Monthly Archives: February 2012

The Key is to Draw

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Don West
The Key is to Draw

The Key is to Draw

No sketch text with this one. It’s a deviation from the norm. It’s a quick tools review. I had to digitally clean this one up a bit as the paper allowed the watercolor to bleed. Note the superhuman straight edges of the pencil body as opposed to the rather shaky way I usually draw.

Anyway, the Zebra #2 Mechanical pencil is delightful to use and I’m sure the “Sketch and Draw Sketchbook” will be perfect for dry media… Colored pencils for color anyone?

The same company also makes a “Pen & Ink” Sketchbook that will accept light washes.

I bought mine locally but here’s a link for online perusal:

Alternative Arts Sketch Book

I’m not promoting any products here or being compensated. Just passing on a little experience and creating an excuse to draw something ;-)

Posted in Objects, Sketches and Words, Tools I use to Sketch | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Wilderness Advice

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Don West
Wilderness Advice

Wilderness Advice

Sketch Text:
—Or—
How to Inflict The Fear of God on a Mountain Lion.
*Disclaimer: Not with a little pocket knife about the size of your pinky, like the one depicted here! The artist only drew it because…well…he’s an artist and can draw whatever he wants. It’s his journal. However, being an artist, he also conjured up what seems like a good and admirable way to alleviate being eaten by a Mountain Lion when out drawing, sketching, or painting in the wilderness.

Imagine you are out there, sitting on a big boulder, wondrous scene before you, sketching or painting, perhaps humming a tune or whistling (actions which, by the way, attract hungry Mountain Lions). Then you hear a twig crack and there before you is a large, chop-licking, Mountain Lion. Remain calm, keep humming (just change the tune to Amazing Grace). Then slowly remove from your pocket the package of “Black Cat” firecrackers and the Bic lighter you brought along just for such predicaments.

Light ‘em up, toss ‘em at the beast, grab your sketchbook and run for the nearest tree. Don’t forget to climb it and begin screaming HELP!

 

Posted in Animals, Sketches and Words, The Great Outdoors | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Two-Tone Stone

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Don West
Two-Tone Stone

Two-Tone Stone

Sketch Text:
I saw this two-toned stone lying in a field of gravel covering the narrow strip of dirt officially cordoned off as the place where one can take their dog for his or her morning or evening constitution. The strip being behind the building where I am temporarily living.

Amongst all of this mix of gray aggregates was this one odd stone with three layers. Nice and rounded by…who knows what forces?

I got to thinkin’…

“What are the chances that out of all the stones lying around on the surface of the Earth, this one little two-toe stone would end up being spotted, sketched, and given far more thought than most any other stone lying in an area where no doubt hundreds of dogs have found relief?”

“And not only that, after no telling how many thousand years it has been a little two-tone stone, it becomes famous on the Internet!”

I think it’s all just “Happenstance”. “Luck”. “Good fortune”.

What do you think?

Posted in Introspection, Objects, Old Things, Sketches and Words with Questions, The Great Outdoors | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments