Category Archives: Objects

Change Challenge

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Don West
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Change Challenge

Sketch Text:
I have a dear friend back in Atlanta who at one time enjoyed creating art. She’s a fussy lass as all southern Belles are inclined to be. And her fussy-ness caused her to never appreciate her own artistic and creative skills…particularly in painting. Having grown impatient with her own imperfections and frustrations with creating masterpieces, she, like so many of us, simply quit.

Lately, I decided I might see if she would give sketching and drawing in a journal a try. Perhaps it might open the doors to a simpler and more introspective means to express her need to create without the pressure to be perfect and attempt so-called “fine art”.

And so this challenge arose.

“Draw a quarter”. She did and sent me a photo. It was a fabulous quarter! It had a head that was too small and like mine here, was a bit misshapen. But it was Donna’s quarter and it was cool!

She’s now on her way to enjoying art again…

Posted in Introspection, Objects, Sketches and Words, Stuff I find myself doing | Tagged | 2 Comments

Down By The Tracks

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Don West
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Down By The Tracks

Sketch Text:
When my work life was a maze of stress, deadlines, phone calls, missed meals, and keeping everybody happy but me…there were times I’d think to myself, “I should just hop a freight and leave all this insanity.” Of course I never did.

I did read about hobos & the hobo life though. And I took long drives alone & whistled or sang train & travelin’ songs. And wondered how in the world a person ever had the fortitude to actually live a hobo’s life. Or any kind of alternate life really.

These days I’ve pretty much ended up living an alternate life of sorts and I actually like it. I know what freedom is now. Sometimes I don’t know what to do with it…but I’m learning. And it’s good.

Life is simple.

Posted in Introspection, Machines, Objects, Sketches and Words, Travel | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Articulating Desk Lamp

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Don West
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Articulating Desk Lamp

Sketch Text:
I bought a new articulating desk lamp today because the apartment I now live in is rather shadowy in its lighting. I can clamp it to the headboard of the bed, or move it to the dining table (where I never dine), and draw to my heart’s content.

There are some of you out there, you know who you are, that “suck” with a pen. Nonsense!
This is sketching for fun and absolutely not for profit…other than the peaceful feeling one gets from doing it. And the fun of sharing it with others.

There are other profits, but none are monetary in nature.

And it ain’t fine art! So loosen up!

(Is this “sucky” enough? Consider it is now world famous on the www!)

Posted in Objects, Sketches and Words, Tools I use to Sketch | Tagged | 2 Comments

A Real Nut Case

Posted on March 11, 2012 by Don West
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A Real Nut Case

Sketch Text:
I got lazy on this one. I didn’t do my biological sciences due diligence and find out if the part of an acorn that attaches to its tree is called a “nut case”. Frankly, if it isn’t, it should be.

So, for the purposes of this journal entry, and so I can make a cool, catchy title for it, I’m officially calling the part of an acorn that attaches to its tree a “nut case”. It encases the nut & holds it in place…pure justification.

I found the little acorn while walking Ben along the Colorado river yesterday. Actually Ben found it by virtue of trying to eat it. He spit it out. So, I thought I’d give it some attention.

This was last year’s acorn. The little nut is all shriveled and fell right out of the case when Ben spit it out.

The case would make a great hat for one of those little-bitty tree frogs…very hipster…a jazz frog.

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

Red Rubber Stopper

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Don West
Red Rubber Stopper

Red Rubber Stopper

Sketch Text:
Sometimes I go find an interesting consignment store to wander around looking for stuff to draw. For some reason, I seem to gravitate towards bottles.

Some of them exibit a great deal of design thought that went into their coming to be. Seems like the older the bottle, the more thought went into the design.

Yet another by-gone era I suppose.

For all you artist types:
I tried a different sketchbook for this one. It was a Canson XL multimedia sketchbook. I like it for using a pen. But for watercolor it’s a bit thin. So I reckon they were thinking light washes and no “on the paper mixing” when they decided to call it “multi-media”. I almost saturated the paper enough to break through it. But I tend to mix on the paper. It was also a bit too absorbent as the first strokes are hard to release for mixing with another color. It reminded me a lot of bond paper but a bit thicker. Too bad. I liked the soft cover.

For you ink and pencil and colored pencil folk…it would be great! Not enough tooth for charcoal I don’t think but I didn’t try that.
Keep on drawing!

 

Posted in Objects, Old Things, Sketches and Words | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

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

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

Bear Skull

Posted on December 25, 2011 by Don West
Bear Skull

Bear Skull

Sketch Text:
My boss killed a bear. My boss field dressed the bear. My boss skinned the bear and hauled it out of the wilderness in pieces (300lbs.). My boss cut the bear up into steaks, sausage, etc. so it could be eaten. My boss eats the bear.

My boss is a G-I-R-L. Yes!…a girl! And she is married!

Imagine if you will, what her husband must think about while falling asleep at night after a spat over not taking out the garbage or vacuuming the house…

I’d bet he is a very light sleeper, uh-huh.

(f.y.i. – I do my best to stay on my boss’s good side.)

 

Posted in Animals, My Job, Objects, Sketches and Words | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Nakona Baseball Glove

Posted on December 4, 2011 by Don West
Nakona Baseball Glove

Nakona Baseball Glove

Sketch Text:
I found my old baseball glove while unpacking an old box after my move at the beginning of last month. I oiled it up for about an hour to get it working again. Then I struck a pose in front of the full length mirror, stretched out in full stride as I hauled in the only spectacular, centerfield, over-the-shoulder catch I ever made.

I still remember saying “I’ll be damn” as I came to a stop, turned, and fired the ball to the shortstop.

The shortstop, Dino, later told me it was “poetry in motion”.

I’m not much of a poet anymore.

 

Posted in Introspection, Nostalgia, Objects, Old Things, Sketches and Words | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Secret Agent Dude A-7

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Don West
Secret Agent Dude

Secret Agent Dude

Sketch Text:
Last weekend marked the end of the summer season in regards to the work I do. We always serve this rather secretive group that has been coming to Aspen this time of year for the last 23 years. Our company provides the transportation for some 250 people in attendance. I could tell you the name of this annual event…but I’d have to hunt you down and terminate you :-)

So this year, a major political foreign figure was in attendance and I was assigned the duty of hauling the luggage under the supervison of the Secret Service. Yes, the Secret Service.

For two days, I was a Secret Agent Dude…disguised as a lowly Luggage Van Driver Dude. You never would have recognized me. I was asked ordered to swallow a voice altering device which remained in my body for the duration of the assignment. No longer did I possess the calming lilt so characteristic of us Southern Gents. Instead, my voice was distinctly French…the only disappointment of the entire duty.

Thankfully, I’m now back to normal. Frenchness does not suit me.


Posted in My Job, Objects, Sketches and Words | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments