I teach a portrait drawing class and I've noticed that many of my students like to smear their pencils drawings to create shades. Once when I took a drawing class the teacher was adament about not smearing pencil. So I never did. But noticing the nice velvety effects the smudging does for the drawing, I gave it a try. The effects were very pleasing.
Beautiful. I love your sketching. The eyes have beautiful lights in them.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had time to sketch in over a year. I am really missing it, but with three boys ranging nine to one and a busy house and homeschooling, I just haven't made time. Do you have any tips for working sketching into real life?
Thanks for the inspiration!
That is a very good question for moms at any stage of life.
ReplyDeleteI am also a mother of 3 boys, from 5 years and younger. But I managed to keep my art alive. I took classes. I did once in a great while sketches of the boys when they were asleep. I did art projects with them like papermaking, marbling, rubberstamping which are skills that came in handy for me later.
Now that my boys are older, 23, 20 and 17, I can now get more into my art. And all the artsy things that I've done with the boys are worked into my art career now.
But now looking back, I would had carried a small sketchbook and a pen/pencil with me and just doodled or sketch the boys while sleeping. Also look at other people's sketchbbooks. They will give you ideas on how to work in your sketchbook. AN ILLUSTRATED LIFE by Danny Gregory is a great inspiration as well as his other book EVERYDAY MATTERS.
Also if you like to paint, create a area where you can set up to paint for any moment you have free.
And engaged your sons into what you like to do with art. Since you homeschool them there must be lots of resource on art.
No matter what stage of life we are in, we will always as mothers be busy with the family. In my case my sons are home from college and then I have my mother to care ofor. But I have to make painting my priority so I set aside some time.
One more thing, I participate in a sketchcrawl group that meets once a month. This has really booster me into sketching more. So maybe find a group once a month to encourage you to sketch more. Or participate in a life drawing session which I do every 2 weeks. Group support definite will encourage you to draw more and more.
I hope this was helpful but I'm afraid a bit too long. Good luck in your endeavors! It can be done!