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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 13

 

Today’s prompt! Draw something from your pantry!

Will it be a can of soup? Or, how about a classic– A box of macaroni and cheese?

Whatever you choose, again, set it on a flat surface to give it perspective! If you do choose something round, try curving the lines slightly as you shade around the edges.

Let’s fill a pantry of our own with sketches!

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January Sketchbook Challenge

Sketchbook Challenge – Day 12

Today’s prompt: Draw your shoes or one shoe!

Find one that is your favorite, or one that rarely gets picked to step out into the world. 

It can be simple or elaborate with long laces and fine stitching.

A helpful tip?

Look at the overall shape. Start with the contour lines.

See the shoe as an object built shape by shape. Are there circles, ovals, rounded rectangles?

In other words, try not to draw the shoe by ‘seeing’ the shoe as a whole. Try drawing the shoe by noticing the shapes of the spaces within– the shapes of the sole, the toe, and the shapes shadows make. Break the whole into those smaller shapes and place them where they fit in relation to the overall outline of the shoe.

Remember, a sketchbook is a place for practice and mistakes. It is not a place for finished pieces that you put up for sale. Well, maybe you get lucky every now and again, but do remember that is not the first purpose of a sketchbook.

Give yourself permission to draw a very wonky shoe today.

Let’s draw!

Autumn

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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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Storidoodles

Storidoodle #3

Wishes.

At some point in our lives, we all make them. 

Murdock heard about wishes. He had first heard about them one night when he sat within an ice canyon and watched the night stars singing through colors. As he watched the purples and greens sparkle in song, he heard a little sound building momentum as it neared him. It was a voice echoing down the canyon walls. Now echoes were not new to Murdock. He thought they were the most unusual yet beautiful thing.

He listened intently as he usually did, collecting new words and wondering in thought about who spoke them, where they came from, and where they would end up. Suddenly, more words came whistling through the canyon. Wish. Wish. Make a little wish.

“What is this thing called a wish?”

His fluffy ears perked toward the echo as he closed his eyes to concentrate so that he might hear better. But he did not learn of what this unfamiliar thing was, or how to make one. 

Wish. Wish. Wish. He said over and over to himself. 

It was lucky for him that another, more experienced, polar bear overheard him.

“Wish?” said the wiser polar bear.

“You know what a wish is?” asked Murdock.

“Of course,” the wise one replied. “A wish is something you desire with all your heart.”

“Oh! Do you know how to make one?”

The other polar bear contemplated this, looking as if he was searching for an answer somewhere deep within his memory.

Murdock waited patiently until the other bear found an answer. 

“Yes, from what I have learned, Murdock,” said the bear. “You wait until you see a traveling star.”

“And…” encouraged Murdock.

“And, then, you make your wish. You share your desire with the universe.” And after giving Murdock this answer, the other polar bear left and went on about his business. 

“A traveling star!” said Murdock aloud. “I can do that.”

So, he returned to his favorite spot, night after night. And he waited, and he watched. And he waited some more, watching some more.

He kept his eyes loyal to the skies, which wasn’t hard for him to do. He loved stargazing. 

Now, reader, you may be thinking how in the grand universe could someone who loves to stargaze not have seen a traveling star before. Well, it’s quite simple. There is a multitude of wondrous new things to realize around you at all times, most of us don’t see them because we simply don’t think to look for them. And Murdock didn’t think to look for such a thing before. But with a little inspiration, he fixed his eyes on the sky with a very specific intention.

And then, in the night sky, he saw something unlike everything else. He saw something moving among the stationary stars. 

It zigged and zagged. It went up and it went down. It circled and did a few loop-de-loops before racing off, out of Murdock’s sight. 

“There it is!” he called. “A traveling star!” 

Astonished by the star, he nearly forgot to make a wish. But, he remembered just in time. 

And do you know what he wished for?

Well, dear reader, your guess is as good as mine. He never told. But, I will tell you that every night thereafter, it seemed he was never gazing upon a sky without seeing another traveling star… for the rest of his days. 

Wishing you much wonder and fixing your eyes to see new things,

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