Scavenger Hunt 262 - Yikes!

I was writing this post and had a surprise.  Usually Blogger saves as I go along and I don't have to worry about wandering around deciding what to post for photos or pictures and looking for URLs to link.  I had about 3 paragraphs written and 3 pictures up and it said you have changes that haven't been saved and you will loose them.  I thought it meant the photo I was posting so said OK.  I lost all the writing I had done.  (Now it is saving as I go.  Hmmmm.)  What button did I push??

The gist of the post as I started was that I am surprised to see Hunt 262!  I have been joining in the Scavenger Hunts on wetcanvas.com since 2006 in the summer.  I started in Silver City, New Mexico.  Sue Modrak, my artist buddy and friend from Michigan, was always after me to sketch more.  She would give me a sketchbook when we would get together once a year.  

I found the Hunts wandering around on wetcanvas and thought it would be such a good way to practice and I would not have to think about what to sketch.  You all know that I am lazy, so would sketch the landscape or something that was very familiar and easy.  The Hunts make you sketch things you wouldn't ordinarily think of and from life so you put on your thinking cap and practice, practice.  

The Hunts were instrumental in keeping my blog going as well.  I have never stuck with a diary or journal until  now.  Yikes!

It has been very good for me.  You cannot always see the improvement, but when I take my time, my strokes are more sure and I "look" at things better.  It has helped my painting as well.  If you look at a  couple of the sketches I'm posting today you will doubt that I'm improving, but I can sketch quicker and easier and with more accuracy.

These sketches were all done in my brown paper Ultrecht Sketchbook with the Prismacolor Premier 08 pen.  As quickly as possible, freehand.

Number 1, water - the lake and an attempt at reflections.  Number 3, man made - birdhouse, really it is, but a poor rendering on my part.

Number 2, sky - another subject I find difficult with pen and ink.  Number 4, natural - the Indian Paintbrush in the yard before it gets mowed.

Number 5, together and Number 6, apart.

Number 7, open and Number 8, closed.

Number 9, rectangular - rug on my studio floor and Number 10, top and Number 11, bottom of my camera.  Oops, also the bottom of the page.

For my artist links today, I will point you to some of the sketching blogs from the Hunts.

Jeanne Grant, in California, has been sketching on the Hunts even before me.  (Like two, but she never misses.) She often tries to get many of the items in one sketch.    In California.

Joan Tavolott , in New York, who sketches outside most of the time and in her car.  She does beautiful watercolors with ink.

Tresgatos, in Arizona, fairly new in the Hunts in comparison.  She usually sketches in paint.

Ai, in Thailand, has 2 small girls, teaches in university, and is sooo busy all the time.  Don't know when she has time to sketch and tries all media. 

Jacqui, in Australia, is getting her art degree and sketches with us.

Bonnie, in Canada, is fun and a great artist, too.

I hope this inspires you to sketch and maybe even join in on the Scavenger Hunts.