Sketches, Brass and Change Container

I'm finally getting something posted in the Scavenger Hunt #35. It started on April 2, so some artists are over half done. I'm just happy to sketch as much as I can. It is great practice for my old eyes. By that I mean that I'm always trying to learn to see and put down a descriptive stroke quickly and without erasing. Interesting challenges in painting and sketching. It must be good for your state of mind as well. When you are in the "zone", you don't think about anything else .. problems, time, etc. I don't think you even think about painting, you just paint. When I am planning a painting, I think about the "rules" or principles of painting. Perspective - both linear and aerial, atmosphere, composition, value, and color scheme. When I'm really into painting, like I said, you just do it, experience and knowledge take over. Usually those are the best paintings!



Sketches for today, #1 is something brass, a bed post. A good thing it isn't that crooked in real life, would be a shaky bed I bet. #2 is something you keep spare change in. I don't keep spare change, I spend it. Gene saves it in this wine bottle and the pennies in the jar. Sketching glass is a little hard as you have to leave the highlights and sketch around them. Also try to put in the background. Mrs.Yolanda Aguirre, teacher in Bolivia years ago, told me to just paint the light and darks and forget you are painting a bottle. It really works when you can concentrate on that. Easier with paint (except watercolor) as you can just put the light value over the dark one. Sketching and watercolor you have to save the white.