Sktchy30 - The halfway mark, meeting the challenge

There are plenty of challenges around. A recent one was #oneweek100 people; there's the 365 day drawing challenge; Celebrate ink in Inktober, etc. Frequently, I have started a challenge with enthusiasm and optimism only to abandon it halfway through. Sometimes it was due to the choice of prompts which were uninspiring (to me) sometimes other matters took priority.

When the Sktchy app came up with #Sktchy30 I thought that it was something I could achieve more easily than most of the other challenges. Each day a prompt from Sktchy arrives in my inbox. As an example, describe the rituals that get you creating; incorporating play into your work; the use of  colour; describe your workplace/studio environment.

Since the email arrives in Australia in the afternoon(early morning in the US) most of the day has passed before the prompt arrives. I prefer to start drawing early or even the day before which make using the prompt difficult. So I decided from the beginning to create my own challenge:

• to see if I could use a different medium or try a different technique each day.
• If time was an issue on a particular day then the sketch would be quick 5/10 minutes
• If I had more time on another day, and had already completed a sketch, I would start something more ambitious to complete another day.

If I'm working later in the day and I can incorporate the prompt that is a bonus. So far the prompts have been more motivational than a specific theme or subject and my plan is working. I also remembered a toned sketchbook that I had hardly used. Experimenting with various mediums on this surface has been an interesting exercise. I think I might even grow fond of the paper! 

Here are some of the work created during the last two weeks. 

 

Watercolour on Alpha paper

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Gouache on Alpha paper

Quick contour drawing - ink and wash

 

Digital drawing - Procreate

 

Colour added - Procreate

 

Gouache on Strathmore toned paper 

Experimenting with masking fluid and watercolour 

 

Mark Rothko - screenshot from a video about the artist

 

Portrait of Evelyn Nesbit - gouache on toned paper

Gouache on toned paper

 

Digital drawing - Procreate

 

Ballpoint pen, white ink and gouache

Making Moleskine work

In a previous post I grumbled about the Moleskine Sketchbook. I struggled with the fact that it wasn't compatible with watercolour. I know I should really try the watercolour version! When I was preparing to go away before Christmas I decided I had to do something positive with this beautiful red Moleskine sketchbook. It was a gift from some friends in South Africa and I felt guilty that I had not used it much.

While away on holiday I started to experiment. I discovered that Derwent Inktense pencils worked really well on the pages. The colours make a strong statement, so combined with ink I could introduce colour that enhanced the ink lines.

Then the ink in my Lamy Safari ran out so I experimented with a simple Bic ball point pen - and was pleased with the results.

A Breakfast of organic beans with feta on sour dough toast at Organika in Noosa - using a black Bic Cristel M

A box of Acrylic gouache bought in Japan many years ago came out of hiding. This introduced a good surface for ink drawing, especially with a dip pen. I'll be using more of this technique.

Burnt Forest - Noosa Pental acrylic gouache and sepia ink

So I am beginning to love the sketchbook. Knowing its limitations, taking advantage of its strengths and being forced out of my comfort zone - all good things as I face the coming year.

 

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