Daily Sketching From Life Challenge
8mo
Gannon Beck
I want to draw from life more than I have been. This thread is my attempt to jump-start the habit of daily life sketching.
If anyone wants to join in, feel free. The only rule is that you have to draw (or paint) the world around you without using photo reference.
I did these yesterday at the Combat At Symposium at the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
The symposium itself was amazing. The highlight for me, besides just being around and talking with so many great artists, was the trip we took to see the Army's art collection. In the collection were four pieces from Norman Rockwell, several paintings from Dean Cornwell, and the paintings of Thomas C. Lea III, including his painting "The 2000 yard stare", which has taken up space in my head for the last 30 years.
There were lots of other paintings and drawings from that era that we looked at as well, watercolors, charcoal drawings, oil paintings, etc. There was way more than we could see in the few hours we were there.
The guest speaker was war artist & illustrator, James Dietz. He brought one of his recent original oil paintings to look at. I spent as much time with the painting as I could, but I was able to have some in-depth conversations with Jim over the course of the symposium, especially during the car ride to see the Army's collection and at dinner. He is a true gentleman.
On Saturday we did some drawing and painting around the museum. I only got these two sketches done as I was taking the opportunity to talk with as many people as I could.
As far as the drawings go, I can see the work I've been doing for the last few months really making its way into my drawing. I'm using plum lines, shadow maps and rhythms in a way that I didn't before I really buckled down. All the drills and drawing seem to be paying off.
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3mo
Thanks for sharing! Your progress has been inspiring to watch. Awesome that you got the opportunity to experience some great pieces of art with your fellow artists. Love these sketches, great work!
I joined an urban sketch group in Washington DC. Even contending with the rain (while using watercolor no less) I had a good time.
Hanging out at my sculptor friend's studio. He has a huge, life-sized Hulk bust he did for a client. Fun to draw.
Didn't have a lot of time to put into my sketch today, and it shows. Perspective is way off. But, it's good to show the bad ones. I'll try this again some other time.
I went to the zoo again this morning to do more sketching. I'll post this one for now, but will do a bigger post later when I get back to my scanner.
He actually stayed still long enough for me to sketch him. I did this yesterday but posted the sketch of the log burner instead. Haven't got time today, hence posting this.
I'm reeeeeeaaaaally not happy with this sketch. It's of a die cast car my dad has on his shelf, and I just missed the mark. If I have time, I'll try this again, but for tonight, this is what I was able to get done.
Evening dog walk. Another view across the fields to the village from the corner of a potato field.
Very nice! What is your setup like? What kind of supplies do you take with you when you do watercolors outside?
