Three Nudes - ballpoint pen sketch

One of those drawings I like to do at drawing groups - putting three figures over each other.  I like that there's no time to fix things, but just record my response to the model.  When I do these kinds of drawings, I always leave with a sense of accomplishment - even more than when I've done a fairly successful painting.  Not sure what that says about me and am not going to try and analyze, but just go with it.  I matted this to about 10 x 7".  Thanks for looking!

Line Jive - ink figurative drawing of dancers

This ink drawing is really the inspiration for the previous post, although I did make some changes when I did the painting. Just letting your pen go a little crazy is a good thing and results in the most interesting outcomes.  I used two pens  -  Sharpie and Itoya.  While I like using these kinds of pens, I also love dip pens - they don't give the same results, but their line quality is often fascinating.  This drawing is on Strathmore Bristol, about 5 x 5 1/2".  Thanks for stopping by!

On My Easel - pen and ink portrait/figurative Work In Progress

Ink is one of the best drawing improvers - and one of the most frightening.  No way to make it right if you mess up -  or at least I haven't found it yet!  I look at this and think 'should I create more texture'?  Or just leave it at this stage?   Will think this over and am definitely open to suggestions.  For this one I used Micron and Sharpie pens on Canson drawing paper.  It's about 9 x 10".  Thanks for stopping by!

How I Start a Drawing - ink volleyball gestures

Here are a few gestures from a volleyball game at which I was a spectator.  These kinds of drawings always remind me of wire sculptures - an art form that I really enjoy.  I did these in a little notebook that I often carry - one of the drawings has my notes in Gregg shorthand - another art form, as well as a communication device.  I still use shorthand most days and am thinking of ways to incorporate it into my artwork.  Several years ago, I saw that done in a painting - it was more of an assemblage that featured a key on a cord that was draped in front of the shorthand.  Really unique and beautiful.  Anyway, back to the present - I realize that these drawings don't appear to be very substantial, but for me, all the art I do starts this way.  Thanks for looking.

 

Guitarist Doodle - mixed media cowboy drawing

I had a chance and took advantage of it to quickly sketch this cowboy playing his guitar.  I drew it with a black Sharpie, and occasional outlines with a Tombow pen and a little bit of water, then I added colored pencil.  This sketch is done on 8 x 6" mixed media paper.  Thanks for looking!

Lindy Seated - original ink figurative drawing

This ink and stick drawing was done from a pose while sitting outside a sandwich shop on West 6th Street in Austin, Texas.  I used an extremely thin balsa wood stick with India ink - one of my favorite ways to draw - and just let the ink kind of do its own thing.  This is a wonderfully freeing type of art and just good for the soul - or my soul, anyway.  I did this drawing on - I think it's Yupo, about 8 x 5".  Thanks for looking!

Curlicues - original ink drawing

Since I haven't posted in awhile - busy with lots of happy things - here is an ink drawing of an ironwork balcony I did earlier in the summer.  It's about 9 x 5 1/2" - thanks for stopping by!

Middleweights - original ink figurative drawing

Sometimes I watch boxing matches - reminds me of sitting with my father as we watched the fights.  Nice memories.   This drawing is on 9 x 12" Bristol board, which is such a good paper for drawing - I used the vellum type and two kinds of pens - Itoya and Penstix.
Just as with drawing dancers, it's important to use memory, which is what I did here.   I saw an online drawing course recently that included memory drawing.  I taught that concept in my figure drawing classes from years ago, and although I haven't seen it mentioned in classes very often, it's a really great drawing exercise.

Nudes Over Nudes - original mixed media drawings of nudes

As I was taking the photo for this post, I laid the oil pastel drawing on top of the ink drawing and realized - hey I like this! - and since I'm always looking for a way to have my line drawings along with paintings, I think I've found it!  One of life's little happy accidents.  The bottom drawing is brown Sharpie ultra fine on 9 x 12" watercolor paper and the top is oil pastel on 8 x 6" mixed media paper.  Can't wait to combine this technique on one canvas.  Do y'all love making discoveries in your art unintentionally like this?  I'll bet it's a pretty usual art experience for artists.  Thanks for looking!

The Print Dress - original ink portrait drawing

This afternoon I was watching what I guess one would call a 'costume drama', but this 'costume' was definitely not in the movie.  Somehow, though, I just had the urge to draw a print dress and here it is - a little sketch, but very pleasing to do.  Ink is so tricky - this was actually a very thin marker - but you never know until you actually make a mark whether it'll work or not and then it's too late.  Great for drawing training, but still, sometimes best to leave things out, which is what I did here.  Usually, I just go for it and then regret it.  Maybe after all this time, I'm learning that less really is more.  Who knows?  Anyway, it's 8 1/2 x 6" on cold press watercolor paper.  Thanks for stopping by.

Lavender Nudes - original ink and water soluble crayon drawing

I held a Penstix ink marker pen at the end next to me, so that I couldn't control the pen very well, plus the cold press watercolor paper with all those hills and valleys also makes the job a little more iffy.  SO much fun to do  - I can get a looser line and somehow it's just so satisfying to my soul.  Don't know what it says about me that I don't like to be in control - just an artist for ya, I guess.  It's about  9 x 10 1/2".  Thanks for stopping by!

Three Linear Nudes - original ink drawing of nudes

When picking the name for this drawing, I looked up "linear" in the trusty Merriam-Webster (love getting Word of the Day from them) and decided that linear would, indeed, apply.  I've heard about linear thinking, linear regression, linear algebra, linear garage door openers, and on and on, so thought maybe the way I've used the word as applied to art might have been wrong.  But it's a perfect use of the word and these nudes ( 9 x 12") are SO linear - totally nothing but lines.  Again with the Alex Powers thing - you like line or you like shapes.  Me, I'm a line woman.  I would  love to have a poll as to which of y'all like lines or shapes.  I think there may be a poll gadget on Blogger somewhere, but I'll probably never figure it out.  So anyway, thanks for stopping by!

The Heavyweights - original ink figurative drawing

I guess I'm on a line drawing kick - the most fun for me, actually.  I just came across this 9 x 12" while looking through some drawing pads today.  This one is from December, I think.  Listening to George Jones right now - a great Saturday night, folks!  Thanks for stopping by!

Shayna In Line - original nude ink drawing

I used a brown ultrafine point Sharpie on Strathmore Mixed Media paper - love that stuff - about 8 1/2 x 10".  Thank you for visiting my blog!

Jitterbug in Lavenders and Blues - original Sharpie and watercolor drawing

I have had this brown Sharpie ultra fine point for a long time and just never used it, but am so glad I finally got around to it!  Always a fan of black and white, I am beginning to appreciate other colors of ink and there's nothing better to draw with than a Sharpie, which comes in tons of colors.  I drew this on 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" watercolor paper, then painted with watercolor.  Thanks so much for visiting my blog!

More Crazy Ink Jivers - original ink figurative drawing

Scribble, scribble, scribble and there they are - away for awhile, but they're back.  I miss them when they're gone, so I make sure to keep in touch.  I love drawing with ink, whether a more precise drawing, or a scribbly one like this (about 14 x 9 1/2" on Strathmore drawing paper) - hope you like it.  Thanks for stopping by!

Volleyball Shorthand - original ink figurative drawing

I took my sketchbook to a volleyball game and made several gesture drawings - of course, some are a little easier to decipher than others.  I will post a few of them over a few weeks time.  Gesture drawings are made to capture the energy and movement of the figure - they're not intended to be complete or finished, but they can provide so much information that more finished works can be drawn or painted from the gesture.

This drawing is on a Strathmore sketchbook page.  Thanks for visiting my blog!

A Bit of Eve - original figurative ink drawing

Very quick drawing - a favorite method of mine.  This was done in my sketchbook with a fountain pen.  Thanks for looking!

Blue Jivers Again - original ink and watercolor figurative drawing

I must have a new fave - black ink or marker with touches of blue watercolor.  Actually I love so many kinds of media - no end to the fun!  As much as I adore my tango dancers, I'm crazy about the energy of the jivers - they never tire.  For this 6 x 6" Bristol paper piece, I used a black Sharpie.  Other favorites are Prismacolor markers and Itoya.  Added a little watercolor just for fun.  Thanks for visiting my blog!

Ink Nude - original ink drawing of a nude

The model was actually texting as I drew.  After doing an outline on Yupo using an Itoya pen, I put lots of blues and reds on the drawing, using watercolor sticks, then rubbing it off.  The green is plain watercolor.  It's about 8 1/2 x 6 1/2".  Thanks for looking!