Everyday Objects tutorial

It's my month to pick the theme for The Sketchbook Challenge, and it may come as no surprise to my loyal readers that the theme I've chosen is "Everyday Objects." And so to celebrate the theme, here's a tutorial on drawing your everyday objects using a Tombow water soluble pen. (I like the black or grey pens and use the tip, not the brush end of the Tombow dual brush pens--but any water soluble pen will work for this.) This method makes it quick and easy to capture drawings in your sketchbook!

1. Sketch your object with pencil first. (The proportions are a off in the drawing, which I didn't notice till I looked at the photo, but I'm not going to worry about it. No time or reason to completely redraw this.)

2. Pencil over your sketchlines a little darker, getting the details and symmetry as best you can.


3. Using your water solube pen, and still looking at the object, redraw your lines. Erase the pencil lines.( Notice the slight smears? Tombow pens take a few minutes to dry.)

4. Use my fave Niji Waterbrush, or any paintbrush with some clear water.

5. With your brush, touch the edge of the line and shade with the ink. Do this sparingly and try not to cover very much of the white of the page. (It's a great way to learn to practice learning to see subtle shading and shadow.)

I'm working in a Strathmore Visual Journal (mixed media~ 9x12) and plan to add more Everyday Objects to this page (and to my journal.) I'll post my images throughout the month of August.



I added a little red watercolor to my chicken timer.

And, throughout August I'll show you how I have leveraged some of my sketches into my other mixed media and fiber arts projects using some of the ideas from my DVD/dowload "From Art Journaling to Art."
You can see my complete 'in person and online' teaching schedule here.

Utah watercolor journal pages

My watercolor pages from my trip to Utah. There is something about these thistles that I love. They always make me think of my grandmother. On the right of the page, I played with some designs, based on the realistic image on the left.

A flower from our table arrangement. And some designs based on the realistic version.

Wildflowers from the property.

Captured this long distance view from the porch. (above and below)

(yes, that's a photo of the view from my pogo printer.)


We sketched at a nearby store.

and you saw a glimpse of this one, here.

Botanical-ish in my Mixed Media Journal

Imagine that! I'm working in a large sprial bound journal! The Strathmore Mixed Media Visual Journal at 9x12 inches! You can teach an old dog new tricks, I guess. True, the mixed media paper takes the watercolors differently that my usual high quality watercolor paper, but I think it helps me work looser.

As I drew the blooms, leaves and pods of the Eucalyptus leucoxylon 'rosea' (White Ironbark) from snippets of the tree, I also created little graphic designs on the same page. So fun!



I'll use the designs in my other artwork, maybe free motion stitching or who know what! (Like in chapter 4 of my DVD/download "From Art Journaling to Art.)



I'm teaching a 6 week Sketching & Watercolor: Journal Style class in  downtown San Diego this year (starts October 11-Tuesdays, 9-noon through the Athenaeum-- registration isn't open yet) and I'm playing with ideas for the sllyabus.

I'm thinking this would make a cool stamp or thermofax print. You know I'll keep you posted!



You can see my teaching schedule here. (Phoenix August 5: Pinecones & Pods and online starting August 11, Friday Harbor near Seattle September 10&11)
I'm teaching in Utah right now, returning next week, then onto the Long Beach International Quilt Festival. Oh, and I'm even teaching sketching & watercolor at Make It University at the Quilt Festival! Saturday, July 30, 11:45-12:45. Sign up for the lottery beforehand, limited to 25.

Pinecones & Pods

I love drawing pinecones and pods. So much, that I'll be teaching just that at Art Unraveled on August 5 in Phoenix. Sketching & Watercolor: Pinecones & Pods.

My mixed media journal

Here's one of my watercolors glued onto a cool background in my sketchbook.

Fun backgrounds, huh?

EASY! I used a white crayon and Colorations Liquid Watercolor.
  
Here's another background I've done, same technique.
  
I started with the white crayon, on this one, and added yellow and orange liquid watercolor (left), then let it dry, and added some red (right).
   


    
Then I doodled some flowers in permanent ink and painted the negative space with Violet liquid watercolor.

We'll play with watercolors and white crayons in the mixed media journal workshop I'm teaching at San Clemente Art Supply (with Linda Blinn!) on July 9 & 10 (register here). AND, I'll show you how to draw and paint a little watercolor similar to the green pepper...and a whole bunch of other cool stuff.

just because

Jane Powell has this monkey in her collection of...vintage...uh...odd stuff. You can see my tutorial on how I got the sheet music in the background here.


I bought this little ceramic bird in North Carolina, so had to draw him too.

And still playing with ideas for my workshoip Mixed Media Sketchbooks & Journals on July 9 & 10 at San Clemente Art Supply (CA) with Linda Blinn.

Watercolor journal pages. My usual 5x7" Guess what! I'll be teaching a two day workshop "Sketching & Watercolor: Journal Style" in beautiful Friday Harbor (near Seattle) on September 10 & 11 with Wild at Heart Studios. My husb is from Seattle, so he'll definitely come with me.

Baby Pine Cone

My husb brought this snippit of baby pine cone home from his golf game, because he knew I'd like it. How sweet is that?

Thanks sooo much to everyone for all the wonderful comments on my recent post!!
And the winner of my new DVD From Art Journaling to Art is: Marilyn! She wrote..."Juanita did a wonderful job. Your dvd most be great. I just started sketching and some watercolors about a year ago and really enjoy your blog." (Email me, Marylin, with your address)

more everyday objects

A pitcher from my collection, and a spoon. Spoons are so...comforting. I guess it's because we Westerners use a spoon everyday. What are your favorite 'everday objects?' I know candles are one of mine. and I do have a spoon holder in the kitchen I'm particulary fond of. I broke my recently purchased favorite wine glass, #%*&, so I won't be painting that... Tell my yours....

everyday objects

The pitcher on the right was my grandmothers. I have so few things of her's. I guess that's what starting me collecting tiny pitchers. 

Online class: Sketching & Watercolor: Journal Style March 3-April 7