Fantasy with Stillman & Birn Sketchbooks

[DrDebby]

Once more, I'm amazed at the lengths you go to to get what you are looking for. Your portrait looks like a djinn coming out of the smoke.

[JTMB]

I really, really like the ocean painting!

[gakinme]

Thank you, Rainy, John, Debby, for your comments.

I am going to give the waves a rest for a few weeks. Today, back to my girls.

The following paintings are based on photo references from mjranum from devian art.


This one is done on Stillman & Birn Alpha 100 lb spiral bound 9 x 12 inch full page.



First layer - Colorfix pastel ground white

Second layer - a second coat of pastel ground but this time added a dollop of General's Graphite powder. I wanted a gray background without having to use acrylics or having to use pan pastels all round this figure work since it would be awfully tedious.


Third layer - Holbein oil pastel all the way. Amazingly opaque.





The next one was also done on Stillman & Birn Alpha but on spiral journal 100 lb 9x12 inch. This was the page where I experimented on graphite powder and watercolor mix.


First layer - I put Colorfix pastel ground clear all over it.

Second layer - Pan pastel red!! Love red!!


Third layer - Terry Ludwig intense dark and Daler Rowney soft pastels


Where I messed up here and there, I used an electric eraser to lift off the darks and put more red pan pastel in.




I have one more but it's done on cardstock with soft pastels and you could see it here.





Quick doodle on Stillman & Birn Epsilon testing

top left - copic markers and various colored pencils and thinner
top right - Dr. Ph Martin bombay india ink and colored pencil
lower piece - Daniel Smith watercolor and colored pencil

I think I like the watercolor one the best.

[Joan T]

Nice roundness to the bodies!!! Nice way to doodle!!

[DrDebby]

Cool pictures. Like the side by side comparison of the media with your doodle.

[jacquip]

That first portrait is stunning, love the effect you achieved. The red is great in the second, great pose. I like your doodles, i like the copic markers and coloured pencils the best.

[gakinme]

Thank you, Debby, Joan, Jacqui, for your comments.

These two are done on 5.5 x 8..5 inch Stillman & Birn Alpha hardbound 100 lb sketchbook.

Did this one morning just before work near work place with extra fine tip of the Platinum carbon ink fountain pen.



This tree scene was today at lunch near workplace done with Platinum carbon fountain pen. I was ready to experiment on coloring pen work but I didn't want to spoil this pretty pix. I like it in black and white.

So below it, I did some other doodles.

The left football player was Faber Castell Albrecht Durer watercolor pencil and wash first, and then some detailing with Sharpie extra fine pen.

The right side football player was pen work first and then coloring and wash later.

I could see why it's easier to lay down penwork first because the left one, it's a lot of guessing where to put down the color. Yet, I like the simplicity of the left side more than the detailed right one.

[poochemio]

Much as I like your color experiments there is something so poignant about your ink sketches. I miss you sumi play, are you still doing it is it just posted on some forum I don't visit?

[cat1lady]

I never would have thought to put graphite powder in the ground. I'd totally forgotten about putting clear primer of a colored surface - thanks for the reminder.
Again, what a nice variety.

[DrDebby]

Great pen work.

[gakinme]

Thank you, Margo, cat, Debby.

Cat, I wish they didn't have to sell such a big bottle of graphite powder. It's taking me so long to use it up so I'm trying to find multiple ways to waste it.

Margo, I do a bit of sumi from time to time but rarely in sketchbooks. Neither sketchbooks nor watercolor paper could handle the very wet ink from Chinese brushes like rice paper so I never post them here.

Here's a thread of a few horses.

Stillman & Birn Alpha 8.5 x 5.5 inch sketchbook half pages

Continue with yesterday's piece. Today I added Caran D'Ache Neocolor II and washed it and then some areas, I test out how Faber Castell Albrecht Durer watercolor pencil will fare on top of the washed and unwashed parts.

The unwashed parts of Neocolor II of course has all the bumps. But once washed, watercolor pencil can go on without too much problems. But if I wash the watercolor pencil, the underlayers get disturbed. So tomorrow, I need to reverse the order. Use the waterproof ones below first and Neocolor II on top.



This one I did the pen work right after breakfast from a magazine cover partially before I left the house. Apart from the head of the guy and the big building, everything else is improvised. Then after I parked my car at work, saw a beautiful sky and hurried with some Neocolor II and wash.

Now that I look at it, the Neocolor II crayons could be quite useful and I don't even have to do penwork on the sky and clouds.

[RainySea]

Great penwork, Sandra. I especially like the landscapes!! You work near boats, how cool.

[Joan T]

I like your improvised ink sketches!!! These are fun. I also like seeing them before the color is added. Thanks for sharing.

[DrDebby]

Interesting. The one with the sky in color and pen&ink for the scene is striking.

[poochemio]

Thanks for the link to the Horse paintings, they are stellar. You do have such a way with ink whether it's with a brush or a pen. Those Neocolor II's are a lot of fun, thanks for reminding me, I'll have to get my small handfull of them back out and play.