Skyline Indigo

 It is great when an unplanned sketch fits the Hunts. This is the view from our window in Austin. It fits in Hunt 191 https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-from-life-191-may-2-2-jun-13.9055/#post-144074

Number 1 Indigo - the night sky was very much indigo. It was cloudy so this was the sunset. The lighted dome is the state capitol and the dark building to the right is the top of the football stadium. I used the app, Bushes, on my iPad. 

We are in Austin as Gene is spending time in the hospital. He is better. Some pneumonia and congestion a stomach bleed. He is recovering and should be released in a few days.

Never a dull moment in our lives. I hope to sketch a bit more around here. 

Here is a link to another nocturnal in Austin.  I did this from another hospital window a few years ago nHave fun   

 https://jocastilloartblog.blogspot.com/2018/11/nocturnal-sketch.html?m=0

Small Machine Hand iPad Sketch

I decided to sketch in my chair at the footstool.  I had a sketchbook but no pen or watercolors handy.  Oh, there was my iPad for sketching and in color.  I used the App, Brushes, and my finger to start, then remembered the pencil was right there as well.

This is for the new Hunt.  https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-from-life-180-jan-9-21.8614/

Number 1 - small machine.  A new pencil sharpener that Joanna gave me at Christmas.  It is an ooly, Mighty  Sharpener.  Seems good so far.
Number 2 - hand

We have been doing OK.  Slower at everything we do and because it takes longer to do things we stay busy!  

Gasoline has been going down.  We paid $2.099 yesterday at Buc-ee's.  Joanna paid under $2 at the H.E.B. in Manor on the weekend.  Wow.  We should be traveling.

Spicy in a Digital Sketch

I sketched while listening to the baseball game.  I wanted color but in the evening the light isn't good by my chair so I played on the iPad.  I used the app, Brushes, because that is the one I use the most so don't have to "think" as much.

 For SHFL 149  https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-from-life-149-feb-15-feb-23.7749/

Number 1 spicy - a jar of New Mexico Hatch chile.  New Mexico chile is so flavorful and yummy.

 

I listened to the Longhorn game again.  It was a long game. Over 4 hours I think so I had plenty of time to sketch.   Lots of batters on base with no scoring, then batters with scoring.  Final was 14-8, Horns won over Oklahoma State.  The Longhorns ended up winning the championship.  They had played in this tournament the last 3 years and lost all 3 of their games each year.  They lost the first game on Friday so we were worried.  10 games in a row lost there, yikes!  Luckily they won Saturday and Sunday.  Broke the curse or whatever it was.  Hook 'em Horns!  

First game here is Tuesday evening against Houston.  Dartmouth comes in for the weekend.  Temps are supposed to be nice today and tomorrow and then in the 30s for high the rest of the week.  I told you it always gets cold for baseball.  Dartmouth players will be so disappointed that it isn't in the 60s.  Texas weather.......

Almost forgot, Austin Pastel is holding their annual show.  Check it out on their website:

https://www.austinpastelsociety.org/ 

You Sit on This - iPad Sketch

I've sketched about every seat in this house a few times.  I found Gene's chair to be a bit different without him in it.  I went out on the porch before the temp got to 80º F. but by the time Gene was coming out it was too warm for him.  He did, however, take off on a trike ride.  He says he makes his own breeze.

For Scavenger Hunt from Life 117  https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-from-life-117-june-4-12-2024.6915/

Number 2, You sit on this - Gene's rocker on the porch done on the iPad with the app, Brushes.

I started a pastel sketch yesterday with some celery in it.  I stopped for a break and then we started binging on Bosch: Legacy and I completely forgot the sketch and the celery.  I put the celery back in the fridge quite late.  I hope it is good for today to finish the sketch.  It shouldn't take long although celery is not easy to capture.  We shall see.

The Super Regionals are on this weekend in College Baseball.  There are no Big 12 teams left so I'm not very interested.  The best series was North Carolina and West Virginia (Big 12) but West Virginia lost in two very close games.  Ah, well, next year!  Hook'em Horns! (Longhorns will be in the SEC next year.  Not excited about that.)

A Digital Stack

Not much sketching or art going on around here.  Gene had a fall and hit his rib cage so is super sore and not able to move around without help.  I did get out my iPad and do a little sketch this morning. There was UT Baseball this weekend, the start of the season.  As I mentioned earlier it was very cold yesterday for the second game.  We watched it all on TV.

I sketched with the App, Brushes, with the Apple Pencil.  

 

 

For Scavenger Hunt 103  https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-103-feb-13-21.6587/

 

Number 3 stack - a stack of papers, puzzle books, blood pressure monitor

 

It was a prettier day today but still a bit cool for the baseball game.  UT won 2 of the three games with San Diego.  There was a little controversy, some spectacular plays, new players, old players and a good time at the Disch.  Hook 'em Horns!  Friday, opening day was nice and almost 8,000 fans were present for opening day.

 

 

Well - Look at that

I came to my computer to answer my email and look at that!  I forgot to post my sketch today.  It was a beautiful afternoon and I needed something "hanging" for the Scavenger Hunt (last day).  The bedraggled geranium called to me.

It demanded to be in color and I didn't feel like dragging out the pastels which would have been perfect.  I have a variety of new pink pastels to try.  In the end I got my iPad, the tool of least resistance or less equipment to drag to the porch.

For Scavenger Hunt from Life 93  https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-from-life-93-nov-27-%E2%80%93-dec-6.6310/

#5 Hanging - the geranium sketched on my iPad with just plain scribble lines and no fancy brushes except for the background.  I used the app, Brushes, and the Apple Pencil.

I'm Late

"I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date.  No time to say Hello, Goodby, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late......"  -- The Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland

That is the feeling I have, of course there is no schedule to post my sketchesw.  We have been busy around here but not doing anything urgent.  David and Lisa are here and we have tried to do family stuff.

I did sketch on the porch.  A quick sketch on my iPad with Brushes.

Scavenger Hunt from Life 68

https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-from-life-68-may-10-may-may-18-2023.5467/

Number 9 Brownish - wooden slider/bench
Number 10 Outlet Adapter - Strip

I'm hosting the next Hunt so should be back soon with some more sketches.

Different Day

Our morning started out different.  We went out on the porch, it was cloudy and still about 75º.  After having coffee and snack the wind came up and we had a few sprinkles.  The temperature went down a few degrees so we came in.

I did sketch on my iPad with the app, Brushes, for the Hunt.  One item was tree.  I have sketched most of the trees in sight many times.  I did the two trees again.  I didn't make them full enough at the bottom as you can see in the panoramic photo of our view from the porch.  At least I sketched.  It took about 45 minutes.  If I had used pen and ink it would have been about 20 minutes.

 Number 8, tree - the pair that has grown so much since we have lived here.

For Hunt 67

 https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-from-life-67-may-2-may-10.5443/

 

Here is a panoramic from my phone of the view from the porch door.

 

 

 

Digital Ceramic and Glass Sketch

I seem to pick difficult things to sketch on my iPad.  Today I was watching TV with Gene and wanted to do this in color.  My pastels were what I thought of but they are in the other room so ....  iPad , ink or colored pencil.  Being the lazy person I am, I picked up my iPad which was right on my footstool.  Which reminds me, "I know a procrastinating joke .... but I'll tell it to you later."  (Corny from my Siri on iPhone)

I love these little measuring cups with bluebonnets on them that Lea Blue made for me.  The red glass is from Gene's sister.   I rarely use them, they are so pretty.

The sketch took over an hour and isn't exactly what I had in mind.  It did keep me busy and refreshed my use of "Brushes".  That is a learning curve every time I use the app for sketching.  Sigh...

For Scavenger Hunt from Life 61 - Number 1 ceramic and Number 2 glass.

https://creativespark.art/threads/scavenger-hunt-61-mar-15-mar-23.5266/

Which is your favorite medium for sketching?  I like pastels and pen and ink the best.  Sometimes the items call for the medium that fits, don't you think?

 

Digital Plein Air

My last sketch for Scavenger Hunt 27 is digital.  I sketched on my iPad on the porch, so this is a digital plein air as opposed to the air conditioned plein air in my previous post.  I used the app, Brushes.  I am more familiar with that app so I don't have to spend much learning time.  I don't use layers or any of the fancy stuff.  I do use different brushes and some that use shapes like the one in the trees in this sketch.  I try to make it a real sketch by not using the "undo" and "eraser" very much.

 

Number 11, vehicle and Number 12, people/figure/self portrait

I usually go for the easiest and fastest items to sketch.  It is stretching this to call such simple shapes a vehicle and person.  This is the last day of the Hunt so I don't feel as obligated to be complicated.

The OutdoorPainter newsletter has a good short article by Richard McKinley.  McKinley is one of my favorite pastelists.  He lists 7 tips for greater expression in any media.  They have a pastel of his to begin the article.  I like that he uses lots of purple.  To me, this painting is more purple than usual.  Nice.  I reviewed the 7 hints this morning to pick a favorite or most important, but I like them all.  Good advice.

https://www.outdoorpainter.com/7-tips-for-greater-creative-expression/

 

James Gurney has a link to a 9 minute or so video about sketchbooks at the Tate.  Interesting.  Near the end one of the artists talks about using a sketchbook as a learning tool.  I was thinking if I was a teacher I would give the students a small sketchbook at the beginning of class and see how they use it planning their projects.  Would be interesting.

http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2022/06/sketchbooks-and-their-people.html

 

When I was working on the big coffee table sketchbook I got away from using it to plan and experiment and other things, like lists or reviews.  It sort of defeats the purpose of calling it a sketchbook.  Some of my other sketchbooks have baseball scores, grocery lists, phone numbers of people or hotels, scores from our games of cards (Telefunken) and notes from art classes.  And, of course, the Scavenger Hunt lists.  They tell stories and are much akin to journals and diaries.  I date the sketches and some of the books cover several years with lots of memories.  I think you remember better with sketches than photos.

If you don't carry a sketchbook .... you should.  I thank Sue Modrak for pushing me to sketch all the time.  Yay for Sue!  We haven't seen her for a few years.  It is about time for a meet up.  Don't know how we can do it, but we shall see.

 

Different Media

I've been sketching in the big book in hopes to finish by Christmas.  That does get repetitive and boring to me so I have to escape to my pastels or digital or some other type of media.

Yesterday afternoon I was invited to a women's get together at the library.  It was a chance to get out and talk to other people ... yay.  There were 16 women there with plenty of conversation.  We couldn't talk fast enough to squeeze so much into an hour.  Afterwards I stopped to get Gene and I pizza for dinner.  I had my travel sketchbook so while I waited for the pizza, I did a 15 minute sketch.

Number 2, building and Number 3, vehicle - in the travel sketchbook with a Micron 02 pen.  I was in a hurry and didn't notice how "off" the jeep was.  It looks like a race car on the front end smooshed into the car next to it. It makes the sketch unique in many ways.

This morning I sat in the glider on the porch instead of my chair to get a slightly different view for my landscape.  I have sketched the trees so many times.  I needed color so sketched on the iPad with the app, Brushes, and my Apple Pencil.  I probably spent about half an hour on it.  A bit of extra time is required for remembering how to switch colors, brushes and textures.  A good exercise for my brain ... I hope.

Number 4, landscape - out back

***********************

 Yesterday I mentioned Nicole Caulfield.  She is a generous and sharing person and did a blog for a long time.  She talks about how to frame the colored pencil without glass on this post.

http://nicolecaulfieldfineart.blogspot.com/2011/01/framing-colored-pencil-without-glass.html

She hasn't posted on her blog since 2015, but it is there and full of hints and techniques.  You will enjoy looking it over.  She seems to concentrate more now on her website and Instagram.

I did one colored pencil in that style and sprayed it, the San Miguel Church in Socorro.  There are a few posts about it:

https://jocastilloartblog.blogspot.com/search?q=san+miguel

Colored pencil is detailed.  I can do it  ...  it is just slow and not so much fun to color and color.  You may find that relaxing, not my thing!

Digi Chair and Coaster Mug

I didn't sketch yesterday until we started watching TV in the late afternoon.  I sketched on my iPad using ArtRage and my fingers and probably a bit of the Apple Pencil.  The item was chair.  Gene had moved to his rocker.   I sketched  the chair without him in it for a change.

Number 2 chair - should be number 3.  Gene's recliner.

Scavenger Hunt 664  https://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/topic/scavenger-hunt-664-jan-18-jan-26/

Number 3 mug - should be number 4.  The mug I was served coffee in at the Texas Grill this morning.  We hadn't eaten breakfast there for a while.  They have a collection of mugs and this was the first time I was served in this one.  The letters are sort of maroon in color.  I didn't have a sketchbook with me so sketched on a coaster.  I carry a few in my purse.  I didn't see the stain on this side of the coaster until I scanned it.  Some hand sanitizer leaked in my purse and the other side is pretty much coffee colored.  At least I got a sketch of a different mug.  I'm pretty sure I have sketched all the ones in our house.

Bouncy iPad Sketch

We are in Kentucky. It is a bit cool today.  It is quiet this morning but soon the great grandkids will arrive. It will be chaotic. 

I managed a sketch on my iPad. I used the app Brushes with fingers and Apple Pencil foro Scavejnger Hunt 652. 

Number 4, bouncy - they bounce all over the place. 

Pretty from the porch. 

iPad Shoe

I’m posting from my iPad for practice if we travel next month. I probably won’t take my iMac as a laptop. I will miss my computer. 

Number 10 shoe for Scavenger Hunt 639

We'll see how it  goes. 

The End and the Beginning

Scavenger Hunt 637 ended yesterday and Hunt 638 started yesterday.  I did sketch for #637 but did not get them posted until today.  No particular reason or excuse. 

For Hunt 637 Number 5, fruit - This is in the big book with the Micron 02 fine line pen/marker.  I ate the models of cherries and blueberries as I finished.  Always fun to eat the models!

For Hunt 637 Number 6,  baseball - Gene's caps from University of New Mexico where he went to school, Texas State University where Larry went to school and The University of Texas where Joanna went to school.  This is in the big book as well, sketched with the Micron 02 and colored pencils.

For Scavenger Hunt 638 sketched on my iPad with the app, Brushes, and the Apple Pencil.  I sat out on the porch to do this.  Very pleasant morning.

Aftermath .... Sketches

I just wanted to say "Aftermath ... "  Sounds dramatic and like something happened.  Well, not much.  It is quiet around here.  Mary went to Albuquerque and the kiddos (adult kids) were out for Thanksgiving and now pretty darned quiet.

I sketched for Scavenger Hunt 612.  Joe in Florida is the host and came up with another thinking man's list.  Words like Right, Left, New, Old, etc., where you can pick the item to sketch.  A lazy man's list has things like Living Room Chair or Under the Kitchen Sink.  No choice except to find the item.  Sometimes I appreciate the lazy list.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?p=21701632

I sketched in the big book with a Prismacolor 01 and colored pencils for Number 1, left - my left hand and Number 2, something I collect.  After the big fire in 2011 we said we would have no more collections and saving stuff.  Our house is full and running over.  Most of the collections are by default.  I chose to sketch a CD.  We usually buy a CD when we go to music to support the artists so now we have a large collection of CDs. 

So, Number 1, left and Number 2, something I collect.

Number 3, something you like to wear - this old shirt is many years old but I love it and wear it often.  It is comfortable and looks decent.  It is sort of a paisley in blue and gray over the black, with black collar and cuffs.  An Izod polo shirt which I probably bought for golf.  In many of the family photos I have on this shirt.   It is showing some wear this year.  Sigh....

Mary and I decided to sketch the same item today, long distance.  I'm anxious to see what she likes to wear.  She picked the item from the list.

There is a bit of aftermath after all.  I mentioned in the previous post that I had purchased a Dragon Fruit for Thanksgiving.  It was fun.  None of us had ever eaten any.  It was about the size of a large avocado.  You cut it in half and the inside is whitish pink with black seeds.  You scoop out the fruit and slice it up like a kiwi.  It sort of tastes like a mild kiwi.  I forgot to take a photo of the half and half but here is a photo of some of the salad.  The salad was super so guess the Dragon Fruit will be a new Thanksgiving tradition, thanks to Ai in Thailand.  It is a bit pricey at $5.98 for daily consumption.

Our new Thanksgiving salad with Dragon Fruit and Kiwi added this year.  We had strawberries, blueberries, apple, pineapple, pear, red grapes and little oranges, clementines.  We put in juice from a lemon and lime to keep the apple pretty.  Whipped real cream optional.   We decided not to put in the bananas so the leftovers would look better.  So bananas on the side.

Whipped Cream for Fruit Salad or Dessert

1 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Whip the cream until peaks form, add the vanilla and then the sugar slowly.  The sugar keeps the whipped cream all whipped up so it doesn't melt or turn back to just cream.  So much better than Cool Whip, don't you know.  Yummy! 

Southwest Sketch

I’m hosting the Southwest challenge this month.  I don’t have any snow photos to put up so Jenna, in Wisconsin, put one.  I sketched from it on my iPad with the Apple Pencil.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=360

We did see snow yesterday on our drive but far in the distance.  We saw Sierra Blanca near Ruidoso, New Mexico,  very splendid with its snow cover.  Then far in the distance we could see Mt. Taylor by Grants.  Then Baldy by Magdalena has snow, too.  It is a chilly 18° here in Socorro this morning but dry and the sun will shine.

Have to have a photo of the Ladrones

Sierra Blanca

Real Hunt 575

Oops!  The last post should have been for Hunt 574 not 575.  This is for Hunt 575.

We are on the road in New Mexico. Hotel sketch on my iPad with the app, Brushes, and my Apple Pencil. 

I’m not fond of typing on my phone or iPad so this will be short.

We celebrated Larry's birthday on Monday night so today by phone and messages.  Our caboose is sooo old or maybe we are the old ones.

I took a few photos today, mostly of the plains, oil wells and plowed cotton fields.  We’ll see how they came out for posting here.

Sketching Our Way Home

We are starting down the road today with a stop at the dentist in Las Palomas.

I sketched in the travel sketchbook with Zig Millennium pens for Scavenger Hunt 558
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1454384

Number 1, on a shelf

Number 2, related to cooking - the chopping block is black and in front of the stove from my perspective, a bit confusing to draw.  I started not to put the background but ....  Roger's kitchen.

We will see you down the road....

Fast Hunting

I washed clothes today so worked on my sketch on my break.

For Scavenger Hunt 538,  http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1446208

Number 5, black
Number 6, white

Travel day tomorrow, see how it goes.  More down the road.