Sketching from the road (in a rainstorm)
I took a day to drive down to Indiana with Chewbacca for a masked + social distanced afternoon with my sister. Halfway through the trip it POURED. Like, can’t see brake lights 30 feet ahead of you pouring. Not ideal for highway travel.
I was getting a little hungry anyways (and assumed the pup would be too) so I pulled into a gas station to let the worst of the storm pass, munch on/share some popcorn, and make a few sketches.
And as quick as it started, the storm passed and we were back on the road.
Materials*:
Fabriano watercolor sketchbook
Derwent water-soluble graphite
popcorn.
<3
*Some links are affiliate links via Amazon. The price doesn’t increase for you, but I earn a little bit when you purchase via these links.
The rain was intense and angry, spattering the roof of the car with what sounded like hail from time to time, but was just heavy heavy drops.
The best kind of storm.
I made a few contours of the rain as it fell, the streaks it left on the windows, the ripples in the puddles on the asphalt.
Studio Still Life Sessions
I’ve had such a wonderful response to the live workshop/Q+A’s/hangout times I’ve been holding on instagram, so thank you all for joining in these last few weeks! It’s a been a nice bright spot to talk with you all in the midst of some really scary, strange times.
You may have been present for a Sunday afternoon last week when I hosted a live still life event on instagram, and I’m excited to announce that this session will now be held monthly on the last Sunday of the month at 3 pm EST!
For each session I’ll set up a still life in my studio; some will have themes, some will focus on a certain line or movement, some will be more abstract and some less so. Ideally there will be something for everyone to work from.
Once it is set up I’ll have photos from multiple angles uploaded here, so you can draw with me, set up your own still life, or simply come hang out. I always enjoy seeing what people make during these — so feel free to add your setups, sketches or what-have-you to #studiostilllife!
Here’s an example from @mjenkins_art;
I love how multi-layered her set-up is, the addition of the mirror would make for some really neat play with reflections too!
The next live still life will be happening on Sunday, May 31st at 3pm est - I’d love to see you there!
A few shots from the last event:
No RSVP or anything required, just mark your calendar, stay tuned the day before to see the uploaded photos (unless you are making your own still life) and join in.
<3
New Workshop! Creating a Daily Art Practice: Sketching with Graphite
On February 12th I’ll be presenting a workshop at Literati (in partnership with the Ann Arbor Art Center) here in Ann Arbor on how using water-soluble graphite can help develop a daily process.
Together we’ll work on a few of the exercises I use and I’ll share some of the ways I work with the graphite.
Materials are included ( a handmade sketchbook and your own stick of graphite!) in the ticket price.
I’d love to see you there!
Supplies for Sketching Outside
Gathering my supplies!
I love working outside. I try to get out in nature to sketch as often as I can (though with our new pup it’s been a little harder to get away recently! ) and I’ve been meaning to check out our local botanical gardens (Matthaei Botanical Gardens) so I thought I might head over there for an afternoon.
When I’m doing little day trips like this I try not to go overboard on bringing supplies and just keep it to what I can carry in one hand + backpack. Especially if I want to walk any trails; carting a lot of paint around can be sloshy, heavy and potentially very, very messy.
Here’s what I’m bringing today;
(Some links below are affiliate links, so if you purchase using that link there’s no additional cost to you, but a little comes back to me to help keep this blog going!)
Paper;
1.) 18 x 24 Strathmore Watercolor paper
2.) 9 x 12 Strathmore Watercolor paper
3.) 4 x 12 Watercolor sketchbook
4.) 9 x 12 Watercolor sketchbook
I bring multiple sizes of paper and sketchbooks so I can work quickly, moving from page to page as the previous one dries.
Tools;
1.) Lyra Watersoluble Graphite (9B)
3.) Caran D’ache Watersoluble pastels
4.) Zen Art Black Tulip Watercolor Brushes (faux-squirrel)
5.) Empty water containers x2 (recycled from Sunbasket delivery)
On little outdoor adventures like this, I don’t bring any liquid paint. Just the watersoluble graphite and pastels, which apply dry and when water is added they become watercolor-esque.
Extras;
1.) Caftan throw (for sitting on, or shielding from sun)
2.) Sudio Earphones (bluetooth headphones for maximum concentration!)
I ADORE these earphones. I talk a bit more about them on my instagram story, but these have been a staple in my bag for the last few months. I always forget to plug in blue tooth headphones, resulting in dead batteries and no music. I’ve had to plug these in twice since getting them and they are still full battery. Small and super comfortable to wear, they go with me everywhere now. AND! If you want to try a pair for yourself, use code: ellenthelemon to get 15% off your order!
Not-pictured;
1.) Sunscreen
2.) Waterbottle
All the supplies fit!
Everything is coming with me - except the pup. The botanical gardens do not allow the doggos.
I walked for a bit before I found an area a little ways off the trail, with some shade (because I burn SO fast…) and some grass to lay out drying work.
I like to sit in the space for a few minutes first, take in the smells, sounds and try to connect with the moments I want to sketch. For today I mostly focused on the reflections in the water, the ripples made by passing turtles and the way the sunlight sparked along the edges of the pond.
First I made a few color swatches, mixing and matching the water-soluble pastels to align with the colors of the pond. A note here - try not to let the pastels be in full sun for long, they tend to get soft and can break easily. I usually pull out a few to work with, then put them back in their tin inside my bag, rotating through so none get too damaged by the heat.
Onto the big paper!
I use my headphones outside to keep me focused, but I don’t play loud music. I love to hear the birds, the frogs in the water, the sound of the wind in the trees - but could do without the noise from the parking lot. When I’m working outside I play the same thing on repeat; just loud enough to direct my thoughts but quiet enough to still hear nature. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (just the peaceful songs, I made a playlist without the fight tracks) is my old faithful.
I made a few more sketches, a few more contour studies and then packed up for the afternoon and headed home.
I wanted to make it over to the conservatory - but that will have to wait, it’s time to walk the pup <3
Sketching in South Pointe Park
I'm in the middle of a few ongoing projects, and have been feeling a little bit out-of-whack recently. Just a bit unorganized, a bit cluttered in my headspace, a bit anxious as I make work.
To combat this I decided to take all of today off. I know, it seems totally counter-intuitive to block off an entire day off from making work, when I'm growing increasingly anxious about my timeframe to make said work - but it's exactly what I needed to get back to baseline.
I packed up my usual travel supplies (sketchbook, camera(s), watercolor pencils, graphite sticks and ipod), slathered myself in sunscreen and hopped on my bike. I had no idea where I wanted to go, just that I needed to go somewhere.
Intuitive biking.
I rode over to the beach, taking turns when they felt correct and going straight if I didn't feel like turning, literally no goal in mind and happy as a clam. Eventually I ended up at South Pointe Park before I decided to lock up my bike and walk around. The whole trip out there was mirroring very much how I felt about some of the work I was making: starting out with no clear picture of the end goal. However, on the bike it was freeing and not anxiety-inducing. The moment that analogy popped into my mind I immediately felt a sense of calm return. I could fix this.
Focusing on that, on allowing myself to meander (both in my work and on the beach) I found a nice quiet spot to sit down and sketch. I watched the boats come and go, watched rollerbladers and kite-flyers and soaked in the beach vibes of the park.
I'm not sure if anything could have been as helpful as taking that full day out of the studio. When I returned home I made a nice big slooow dinner, careful to stay mindful of the peace I found while navigating the beach on my bike.
I’m not going to pick up my brushes tonight either, but start fresh in the morning.
<3
Can't be stressed looking at this.