abstract

I never draw abstract patterns, but I really enjoy the complex patterns other artists create. Where do they come from? I can happily sit and draw entirely from my imagination but patterns never come out of my pen, it's always people, or animals birds and trees, with the odd contorted house. Never patterns or abstract designs. It's a mystery to me how others do it. Alain Marciano's patterns are complex and intriguing or simple and clean. Sometimes they seem to refer to concrete objects, but on closer examination what appeared to be there, turns out not to be quite what I thought it was:

St, Alain Marciano

Others are purely abstract:

acidité, Alain Marciano

And I'm enjoying both kinds.

Mixing mediums in the sketchbook

I’ve noted a few artists in the pool who are adding other mediums to their sketchbooks and wanted to highlight this. I’m not talking about strictly collaging or using another medium as the main tool, but as an augmentation for texture or visual weight. I’ve noticed too that these are the artists who are “translating” their sketchwork to another medium as the end product.

Danny Mansmith has a mastery with both pen and needle in his work, combining the sketching capabilities of free motion machine embroidery with paper, and ultimately with textiles.






Shemacgo combines the textural qualities of manipulated and cut papers on backgrounds of paint and sketch, using her sketchbooks as a jumping off point for textile work.





I like marking disparate substrates such as painted dryer sheets, tea bag paper, tissues and recycled papers, using paint, marker, pen and stitch, to "find" the image.




I think it's important to see what material will make what kind of mark for weight, effect, contrast and inherent textural effect.

Architectural Sketches

I'm easily impacted by various architectural elements these days, so it should be quite obvious that sketches of this subject matter really fascinates me. Here are a few recent sketches that I found quite impressive.

My friend, Justin Miller of Bound Staff Press created this sketch, which I believe he is currently working on carving on a linoleum block. So in other words, it will soon become a rather impressive print.

Water Tower by Bound Staff Press

Flaf must be quite the architect, because he can really sketch some amazing buildings. Here's another one of his sketches.

Via della Pace by Flaf

And then there is Sharon Frost's amazing perspective fromthe seat of a train.

Looming Beauty by Sharon Frost

Now are you inspired to share the buildings that surround you? I know I am.

Windows

When I firt saw Mallori's drawing I immediately thought of windows:

Project 7, pt 1, Mallori

Investigations into texture, each of these squares seems like an enticing little window onto an alternative universe to me. I really enjoy the variety of pattern, design and texture here, and the graphic simplicity of black on white.

rep·e·ti·tion

rep·e·ti·tion rep·e·ti·tion rep·e·ti·tion rep·e·ti·tion rep·e·ti·tion

Repetitive sketches not only help us to create a trend with our artistic style(s), but it also helps us to improve our mechanics as we sketch. Here are only a few repetitive sketches that were quite impacting to me.

Journal pages - Friends by Heidi Burton


sketchbook hands by Peter Hart


bebop barry puppet sketch by The Pairabirds

One more thing about rep·e·ti·tion is that it is a good design element. So the next time you run out of ideas for a good composition, just practice sketching something over and over again. Who knows, it may become a completed piece of artwork soon.

Continuous Lines

There is an element of a a continuous line drawing with each of these sketches. Or maybe these are all blind sketches (completed while not looking at the paper). Whatever it is, I really appreciate the fluid linear quality.

Sarah Wilde visited the doctor's office and arrived home after some long waits only to share these beautiful sketches. I too feel that the waiting rooms are a great place to sketch people.

This is silhouette sketch by The Pairabirds, and it will hopefully become something new and brilliant. Sketching really is the way to create something new. New ideas come about everyday when we sketch, and then we only have to execute those ideas. I cannot wait to see what becomes of this sketch.

Although I haven't seen many recent sketches by dou_ble_you, I was quite fascinated with the simplistic elements of this sketch.

Sleep. It's not very elegant is it? Particularly in this image, by Peter HartBut I love those lines, and though this is unflinchingly honest, it has compassion. We are all this vulnerable whilst we sleep - it's why sleeping with another is such an intimate thing to do.

sketchbook sleep, Peter Hart

Esta.sketch also has some sleepers on her Flickr stream:

Sleepers, esta.sketch

And here:

Sleepers on a train, esta.sketch

The lines in these two artists work are so very different - Peter's style is quite graphic, whereas esta.sketch's lines are fluid, and multiple, as if she is looking for the form. I enjoy both styles very much and each captures something of essence of sleep and that trusting vulnerability which makes us want to protect the sleeper.

Everyday Items

Recently, I've been enjoying drawings of simple everyday items that people sketch while their bored or just need to create. In fact, it's helping one particular artist, Carolyn Alexander quit smoking, and she's began a blog specific to this. It's called carolyn alexander is giving up smoking.

And here are just a few of the sketches from Community Sketchbook members that inspired me.

Sarah Wilde is cleaning her closet and ridding of many items. These boots are simply one of those items.

elokuu is inspired when he visits a local coffee shop alone, as you can see by the sketch below.

What simple things do you sketch? I think sketching the simple things in life help us as artists build our skills, and if you aren't interested in sketching one day, this may be a good way to get back into the groove. On that note, I think I'd better begin sketching.

Birds!

I love birds - particularly corvids - but all birds really, so when I saw Nakisha VanderHoeven's page of great crow studies I thought I'd share this and another page of studies with you.

Crow Studies, Nakisha VanderHoeven

Esta.sketch also has some lovely bird studies on her Flickr stream:

Birds 2, esta.sketch

Both of these pages are fresh and lively and capture the spirit of the birds in a way that sometimes only a sketch can.

Different Faces

We all see the world different ways, and we all have different faces. I really enjoy seeing other artists' spin on other people.

Megan said she was trying to get back into the swing of painting, and I really enjoy the expressive features of Lexi Prior that she's depicted here. I personally think the textures work very well.

sketchbook page fifty-seven by Megan Kay

Peter Hart captured this woman and her fish with a great expressive quality. I personally enjoy the drippings of red that display a somewhat passionate image and a somewhat emotionless woman.

sketchbook girl with fish by Peter Hart

And then there's Danny Mansmith's sketch. His quality of line drives anyone to wish they were sitting amidst the woman that he's depicted.

Untitled by Danny Mansmith