Count down - 80 pictures to the finish

I got my sketchbook in the mail on Monday. It is little but still very intimidating, with its 80 blank pages staring at me. I managed to start one drawing in it yesterday, and finished it mostly. I'm still undecided as to what medium to use. Probably pencil and colored pencil, since that's what I have on hand. If I want anything else, I will have to push my way in to my office and dig thru some boxes to find it.

Pencil it is!

As far a theme, I chose "The greatest story ever told..." I had to make a short list to help me focus. I'm a list maker, perpetually, and I have found it has helped me keep the contents of my head in order and in so many ways.

One idea was to draw my way through the bible. I really like that one, but that might be the most controversial and I'm just trying to ease my way back into this. Not to mention, I'm short on time and that is definitely going to take longer than 16 (eek!) weeks. I do plan on doing that one also, but maybe after the new year.
Another idea was to just make it a book of portraits. Each portrait is a picture of a person and what story could be greater than that of every person you know? Everyone's story is of value and interest, however short or sad or carefree.
In the end, it was a simple drawing of my infant son that helped me narrow down my topic. It will be a biographical series, chronicling the life of one person (male), birth to death. I am in a position where my models are all around me in several ages and stages already (my husband and boys) and if I average 4 or 5 drawings a week, I could be ready to mail it in January 1st. I'm going to choose to forgo words of any kind to help me capture the moment for each period. That means I won't caption the pictures or explain in words what is going on. They will just be pictures.

One picture down and....79 to go :) Hope your evening is peaceful.

Less time

Apparently I read the rules wrong. I don't have a year to complete the sketchbook, I have.... 17 weeks, if it arrives in the mail this week. Huh. That's a much shorter time, so I guess I better start brainstorming and getting a sketch bag together.

17 weeks.

Sweet summer

Just wanted to share a sweet picture of my littlest one with one of our dear friend's girls. The girls at church fawn over my little guy and in this picture, he is almost asleep, cradled against her chest as she rocks him back and forth on the swing. They're just precious :)

Sketchbook Challenge

I've just signed myself up for a sketchbook challenge. I have one year to fill a sketchbook and even though the book is not here yet, I'm already worried that I won't be able to fill it!

I used to draw. And paint. And make pottery. My life has not been all that conducive to hours of sketching on end, like it was when I was a teen! I browsed (ever so briefly) thru some other artist's posted sketches and got a big dose of intimidation! Of course, these people have gone to school for additional training, and possibly have careers centered on their artistic abilities. I chose to forgo school for life. That's right, I didn't go to school because of so many reasons, but the top of that list is because I couldn't bear the thought of postponing life for school! Silly, I know. I do have to say that I filled those year when I could have been in school with adventures and starting a family (and I'm not in debt up to my eyeballs), so I do feel pretty good about that decision. I guess I will have to remind myself that an artist isn't necessarily made better or made great by going to school, but by doing it.

I'm interested to see what will come out as I start to draw again. 10 years is a long time to be away from a sketchbook! A new challenge awaits...