I've started doodling a little book of dungeon maps, towns, countrysides, etc. With these there's no planning or prep, they are just whatever pops into my head at the time. Most of the time I'm making them when I'm out and about and have some time to kill. Here's a couple pics:

Life Drawings

Some more life drawings done recently.

Dr. Sketchy Vancouver

Here's a couple drawings done at the Vancouver Dr. Sketchy. The model for the evening was Yum Yum Doll.

Life Drawings

A few drawings done at tonight's life drawing session.

Life Drawings

Here's a couple drawings from tonight's life drawing session at work.

 

Life Drawings

Finally got a chance to go to life drawing at work. Here's a few of my sketches from tonight's life drawing session.

Goodbye Dr. Sketchy Toronto

Today I discovered to much sorrow that the Dr. Sketchy life drawing in Toronto is no longer going on. There was something absolutely fantastic about having life drawing sessions in a bar with models being dressed in everything from burlesque to Heman and Skeletor. I will definitely miss the drawing sessions.

Here's a few drawings I never got around to posting from the last couple times I went to Dr. Sketchy's. I would spend the first 15 - 30 seconds of a pose roughing out the gesture with a pale marker --usually a 5% grey marker or light blue-- so that the pose was there, but barely visible. Then I'd do the rest of the drawing in pencil.

Burlesque dancers, cop & robber



The next model was a little bit more provocative with her costumes and poses. She had a crazy 1980s X-Men Storm styled white mohawk, ripped stockings, corset, pasties and the most ruffled skirt I had ever seen. One of her other costumes can only be described as a ninja-snake-not-sure-what-she's-supposed-to-be, but it looked cool. And yes, that is a swimming inner tube used at the bottom of her dress.

Life Drawing

We'll, it's been way longer than I'd like to admit since the last time I've gone life drawing, so when I heard that'd there would be life drawing offered at work tonight, I couldn't resist. I was more than a little rusty, and most of my drawings didn't turn out but it felt fantastic to get back into it again. I going to try to make it to every life drawing session offered at work for now on.