Sketching at Diagon Alley

As part of my family's visit to Orlando, Florida I took an opportunity to sketch a bit in Diagon Alley at Universal Orlando. I could have spent a lot more time there. I loved all the skiwampus buildings. It was a visual smorgasbord!

If you are interested you can purchase a limited edition print of the sketch from my website here.

A Visit to Orlando: Cinderella's Castle

 

My family and I recently visited Orlando Florida for the first time. On the day we went to Disney World, I made sure to spend some time sketching while the rest of the family waited in lines for rides. I really enjoyed the complexity of Cinderella's Castle. 

There is something wonderfully calming about slowing down and looking. In the process of drawing this I saw a mother struggling to take a selfie with her two sons. I took a small break and offered to take the photo for them. I do not think I would have noticed her struggle if I had not taken the time to just look.

If you are interested you can purchase a limited edition print of the sketch from my website here.

The Benefits of Daily Practicing, Introduction:

Each year I set a goal to draw more, and each year I get better and better at meeting this goal. Part of this goal is to spend at least fifteen minutes, six days a week, in free drawing. I also take my sketch book almost everywhere I go. I tend to fill one page in my sketch book in these 15 minutes. During this time, I practice drawing things I feel I need to improve, like spend 15 minutes drawing hands or whatever, doodling, playing with ideas that have been dancing around my head, or draw whatever comes to mind. The sketches above were drawn while I was waiting to board an airplane. To date, I have found the following benefits. 

• Helps you discover your personal style

• Improves drawing ability

• Increases creativity

• Improves quality of jobs or assignments I have taken on

• Generates ideas for personal projects

• Increases enjoyment of drawing and life

• Decreases stress

This is by no means an exhaustive list of the benefits to daily practice in any creative career. I am sure there are more. If you have any, send them my way. I would love to get other’s thoughts on this subject.

I will spend more time in future weeks going over each of these benefits in more detail.

More Summer Sketching: At the Beach

A small sketch form our family trip to Hampton Beach to see the Sand Sculptures. I love drawing people. We are all so different.

A sketch from a few weeks ago while I was at young men’s camp. I will be working on a color version soon. I am doing pretty well with drawing daily. Last week got a bit difficult with other responsibilities.

Some Summer Sketches

One of the places I like to take my animals studies students to is The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in New Hampshire. This has a great place to draw animals from observation.

One of the things I keep reminding my self about drawing is the need to keep drawing on a regular basis. Prior to the class, I was not drawing as much as I should and it took me a few days to get back into it. by the time we went to the science center, I was doing well again.

The sketches were done on-sight and the painting was completed later using Adobe Sketch on my iPad pro.

Mabon, Cambodia: More practice with the iPad Pro

As I am preparing for my latest book project, I am revisiting my sketches from Cambodia.

I sketched this on the first day of my trip in February while visiting the Mabon Temple. I painted it using the Photo Sketch on the iPad Pro. I really like the versatility of this app and the ability to create multiple layers. I painted using the watercolor brush.

There sill be more to come.

Sketching and Blacksmithing

I have been working on some lengthy projects. I will be starting to post this with in a month or so as I get them more finished. For now I am posting something from a month ago.

This last October, I went with my daughters school to a local blacksmith shop. It was exhilarating to watch a master at work. Not only was I able to do some sketching, I took an opportunity to try my hand at some blacksmithing. Even though I was left exhausted with blisters on my hand, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I can now say I have made a nail.

Todays Drawing

Working more on character design and just having fun drawing.

Cambodia Sketch

This last February I had the incredible opportunity to visit Cambodia for research on a project I am working on and to take a group of students in a sketching class. Today, I gave a presentation on the trip, showing my photography and sketches. This is the first of over 50 pages of my sketches. This is of the Temple Banan just outside of Battambang. The woman was sweeping leaves away form the temple.

More from Europe: Vendor at the Spanish Steps

While waiting for the group to gather together for our trip back to the hotel, I drew this vendor that was next to the Spanish Steps in Rome.

It has been a while since my last post. I have been dealing with a great deal and I was without wifi for a number of days because of my participation in a young men's camp.

Sketches from Europe: A view of Delphi

Delphi is still one of my favorite places to visit. I would like to go and spend a few days there. It is so peaceful and beautiful. Here is a sketch looking down on the temple of Apollo from my last visit in February.

Sketches from Greece: The Acropolis

These are two sketches from the acropolis. The top is looking up at the entrance to the Acropolis. The other is The Erechtheum. This second visit to the site proved to be more productive drawing wise. My first visit 2 years ago I struggled to draw anything.

Sketches from Greece: The Isle of Hyrda

One the last day of my trip to Italy and Greece we visited the island of Hyrda. It is a beautiful island where no vehicles are allowed. Most people walk or travel by donkey. It was beautiful except for the plethora of cats. These are two of the sketches I was able to make while on the island.

Sketches from Rome: Piazza Navona

Although I have been drawing, I have limited access to my scanner at this point, so I have been unable to scan in new work. I realized, in all my excitement to get out a daily Bow Tie Guy, that I forgot about my sketches from my last trip to Italy and Greece.

Here is my sketch from Piazza Navona. I love drawing in Europe. I love taking my students on these trips and seeing their drawing skills improve.

Although I continually see room for improvement in my drawing skills, I also recognize improvement. I strongly believe it is the quantity of drawing that helps you improve.

Vermont Sketches: More from Church Street

Here are more sketches of people from Church Street in Burlington.

Vermont Sketches: Church Street Burlington

Yesterday, I took my sketching class to Church Street in Burlington. This is an excellent place to sketch people. It was a beautiful day and I was so happy just sketching and watching people.

More Sketches of Vermont: Lyndonville

On Monday afternoon, we visited downtown Lyndonville and sketched. Here are a few of my drawings of the Green Mountain Book Store, The Catholic Church, and a view of Depot Street on Route 5.

Sketches from Vermont

Yesterday my sketching class spent the day in East Burke Vermont and Lyndonville. These are a few of the sketches I did while there. The top is the Congregational Church, the middle is the River Garden Cafe (a favorite place for me and Julia to eat that is now closed) and the Country Store in East Burke. 

I find that as I drive around now I am seeing things I want to draw. This is the start of that. I love sketching on location. It is o peaceful.

Sketches from Rome

While visiting the Roman Forum, I took a few minutes to sketch the Temple of Castori. Rome is such a beautiful city. I love the ruins.