Category: January Sketchbook Challenge

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 11

 

Today’s Prompt: Draw a mysterious doorway or staircase.

One thing of many that I found striking when traveling abroad is how differently doors, doorways, entryways appear. 

When my husband and I traveled to Malta, we were immediately enamored by the narrow, brightly covered front doors of the dwellings that only had about a foot clearance to the main road. 

Each door was incredibly inviting and stood out among the stone walls. They were beautiful and were works of art in and of themselves. 

This care taken with front entries suggested that behind this door there lies more than meets the eye. That you must enter because if you don’t, you will miss out on an adventure, on new insights, on a sprinkle of magic. And, you have a choice! Will it be the red door with the narrow slots at the top? Or, maybe the weathered blue door with raised wooden panels and touches of black filigrees? 

I loved this about Malta, and many other places I visited. It’s welcoming and enchanting. 

So today, draw a mysterious or ornate doorway. You can always use a door in your own dwelling and add to it! Or maybe you will search online for ‘mysterious doorways’ and work from an image. If you want, you can work from the image in this post! 

And, if you feel so inclined, add a little caption or story that hints at what is behind the door or up the staircase.

-Autumn

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 10

Congratulations! You’ve made it to Day 10. I hope you are getting into a sketching groove and enjoying scribbling away on the pages. 

So, for today’s prompt, the word is essential.

Who or what do you find essential in your life? Is it a fresh cup of coffee right when you get up in the morning? Or an evening cup of tea in your favorite mug?

Is it a good book and time to read before bed? Or maybe there is someone in your life whom you find essential to your safety, growth, and happiness.

However, objects or habits can also serve to support your growth, happiness, and safety. There are no wrong answers here. In fact, what you find essential may change from day to day based on what is happening in the world around you. 

I know for me, having time to create is essential to managing my anxiety. I need that quiet reflection to recharge and ground myself. When I don’t have that quiet, contemplative time to create, I find myself on edge and not my best self. 

So, what is something that is essential for you? Is it a thing, a person, a ritual?

Don’t feel embarrassed about how little or frivolous it might seem to someone else. This isn’t about them. It’s about celebrating you and acknowledging what you need to feel grounded and better.

-Autumn

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 9

Today’s prompt is Random. 

Look around your dwelling and find some random object you have lying around. Is it a figurine, a random sock without a match? 

Maybe you have forgotten how you acquired it. Maybe you have no idea why you really keep that random thing. But, somehow you just can’t seem to let it go.

If the word random doesn’t spark an object to sketch today, then what does it symbolize for you? Maybe random is an idea or a person. Did anyone randomly send you a letter? Call you?

Whatever the first thing is that comes to mind when you think of the word random, try to capture it on the page. 

Find some rest and treat yourself today,

Autumn

 

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 8

Today’s prompt is another word — Patience. 

I don’t know about you, but for me, I find it easier to be patient with others rather than patient with myself. 

Patience is difficult for me because I expect my work, my art to be perfect. I expect it to come out the way I intend, and the way I initially see it in my mind. And this is an odd thing because as a teacher, I don’t expect this from my students at all. For them, they are supposed to make mistakes and grow over time. They are supposed to work on developing a growth mindset and not worry about the end result.

And, for all of you following along with the sketchbook challenge, my intention is to encourage you in the same way. Make a mess. Your work is supposed to be unfinished and imperfect. Focus on the act of sketching. Focus on the fact that you are gifting yourself this time.

Have patience with yourself. This is a long game. We are looking for growth over time. 

So with that, when you think of patience, what comes to mind? Have you found yourself having to be more patient lately? What inspired it? Was it a moment? Was there some object or symbol involved that you can capture in your sketchbook?

You could even sketch the word patience and play with typography. Or, as always, go a completely different route. 

You could even sketch the snail in the image within this post.

Please know that my prompts are always optional.

In patience we must,

Autumn

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 7

Scroll through your photographs from your phone or device of your choice. Keep scrolling until you find one that sparks you. Use that photo as inspiration for today’s page. 

Try not to feel overwhelmed by the entire photograph. If it helps, pick one object or aspect from the photo to focus on in your sketch. 

It might help to pick something with high contrast – something with clearly defined highlights, mid-tones and shadows. But it’s not a deal breaker. 

If you don’t see anything you like, scroll Instagram or Facebook and borrow an inspiration image from someone else!

Happy Sketching!

-Autumn

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 6

Let’s practice more of our observational drawing skills!

Grab a fork and/or a spoon and place them on a flat surface. (You can add the knife if you want.)

They can be metal or plastic –  any material will do. Feel free to draw one of the utensils or more. You can choose the perspective you want to draw from. For me, I like to draw from a side angle.

Draw the utensil(s) once or repeat the object to form a pattern and fill the frame. It’s really up to you.  

Again, you will want to sketch by having them grounded somewhere, thus the flat surface. This will help with the proportions and the shading. 

Add lines for volume and tonal ranges for shading. Choose a more realistic approach, or go with your imagination and turn them into something more! 

Remember to start with the contour lines of the overall shape and then add the details. You know, those little lines and hatching for shading.

If you are adding shading, try to achieve the highlights, the mid-tones, and the shadows. The darker tones are key to making the piece pop. Don’t be afraid to push those!

Experiment. Make mistakes. Fail. And, most importantly, have fun and keep your practice going!

Autumn














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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 5

Today’s prompt is a word — SURPRISE!

Think about something that has surprised you, or you find surprising. It can be from last year. It can be positive or negative. It can be small or large, about the world or about you. Maybe committing to this challenge has surprised you, and you will sketch a cartoon of you drawing.

For me, I want to dwell on the small surprises that might otherwise go unnoticed. 

You know, the little things. 

The little things like the single blue stripe on the feathers of a bird that I had not perceived before. Or, how easily a squirrel hangs upside down, so that it can rob the feeder of seed I intended for the little finches. And the surprise of a white lily frozen at the very moment before it opens just when we had our first frost. 

Keep it simple or make your drawing complex — whatever you have time for.

Some helpful tips: Start with the general outline of the object or thing and then add more details. What are the basic shapes it is composed of? Start there!

Remember, don’t judge your drawing based on what you think it should look like. Find an aspect to it that you like, or celebrate the motivation behind it. You know, the surprise of it all!

One day at a time,

Autumn 

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 4

The Mug of your Wildest Dreams!

Draw your favorite mug again, but this time add a little something more! What I mean by this is for you to add brilliant and fantastical features to your mug that would make it that much more special. 

  • Would you add wings so that it could fly to wherever you are? 
  • Maybe it would have arms and could take notes or write your novel as you sip in luxury.
  • Maybe you would change the size or design.
  • Or, just maybe it’s actually the mug you wanted for a present but didn’t get! Draw it!
  • Better yet, maybe the mug wouldn’t change but where you sip from it would!

Add any features from your imagination that would improve upon your favorite mug! Have fun. Be creative. And make it fantastic! Maybe think: What would a kid want to be added to a mug? (They don’t limit themselves as we adults do!)

Please share if you feel brave. I can’t wait to see what features or powers your mug has gained overnight.

In creative adventures,

Autumn

 

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Day 3 – Sketchbook Challenge

Draw your favorite mug!

Place your mug on a flat surface. You will want to see it from a static angle, so that you can get a sense of how it sits in space. 

Notice in this picture that there are shadows and highlights. See if you can incorporate those into your sketch by using the following ideas:

  • Use a different color to shade in the shadows.
  • Try using lines or hatching.
  • If you are using a pencil, smudge those areas with your finger. 
  • Or, use more pressure with your drawing tool, unless it is a pen or marker. (Pressure can damage the nib.)
  • Below you will see how I use lines to create shadows and volume in this simple line drawing. 

Just remember to experiment and play. Don’t be too hard on yourself and don’t compare your work with another person’s work. The best thing to do is to compare your work with your own over time to see your growth! It’s your personal journey.

Have fun! 

Oh! I almost forgot the best part– After you complete your sketch, fill your mug with your favorite beverage. Savor every sip and swallow. 

Feel free to share your work and ask questions along the way. 

In creative adventures,

Autumn














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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 2

Hope you alleviated some possible jitters by doodling a word in your sketchbook and no longer is it a book with blank pages. After Day 1, you have declared you are serious and you are going to make some marks! Those trees will not go to waste. 

Here we go for Day 2: Draw your art supplies!

Draw what you are using in your sketchbook to mark the page. These supplies can be the “right-now” supplies or ones you intend to use later on. Or, Heck! You can draw ones that you are too afraid to use, the ones that you find intimidating. Add some horns and pointy teeth to those ones. 

Draw them once, twice, or multiple times until you you fill the page. Sometimes, by repeating one thing, you can make a pretty cool pattern on the page that you may want to improve upon for a finished art piece later on. 

You never know what ideas and finished art pieces can come from simply keeping a sketchbook. 

Remember, please feel free to comment on this post or in the Facebook group your work, questions, or A-HA! moments.

Happy drawing!

Autumn