Well, it's not anywhere near 20 minute sketching, but I have been busy painting signs. Both signs are large and double-sided, which is really equivalent to painting two signs apiece. They are done in a durable combination of house paint and artist acrylic, which is also the combo I use for mural painting.
The greenhouse sign was originally painted by me ten years ago, but weathering over the years caused some fading. The bright flowers and detail lines were due for a touch up, and it looks as good as new again!
Another night of trying something new and different for a 20 minute sketch. This seems to me the essence of energy, what happens when a star falls out of the sky and comes to earth. You could call it a meteorite, but it's not as romantic sounding. Pencil and oil pastel, 5 1/2" x 8". Oil pastel has never been a favored medium of mine. It's greasy, you can't get fine detail, and the colors don't mix well, if at all. But, it has great saturated color and it's easy to use (like grown-up crayons).
Trying a different medium and subject tonight. What began as a detailed sketch of an ear turned into a half portrait of a great but fictional person I've been reading quite a bit about lately. If you're into deeply thoughtful, classically written stories about magic, this one's a doozy. Hard pastel, 5 1/2" x 8".
Strawberries are almost in season, but I just couldn't wait to get some to eat (and paint). Watercolor and water soluble pencil, approx. 5" x 8". Working around those little seeds in 20 minutes is most certainly a challenge in watercolor (having to leave the whites). I love intense reds, and had to restrain my desire to color everything in bright solid red from the start. I would really like to do another 20 minute strawberry painting sometime soon, but it will be with different berries as these are getting eaten tonight!
Back in April I designed a small square that might go into a calendar, so I thought I'd do one for the month of May as well. Pencil and pen, approx. 4" square. May really is all about flowers (and rain, apparently). This would be fun to see with lots of bright springy color, especially embroidered that way.
This lovely lady was inspired by a cover of a century-old piano piece called "Woodland Echoes." She's certainly a charming little bit of a pinup, 1908-style. Her pose and dress emulates classical sculpture and was enjoyable to sketch as I haven't done a figure in a while. 20 minute sketch, pencil and watercolor, approx. 5 1/2" x 8". My recent experience with figure drawing has been limited to photo inspiration or candid casual poses of people in stadiums, waiting rooms, and such. But given the chance, working from a live posed model is the best scenario. I think most artists would agree!
