Date: January 29, 2025 ….. Time: 10:00 am Mountain Standard Time
January 23, 2025
Yes! You read that right. In less than a week I will be sharing my colored pencil secrets for creating a glowing, jump-off-the-page, reptile eye. During a live 2 hour workshop, hosted by Karen Abend – founder of Sketchbook Revival – you’ll be drawing along with me while learning colored pencil techniques and some cool facts about reptile eyes. But to play along you must register to join the fun.
On July 30th, six of us Albuquerque (ABQ) Urban Sketchers gathered for an impromptu morning of exploring and sketching at the ABQ Biopark/Botanic Gardens. It’s always so much fun seeing what’s blooming any time of the year, even during the heat of summer. Despite the morning’s toasty hot temperatures, the plentiful shade and water features provided many “cool” locations for sketching and exploring.
Since the Japanese Gardens section of the park was new to me, I decided to make my way there to sketch, while enjoying summer flowers and many interesting seed pods from what must’ve been an outrageous, overly abundant Spring bloom. After a slow 15 minute stroll, I had arrived at the 4-acre Japanese Gardens, complete with a waterfall, koi pond, pagodas, wooden bridges, many stone statues, and many many ducks.
Walking bridge over the koi pond
My first sketch was of a pretty pagoda that served as a shady spot for one of the ABQ Plein Air members to paint the scene behind me.
Then, wandering deeper into the garden, past the waterfall, I found the koi pond with a few interesting features ….. a walking bridge bisecting the pond where parents brought their children to feed the ducks. Adjacent to the walking bridge was a weathered wooden bridge which crossed the inlet to the pond. As I sketched and painted while sitting on a large flat rock a foot back from the pond’s edge, many large dragonflies hovered nearby, several koi rolled in the water, mallards paddled about, and a bullfrog sounded his loud and low stuttering ru-ru-ruuuuummmmmmm. A few park visitors even stopped behind me to watch my sketches develop!
Small weathered, wooden bridge and rolling koi
It was so calming and peaceful sketching in the gardens, and before I knew it the morning had flown by. Quickly I packed up my supplies and scurried back towards the entrance to the Biopark where I met up with my small group for our “throw down” and photos.
Such a great morning!
As always, thanks for stopping by!
Supplies: Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen fineliner 0.3 (black) was used first to create quick sketches; Derwent watercolor pencils and Pentel waterbrush were used for the color
Every year, for the past several years, I’ve shared with my most excellent and talented friend and poet, Elaine, the official word prompts used by artists around the world participating in Inktober. Then inspired by these prompts, Elaine creates original poetry, many of which she shares with me.
“Toad” is one of those poems.
Inspired by her words, and my appreciation of this chubby amphibian, here’s how I thought “Toad” might be illustrated. Perhaps this combined effort would be a cute mini bedtime story Elaine could read to her grandson? I wonder!
Arrow shows where to lift next
A full page view, unfolded ….. The inside
A full page view, unfolded
A Toad is not a Frog is not a Toad
The tri-fold card style worked perfectly for the poem, allowing several of the toads to appear more than once. While illustrating the card, it was important to understand the visual characteristics separating a toad from a frog. This challenge led me down both a slippery slope leading to a marsh, and a hidden trail meandering through a nearby grassy meadow. Here’s what I discovered …..
Thanks for sharing the birthday joy!
Elaine received this Toad card in time to celebrate her Leap Year Birthday. I love that we share our creative projects with each other! There’s no finer warm and fuzzy feeling.
Happy “19th” Birthday to you, Elaine, on this year’s February 29th, Leap Year!
Little brother of tree frog #1 is now hopping in to wish you happy hump day!
Another pure, 100% colored pencil piece. Polychromos still lying about, needing exercise. These charming frogs are loads of fun.
This little 6×7” finished piece took about 6 hours after my initial sketch. My materials consisted of a dozen or so Faber-Castell oil based Polychromos colored pencils, a sheet of 9×12” Canson 120lb mixed media white paper, and more Three Dog Night tunes with, of course “Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog” still is my favorite.
A pure, 100% colored pencil piece. Sometimes I have to dust off my Polychromos, play some crazy music, and let the joy happen! What an awesome way to calm my mind as the pencils work their magic.
This little 6×7” finished piece took about 8 hours after my initial sketch. My materials consisted of a dozen or so Faber-Castell oil based Polychromos colored pencils, a sheet of 9×12” Canson 120lb mixed media white paper, and hours of Three Dog Night (of course “Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog” was, and still is my favorite).
a curious nature 