Pug Sketch (Bamboo Stick & Watercolor Wash)

Purple Pug
(watercolor 5"x7"; bamboo stick and Lexington Gray Noodler's
Bulletproof ink; micon 02 pen; Arches 140# cp)

This little pug is another dog I met at the local dog park a few weeks ago. He looked tough and dear at the same time, ready to take on the world!

I drew him the same way I sketched yesterday's tulips. Here is a picture of my bamboo "pen" and Noodler's ink:

Bamboo Stick and Noodler's Ink

Sometimes it feels good to get back to the basics. And what could be more basic than a stick and some ink?!?

Here is the initial sketch of the pug:

Pug Sketch with bamboo stick and Noodler's Ink

Opera Pink Tulips

Opera Pink Tulips
5"x7" watercolor on Arches 140# cp;
Noodler's Lexington Gray Bulletproof ink & bamboo stick; micron 02 pen

I love droopy tulips! Here's a helpful tip from my florist: if you want your tulips to droop, use a vase with a curved shape. If you want your tulips to remain straight, use a straight-sided vase. I've tried both types of vases, and have found this advice to be quite reliable!

For this sketch, I used a bamboo stick dipped in Lexington Gray Bulletproof Noodler's Ink. Then I used two fun, new (to me) colors: Holbein "Opera" pink and Winsor & Newton "Quinacridone Gold." These will both become part of my regular palette. (The green leaves are just a mixture of greens and a touch of brown). Finally, I added a few ink lines with my trusty micron pigment pen.

Croissant Sketch

EDM #162 (micron 02 pen, watercolor,
Fabriano hot press paper 5x7 inch)

Here is Everyday Matters challenge #162: Draw your breakfast. This croissant is from my favorite local french bakery, St. Honore Boulangerie.

Here is a picture of the restaurant's sign I took last summer:

St. Honore Boulangerie
(please click on image to enlarge)

Elizabeth Gilbert and Creativity

Elizabeth Gilbert sketch
(Lamy Safari fountain pen in sketch book)
Lamy Safari fountain pen in sketch book

Yesterday, Camille Olsen kindly sent me a link to a TED talk on creativity. This talk featured Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love) describing a different way to think about creative genius.

While I can't say I agree with her entire premise, there is some interesting food for thought in her 20 minute lecture. In my opinion, everybody is creative in his/her own way. I am less concerned with knowing the source of our creativity and more concerned with simply expressing the creativity that is inherent in each of us.

Of course, this is sometimes easier said than done. We all experience creative slumps at one time or another. If you'd like to share, I'd love to know what helps you get out of a creative dry spell and back into the creative flow.

Here's a link to the talk: TED.com.

Thanks, Camille!

Boston Terrier Sketch

Micron 02 pen, watercolor, sketchbook

This Boston Terrier is another frisky little fella I met at the dog park last week. His owner was a young woman who had a youngster in her backpack, a toddler by the hand, this dog on one leash and a wiggly pug on another leash. As they walked along, it was like a merry, mobile 3-ring circus!

Saffron Rose Cupcake

Watercolor, Noodler's Ink Bulletproof Lexington Gray, Fabriano hot press paper

This painting is based on the scrumptious-looking Saffron Cupcake created by Asa. You can see the original here on her photostream. It looks like a bouquet of yellow roses, almost (almost!) too good to eat!

I experimented with Noodler's Ink in Bulletproof Lexington Gray and a dip pen. Then I added watercolor and some random splashes of paint.

Here is another version. This one is a little looser. It is done on Arches coldpress paper with a micron 02 pigment pen and watercolor.

Watercolor, micron 02 pen, Arches cold press paper

Thanks for giving me permission to paint your lovely saffron cupcake, Asa! It was a lot of fun!