Category Archives: Sketches and Words

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

Ben Sleeps

Posted on March 4, 2012 by Don West

image

Ben Sleeps


Sketch Text:
Doing the laundry at the “Cajun Cleaners” today. Yes, I live in the Rockies. No, I don’t know why it’s called “Cajun Cleaners”. I have seen stranger things here…believe me.
Anyway, waiting on the goods to finish, I thought I would draw Ben sleeping in the car. However, he always moves in mid-sketch when he hears the scritch-scritch of the pen on the paper.

Perhaps a small sedative next time would help.

Posted in Animals, Sketches and Words, The Book of Ben | Tagged | 2 Comments

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 ;-)

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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

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

Hopeless Romantic

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Don West
Hopeless Romantic

Hopeless Romantic

Sketch Text:
Don’t try and understand why I would sketch a Coleman, Single Burner, PerfectFlow™ stove for this entry. It’s complicated and has to do with love, romanticism, doing good for others, being inspired to give, and finding my own purpose in this life.

“How could that be?!” you say. I know. I never thought a Coleman stove would ever become a symbol of my own understanding of myself. They’re great for makin’ grilled cheese sandwiches in the remotest of picnic places though…provided you take along a Teflon™ coated Tefal™ sandwich skillet. And they make a great kit for enabling the homeless to cook their own meals…freeze-dried backpacking meals, boiled water, and a match=nutrition on the cheap.

So, enough confusing verbiage. Recent events have caused considerable introspection on my part. My purpose is to love. Love myself fully and confidently. And then to love another as she has never been loved. The rest will work itself out once I find the person who is ready to receive that which is the result of me fulfilling my purpose here in this life :-)

Posted in Introspection, Sketches and Words | Tagged , | 6 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

That’s My Story and I’m Stickin’ To It

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Don West
Belt And Badge

That's My Story and I'm Stickin' To It!

Sketch Text:
I wear a uniform of sorts for my job. A knit pullover-green with company logo on the left breast-khaki pants, black shoes, a badge, and belt. Simple and easy. UNLESS you can’t find the badge and belt!

Hmmmm…Don to self…”Where’s my belt? Ah, must still be in my pants…nope. Ah, the bathroom doorknob…hmmm…not there. In the hamper by mistake? Downstairs? Under the bed? Dang Boy! Whad’d you do with your dad burn belt?!”

Then I grabbed my cell phone and realized I had a message from…shall we say…”a friend of noteworthy significance.”

“You left your badge and belt over here :-) ”

Now, before you loyal readers start jumpin’ to conclusions, and I know you’ve already begun, I give you the standard excuse for this slip of the mind. “It’s NOT what it seems!”

I was simply uncomfortable with the belt and wanted to relax while at my “friend of noteworthy significance’s” home. Likewise for the badge. So the belt was hung on a chair & the badge was put on the coffee table. Upon leaving I forgot ‘em.

That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it!

 

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

Definition of Poop

Posted on May 26, 2011 by Don West
Definition Of Poop

Definition Of Poop...click for a larger image.

Sketch Text:
Personally, this one’s kinda ugly and lifeless. But I’m sketchin’ for the sake of sketchin’ today because I hear Brother Drawing Funk pecking at my door. I figure if I put something on the page, perhaps he’ll pass me by.

And since this IS a journal, I feel compelled to put the poop down as well. BTW, “poop” is a sort of unsatisfying attempt at creativity. (my definition.)

Further Comments:
“Poop” may seem like a strong word in this context.
Think “shucks”, “darn”, “dang-it” or “dad-burn”. An expression of self-dissatisfaction or the enduring of a mild but unpleasant experience.
And since sketching is supposed to be a good and fulfilling experience for us…when it isn’t, I usually think “poop”.

I hope that clarifies it a bit.

Posted in Sketches and Words, The Great Outdoors | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments