Highly Prized

I'm involved with the Sketchbook Challenge and the theme for January is something that is Highly Prized.There are many things in my life that are important to me.  I really had no idea what I wanted to do or what medium best represented what I wanted to say.

A sneak peek!

 Friday, my friend Roberta invited me over to her house to create our sketches for the challenge.  Ok, I guess that solved the problem on what medium to use.  While remembering my sketchbook, I forgot all my pencils.  Luckily Roberta is willing to share.  I got to try her Derwent Water Soluble Sketching Pencils.  These are very cool pencils, as after sketching, I used a water brush to smudge the lines.  I feel it made my sketches complete.

I haven't sketched in a long time, but figured I'd do this and see what would happen.  I am a fast sketcher and a noisy one.  Usually when sketching, people look at me and wonder what I am doing with that pencil to create such a racket ( scratch scratch sketch scratch scratch scratch sketch scratch).  Now multiply that by 10 minutes worth of sketching!  You get the idea.

Here are the 2 sketches I made.  I must admit, they are both done from memory, fast and each took less than 10 minutes.   I also used a technique I learned from the book Creative Illustration Workshop by Katherine Dunn.  I love her work.  She is so whimsical and yet still to the point.

This is highly prized #1, walking my puppy Penny.  I really enjoy the times we are out in nature, in all sorts of weather.   On this adventure we were greeted by a cat in the tree, as we walked along our path.

Highly Prized #2.  Penny is a very affectionate puppy.  She loves to give kisses which brought to mind that she needed to open a kissing booth.  Altho now that I look at the sketch, Penny would probably want a dog cookie for payment more than 10 cents.

This exercise was a great experience as it reminded me how much I really love to sketch.  Also that I like to make up stories to go with sketch.  I hope to add more this month.