scribble people - inspired by Andrew Wyeth

Scribble People

9 x 12

sketch paper

I have been doing a lot of sketching and I really love it.  I have been dismayed, though, that my sketches never look as good as others I have seen.  I refer to my work as scribbling instead of sketching.  I never felt worthy of the term sketching.  I started reading "Wyeth at Kuerners" written by Betsy James Wyeth.  It is a book of Andrew Wyeth's sketches...As I looked at the beautiful art work by Andrew Wyeth I took notice of his sketches.  They were incomplete...messy...and absolutely brilliant.  He sketched the same thing multiple times, the same figure, the same composition with slight variations...always refining, repositioning.  Of course his finished paintings are beyond description they are so marvelous.  

When I started this sketch I decided to never let my pencil leave the paper.  It worked for the most part...I did have a pause or two but for the most part it is one long scribble line.  As I sketched I thought about who these people are and how I could relate to them.  Down the line I started with a woman in a tall hat with a cross body bag, followed with the profile of a youngster...another woman with a large hat and a feathered plume...a hard hat/helmet adorns the head of another depicting my military heritage...a chef's hat reminds me of my families love for cooking...a love that I do not share...but I appreciate that others enjoy the creativity of their culinary efforts.  The end of the line is a figure in a baseball cap leaning on a bat...my love of sports is represented...love for playing much more than watching.  

So, while my sketches are messy, I know they serve a purpose and I will continue.  

As an aside...I highly recommend "Wyeth at Kuerners" book to anyone who is interested in composition and studying the genius of a realistic, abstract artist.  

Sketching my way through my life...

I have alway wanted to sketch my way through my life...but never took the initiative...

I always see these fabulous sketch journals posted by fabulous artists and I have always wanted to do one.  I knew mine would not be fabulous but I decided to begin one and see how I do.  I started with pictures I had taken in Japan while on my fabulous adventure with Carrie Roets Waller and Debra Keirce.  I sorted the pictures and began sketching in pencil...using a fabulous accordion sketchbook I purchased in Japan.  Once the basic sketch was done I used a ink marker to darken the lines.  I then decided I would put a watercolor wash on some of the pictures.  I wasn't as happy with the watercolor wash as I had imagined so stopped it.  I tried my watercolor pencils and they seemed to work better.  It is probably because it is not watercolor paper...or maybe just operator error!  hahaha!  

Anyway...a quick message to Carrie to let me know the names of places I had forgotten and I had my sketch journal! 

I may add some more sketches...I have a couple of pages left.  But I am semi-pleased with my first attempt.  

My plan is to sketch my way through Venice...on my next adventure!  

Sketchbook - my short list of potential paintings

Before I paint I usually sketch to get a feel for the piece.  I am not real concerned with being neat...I just want everything to be in the right place...all the relationships to be correct...

This is part of my "Candid Camera" series.   I haven't painted this one yet...it is on my short list of things to do. I like the profile and intense look on her face.  A tentative title is "Shoot."  

This is Emily...the mother of the two little ballerinas I love to paint.  She is beautiful and has the most amazing features...large blue eyes and curly blonde hair...I just can't wait to paint her....also on my short list!

This is a little ballerina holding an American Girl doll also wearing a tutu.  I love the body position...the angle of the head and the arm.  I want the skirt to dominate the lower part of the canvas.  I will call it "Hello Dolly"

Having said all that I have a ton of paintings to get to.  I have so many ideas and so many concepts I just cannot paint fast enough.  These three are on my short list...but I have a LOOOOOOOOONG list also!