Tag Archives for art

Winter Wonderland Contest – Koh-I-Noor

OK….Thanks to the fine folks at Koh-I-Noor - a great family of art supplies – I have thrown my hat into another Facebook art contest.

This contest had three categories – fireplace, snow, and pine. And of course I choose snow, because drawing snow in pen and ink should be easy……

I had to use the old garden shed as the subject for my snow drawing, I just can’t get away from the sheds! I’m pretty happy with the way this came out. I like the colors, the pen work isn’t too heavy, and I’m pleased with my snow-covered ground. My only complaint is with the illustration board. It is the hot press board from Crescent. The surface of the board is great for the line work. It held-up without getting fuzzy or scratched, I was able to go over some areas with the pen while the watercolors were still a bit wet. The watercolors sat on the surface and kept their intensity. But….the board is SO not white! I know most watercolor paper is off-white, but this is really bad. I guess I must continue my search for a hot press/smooth drawing surface that can stand up to pen work, and take some watercolor washes…looks like I need to do some shopping!

That’s all for now, I gotta go watch the snow fall…Erik

Anna’s Treehouse…

Howdy all!

Here is another installment for the Sketchbook Project.

I’m calling this one Anna’s Treehouse, she’s a friend of mine at work. She was looking through my treehouse book and suggested I draw a treehouse on a beach. And so I did!

I wanted to keep the open air feel of the beach, so there is no roof over this one, except for the palms of course. And every treehouse on a beach needs a tiki torch and a few tropical refreshments! As the gentle breeze blows across the sides of the treehouse I can almost imagine myself there. Thanks for the idea Anna!

Cheers…Erik

Friday’s treehouse…

Well, the treehouse project was on hold last week and this week. The real house need some attention. This weekend I hope to get caught-up on the treehouse project and maybe, just maybe, some other random art stuff I’ve committed myself to. More on that if I actually get them going.

I’m not feeling real chatty today, so here it is, my treehouse. I know I should elaborate about this more than I am, but I truly can’t come up with anything else to add to this! HAHAHA! Sorry folks…the tall silent has struck again! HA!

Happy dreams of treehouses…Erik

2 more treehouse drawings complete!

 

Alrighty now…two more treehouse drawings are complete!

I need to give credit and thanks to fellow artist – blogger JSD undercoversurfer for the idea for the treehouse on the side of the hill. She was kind enough to leave me comment about my last treehouse drawing describing what her childhood treehouse looked like. I’m sure this isn’t an exact match, but it was a great idea and inspiration just the same. Thanks JSD.

The second treehouse was my little nod to Halloween. I know it’s not real spooky, or even haunted looking, but I wanted the gnarled root walls to give it a spooky/creepy feel. I think that worked. I just couldn’t bring myself to draw a giant skull with a tree growing on top of it. Sorry folks…

Well, as I’ve said before, I’m not a talker, so this is all I’ve got for now. Feel free to leave me comments or questions. Both are always welcome!

Thanks…Erik

Treehouse number 4….

The treehouse project continues.

I keep telling myself I should try a different approach, something a little more abstract, less literal. But I’m real happy with the way these are coming out.

I wanted to capture the look and feel of a long abandoned treehouse with this sketch. I think this drawing captures that feel. My wife asked me how someone would climb into the treehouse since there wasn’t a ladder, a good question, but I intentionally left that detail out. I was afraid if I added a ladder, or rope, it would make the treehouse active. This way, the viewer can imagine how they would access the treehouse and make it their own.

I still have twelve more of these drawings to complete for the Sketchbook Project, that doesn’t sound like a lot, but I still wonder if I can keep coming up with ideas. But, each time I finish one sketch, I start getting ideas for the next one. I was hoping this project would get me back on track, and I really think it has. As I work through these sketches, and a few other little drawings I’ve been working on, I can see my technique starting to loosen-up. The pencil lines move a bit more freely, and I’m not as concerned about making a mistake. I think it’s safe to say I’ve found my rhythm again…

Thanks for stopping by…Erik

The treehouses continue.

Treehouse 10-20-11

It’s really nice to get back in the groove of drawing and sketching. I’m pretty happy with these two drawings. To be my own critic about the ink drawing, I would have to say I didn’t get the door located properly. It’s a bit too far off-center from the peak for me, but since this is the official sketchbook it stays in the book. I also got a little heavy on the pen work a little early, I didn’t enough white paper. I think I may try this one again using just the pencils.

Treehouse 10-22-11

I’m real happy with the pencil rendering though. I was hoping to keep the bird’s-eye view for this one, I think that worked.

I’ll keep drawing and posting as the ideas keep coming. I think I’ll get this little sketchbook completed in no time!

Thanks…Erik

Sketchbook Project has been started, yeah!

Treehouse 10-17-11

The Sketchbook Project Tour World Tour 2012 has begun! I was lucky enough to get the treehouse category. You can’t go wrong with a treehouse. Well, anything tree or house related is good for me.

The treehouse can be as simple as an old pallet with a rope ladder, or as elaborate as small vacation cottage. A treehouse can also be nothing more than a hole in a hollowed out trunk that gives squirrels a place to stay warm in the long winter months. It’s also the tangled evergreen  branches that give the cardinals shelter from the cold winter snows. It can also get you high above the ground giving you a new perspective on the world around you.

I guess it’s safe to say the treehouse, for me, goes far beyond just a hiding place for kids. It’s a shelter from all the things we need to protect ourselves from, it’s a place to escape to and imagine we are someone else, and it’s getting back to nature.

Erik….

The art continues….

I was able to get some quality time with the pencils this weekend. It’s reassuring that the ideas are starting to flow a little more freely now. I really feel like I’m getting the feel of the paper and pencils again, and that’s good!

I’m still waiting for my official sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project 2012. My theme is Treehouse…big shock, I know! I have a few ideas in mind, I just need to get them on paper.

I thought it might be time to try some new tools of the trade, and revisit some old favorites. I keep coming across pastel pencils in my art catalogs, I think it’s time to order a set and see what I can do with them. I also need to replenish my sad collection of broken-stubby colored pencils. While I enjoy the pencils and pen & ink drawing, I think it’s time to add a little zip of color to things. I keep trying watercolors, but I just can’t seem to get the look I’m going for. I think it’s time to mix things up a bit!

Thanks for stopping by…Erik

 

The old barn, and getting back on the bike.

Well, I was able to find, make, some time for art this weekend. I made several pencil drawings and few pen and ink sketches. I pretty happy with this one. I really like the junk pile I was able to capture in the lean-to. I thought the trees in the background – the horizon line – would give this some added interest, but I don’t think they really added anything to the over-all drawing. I kinda feel the same about the grass in the foreground. It seemed like a good idea, but once I added it in, I realized it really didn’t add anything. I didn’t want the barn to be just floating on the paper, but my choice of anchors weren’t the best. It’s all good though.

It’s kinda funny, getting back on the bike is pretty easy, but knowing what direction to go seems to be the big struggle for me right now. I’m kinda sitting at the end of the driveway wanting to take off and pedal, but I can’t go anywhere because I’m so unsure where to head. So I just sit there and think about how fun it would be to go for that ride.

I picked-up two new art books this week with the hopes of getting inspired to head in any direction I could. The one book was about keeping an art journal. I really thought that would help push me to move, but I just keep reading it and thinking how much I would enjoy drawing! HAHAHA! It’s really kinda comical.

Anyway…I think this is the time to push-off or park that bike. I ‘d really prefer to push-off and go like a crazy man, so here’s to one crazy bike ride…I think…

Erik

Time to grab the pencils!

OK, so it’s been almost a year since I’ve held a pencil. I wasn’t sure if it was the same as riding a bike. But, it really is. And I gotta say, I see more pencils in my future!

I started this little Chickadee last year. I never really finished the fence rail or the foliage around the fence rail. I figured this would be a good subject to get the juices flowing again. I’m so glad I did this.

I’m planning on spending so much-needed quality time with the pencils and pens this weekend. I’m not sure what I’ll draw, I may go back to the days of art school and just randomly pick something in the room and say, “there it is, now draw it!”

I’ll post any creations I can come up with.

Thanks for stopping by…Erik