Jonathan, head study

After doing my usual two-hour drawing of the model, I went on to do a quick head study on relatively pebbly w/c paper.  I like how the 2B comes out darker because of the texture.

Fabriano Artistico 140# paper, pencil.

9 fingers and three thumbs

Filling a page. Pencil, in the journal.

Dhamma Brothers

The Dhamma Brothers was an excellent documentary on Netflix about an Alabama prison's Vipassana meditation program (early 2000s), and how it affected the participants (beneficially!). I paused the film to draw this prison guard. Pencil in the journal.

the underview

Tired of drawing the same view of my feet, so got the underside this time. There really was that light strip up the bottom. Pencil in the unlined PaperBlanks journal.

the story of the current journal cover

Unlined PaperBlanks journals are hard to find, so I get them no matter what the cover is. This one had an extremely shiny black and gold finish with a very-not-me pattern.

I tamed it down with a coating of Daniel Smith watercolor ground. Since I had no yellow covers in that recent pictured collection, I put on a thin coating of yellow acrylic.

 The doodle came to me when I was making a shopping list, so I did a bigger version on the volume, with black Sharpie.

a new bear in the mix

Cleaning closets, I found this old puzzle. Stop everything and draw! Detailing all the intricate puzzle borders let me escape from closet cleaning for a nice long time. Pencil in the lined journal.

18 of the previous 22 journal volumes

Four didn't get into this picture, one of which is missing. I put them all in chronological order and discovered that.

The oldest here starts on December 9, 2010. I used all types, mostly non-spirals, mostly my own cover re-designs.

Finished a volume on 8/18, not pictured here. Onward to fill pages!

never quite right

Nose just a bit too big, forehead not that far back. The ear looks almost right.

But I keep trying, in spite of the moving model.

Pencil in the lined PaperBlanks journal.

just one of the infinite number

of Chaucer sketches, in this position on this footstool. Pencil in the lined journal.

always, more feet

Bears, cats, and feet, the current theme. And cut-off toes.

Pencil in the lined PaperBlanks journal.

more bear

I'm always practicing how to show a bit of texture combined with the tones.

Pencil on really soft drawing paper. Not sure what it is, a Fabriano, I think.

(Image scale fixed from first posting. Wow, that one was small!)

random heads

Two different kinds of pencil. Graphite in the lined journal. Soft w/c pencil on very soft sketch paper, then pasted into the journal.

tossed bear

I gently tossed the bear onto the sofa and drew him as he landed. Working on tones and shadows. Pencil in the PaperBlanks (lined) journal.

this needs a caption

This photo of 2 famous singers was in the Globe this morning. The only thing I like about drawing from photos is catching expressions no model could hold.

But what's a great caption for this scene?

4B pencil in a Aquabee SuperDeluxe sketchbook.

never tired of this model

Maybe because there's always something not right yet--the ear profiles, the skull shape, the many overlapping legs. Pencil in the lined journal.

practicing from photos

From 2 photos, random sources. Pen and w/c in the lined journal; pencil on Strathmore drawing paper, glued into the journal.

Alain Dionne's sculpture

When we were in Quebec, we drove along the south side of the St. Lawrence River where it goes through Kamarouska. We were delighted to find this elegant, humor-filled sculpture.

There was no label or artist's name, but later I found this photo. The piece is by Alain Dionne.

Pen on 140# w/c paper.

a car with personality

I drew this from a groundlevel perspective. It's clearly not accurate, but I like the quirky look. And the antenna really is that bent. Pen and w/c in the lined journal

first sock monkey

A good friend made this for my daughter, over 30 years ago. A real sock original, not commercially made. Pen and w/c in the lined journal.

not as soft as the label says

I put the sticker on the page, then ended up drawing a stone sculpture pictured in a book. He's not really as labeled. Colored pencil in the lined journal.

last look

We've started the process to replace our woodstove, which was here when we bought the house more than 28 years ago. These Timberlines were first made in 1977. Now we'll get a much more efficient, better one with a big glass door. Onward to winter! Pencil in the lined journal.