Everyday Paris

Another page from my Imaginary Trip to Paris with Laure Ferlita. Enjoying the sights, food and museums. Sure wish I was there!

Wandering Paris

My Imaginary Trip to Paris continues. Lots of fun and laughs with a great bunch of artists and Laure Ferlita (our host). This week we are touring Versailles, and WOW! The assignment was to pick a scene and do a time sketch (the time up to us). I am striving to learn fast sketch techniques and I am happy to say I am!! I allowed 10 minutes for a quick pen only sketch of the framework and scribbles of the art within of this CEILING view (yes the ceiling is jaw dropping gorgeous). 10 minutes for paint concentrating on VALUES. then 10 or so for text 'back at our hotel'. Sorry my text scanned so faintly - need to up my pen sizes. There are more pages to post, as soon as I have time ;)

Imaginary Trip to Paris - Crypt

Laure Ferlita hosts Imaginary trips to wonderful places (imaginarytrips.com) and a troupe of fabulous journal sketchers have just arrived in Paris, myself included. I highly recommend the course for its fun, creative atmosphere with new learning curves around every corner.

Here is my first post from a highly unlikely location: Pere lachaise Cemetery (timed - only 35 minutes allotted) -

I love Paris and my last visit I was a newbie journaler, this trip I am raring to go (and prepare for my Paris trip next spring!)

Jane LaFazio Lesson 5

I have several Rocket Dogs, and I adore rubber tipped sneakers but hate lace ties - so these are Perfect. The class is nearing it's end, each has been fun and challenging and educational - I still do not seem to have time to get many sketches done but - this one turned out to be really Fun!

Jane LaFazio Lesson 4

Lesson 4 - I'm Late, we started lesson 5 yesterday!! I just do not seem to have the time and energy to get into the flower sketching lesson. (A cold bug has hit the house!!) The above is my only attempt, I'm not thrilled with it overall. Perhaps this weekend will allow some time to catch up and enjoy the process.

Lessons Learned

Mid way on my class, these three subjects represent the "Lessons Learned" . . so far.

Blue on blue

Started the spread with the Wonky Mickey Mouse teapot/cup setup for Jane LaFazio's class (done in continuous line) and wonky it is, but the technique is fun. Then I wanted to branch out to my favorite china pattern "Blue Calico" and the vase fit in quite well Not sure I like the pink striping I chose for the background but then again I freeze when adding any background or text.

WCP wild flower

I am really struggling with water color pencils here - This little flower caught my eye on my walk, nice simple structure for a wcp sketch but not a lot of depth here.

WCP Rock exercise

It was evening before I could start on this exercise. I didn't want to work from a photo, so I got the only rock in the house - my door stop slab picked up at Bar Harbor, Maine. - Pretty - I pretend that is a vein of gold.

Trees and Bark Study

Did my tree/bark study yesterday when I got home from work - not happy with the scan but the sketch looks better today than I thought :)

WCP Value sketches

Last night I worked up 4 value sketches for Kate Johnson's online Water Color Pencil Class - it certainly is helpful with layout and values which are so Key!! My scanner, however does not like black and white apparently. I am sure there is a setting somewhere I need to adjust - sigh - something else to fiddle with.

At any rate, here they are. (graphite in WCP sketchbook)

WCP tomatoes

I just dove in, my tomato plant is full of green tomatoes and just screamed to be sketched. Of course I have to dive in and try a complete spread and disregard the class progression - AND I used my usual sketch book - not the book chosen for water color pencil work. But here it is, and boy do I have a lot to learn!

Value study

VALUE STUDY

I thought I would post this value study I did for Kate Johnson's on-line WC class. As a total newbie to watercolor I have to admit this is all quite a challenge. With my EDM sketching I found I enjoyed adding some wc and of course I have always admired those to make it look so easy to paint only in watercolor. This medium always seemed totally unattainable to me. After a total failure, I started anew and managed this sketch. I am struggling but certainly learning big lessons. This one was fun and yes I now understand that value is really much more important than the actual color. This medium is one that never is fully accomplished, there is always more to learn and try and do and amazement awaits.

Pencil sketch on 300# Fabriano Traditional white cold press. WC values added