Old Discarded sketchbook

Having found an old sketchbook (that had hardly been used), thought it was about time I did something with it.   It's one of those with very cheap paper - Rubbish actually, but I didn't want to just chuck it out!  It will at least be good for notes, ideas, reminders and on this occasion I just wanted to play....no serious art.  Very relaxing not having the pressure of serious art isn't it....

anyway, this is what I played with - a sketch of little Hamish, from this pic

I literally just loaded the brush with Burnt Sienna and drew

the overall shape....

when that had dried

I used a darker mix and put in some of the darker tones..

and using clean water on a damp brush, just eased some of the edges out...

then left that stage to dry..

Whilst waiting for the above to dry, I mixed an

even darker mix for the Very Darks

 I realised his head was too high - so I used a clean damp brush and

 tissue to take that part out

and then added the Very Darks

I think at this stage it has actually started to be defined...

it was the Very Darks that did that...

                                                                                      

 I left that to completely dry

and

then

used Chinese White, straight from the tube on a very fine brush

to put in the eye lights, top of nose and a bit on the chin

and that's it

I have found a way of using a discarded sketchbook, due to its poor quality paper!
basically use it for Playing out Ideas and having Fun
 

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I am Linking to
Paint Party Friday today
(thanks to EVA & Kristin)

and do

have a great weekend everyone

************

Old Sketchbooks

I have been known to sketch on old scraps of paper or on the back of watercolour paintings designated for the bin, I'm sure we all have those.  But I do love my sketchbooks which tend to go with me everywhere.  Infact if I have forgotten to take one with me I will head for the nearest shop to get a replacement, even a notebook will do.  Having said that I have recently come across some old sketchbooks.

In a previous post I mentioned that William used to have a thing about chasing bees.  I guess it was the buzzing that got his attention.  Well, in my collection of sketchbooks I found this picture I had done of him looking at one such bee.

I had hurriedly got my pencil outlining in and then went over with my pen.  

Cruise -
This in turn led me to looking through some of my other old sketchbooks and I found one from 1998 (is it really 13 years ago).  We had been on a cruise - at the time a much needed and restorative break for our family - and as usual I had taken my sketchbooks.  The opportunity to just sit and rest on a cruise gave me the excuse, as if I needed one, of sketching.  I thought I would post some of them.

This chap was on a set of stairs and I can remember sketching him as if it were yesterday. I find photographs don't have that effect in the same way, it seems to be the actual putting pen to paper that cements the scene in the brain, or at least it does mine.  He was wearing a blue and white striped shirt, very nautical considering we were on a cruise, perhaps he had bought it especially. 

 It would seem I didn't waste ink with these sketches

One of the ports of call was Portimao in the Algarve.  We stopped for a coffee break and I sketched two people at a nearby table.

........and this chap was absorbed in filming something.  I couldn't resist sketching him, I think it was his shape - yes he really was portly in stature - but how come men always have such slim legs?

I am really glad I had kept these sketchbooks, they have brought back some good memories.