Sketches from summer 2017 with a twist

 

 

 

 

This is a self portrait I made directly into my sketchbook the way I had been making the sketches in my last post. As you can see, the page is again crinkly, which as I said, I like, but I have a tendency to overwork my sketches and risk making holes in the paper. So I got an idea...

 

 

 

 

I wondered what would happen if I "rubber cemented" pieces of Duralene® into my sketchbook. Duralene is a nonporous velum that can be used for drafting as well as sketching. I love working on it because it is easy to erase and because you can "push" wet media around on it. Several of my figure studies were done on this substrate. So, I sliced several pieces and glued them to the pages of my pad. First, I tried another self portrait.

Then, I started making sketches of animals. I drew any animal I wanted. Notice how vibrant the color is on the Duralene. It took some getting used to, but I began to love being able to "push" and "pull" the paint around for a while before it dried. I also began adding text so I could use my sketchbook as a sort of journal. The text is done with a Signo Uniball® Pigment Ink UM-153 white pen. Little by little, I am finding a new direction for my sketchbook drawings that I not only find relaxing but also immensely rewarding.

By the way, I am painting with a fine point water pen. Mine is made by Sakura. The paints are the Windsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Sketcher's Pocket Box. I use the ten color set. And here's a tip I learned from a guy at Dick Blick Art Supplies: If you run out of a color, buy a tube of Cotman watercolor and squeeze it into the little pan. Then let it dry for a day or two. It is the same paint. There is more paint in the tube, and the price is lower than buying a new half pan. I tried it, and it worked perfectly.

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