SKETCHING HERE & EVERYWHERE is Available!

 

My book on sketching is back from the printer and available! It is 128 pages and Clare Finney did an incredible job on the layout!

You can get yours here. 

If you are in Cincinnati, You can arrange to pick it up and avoid paying shipping.

I also have a bundle available with the mini-palette:

Get the combo here!

Creative Juice Podcast Part 2

Because practice makes perfect, part 2 of the podcast I did with Margot and Jeb on practice and sketching!

http://thejuicecast.com/practice-practice-practice-part-2/


 First part here: http://thejuicecast.com/practice-practice-practice-part-1/

While you are on the site, check out some of their other topics. The Juice Cast is a podcast for creative entrepreneurs.

Sketch Outing at Krohn Conservatory

Sketch by Amy Bogard

Amy Bogard, Vanessa Sorensen and I recently took an afternoon to sketch at the Krohn Conservatory. It is one of our favorite spots, especially during the winter. We long to sketch outdoors; cherry blossom season cannot come too soon!

Check out Amy's post here: http://www.amybogard.com/2015/02/16/deep-winter/

Check out Vanessa's post here: http://nessydesigns.blogspot.com/2015/02/philodendron-sketch-krohn-conservatory.html

Sketch by Vanessa Sorensen

Sketch by Christina Wald

Sketching at Union Terminal

Today a a couple of us local sketchers left deadlines and day-jobs behind for a couple of hours to go sketch the Museum Center at Union Terminal.  In spite of some tumultuous skies and a few rain drops, we got some drawing done in front of this iconic Cincinnati landmark.

Here's Amy Bogard working with not only her usual watercolors, but some pencils as well.

And below is Christina Wald nestled into the bushes to stay out of the wind while she sketched.

Here's her drawing before painting.....

And here's Christina's finished sketch!!

We are glad we didn't let the blustery weather scare us away from sketching! Let us know what is your favorite spot to sketch around the Queen City?

Dr. Sketchy's (August 6th) and Drink and Draw (August 7th)

There is a Dr. Sketchy's in Dayton tomorrow (August 10th).

"Come one, come all! Dr.Sketchy is bringing the Circus to town! Prepare yourself to amazed and amused! There will be monkeys, Bally girls, and clowns galore; everything your heart could desire and more!

Bring your colored pencils, we will be in technicolor! Don't miss out!

Tickets are $5 online http://www.drsketchydayton.com/tickets/
$7 at the door

For info, we're Dr. Sketchy Dayton!

www.drsketchydayton.com

The art event lasts from 7-10pm

Afterward Therapy Cafe is hosting the Sketchy AfterParty
~Video DJ~ DJ HELL/1470 WEST
Alternative - Industrial - Dance
10pm-2am"

 And, if you want something slightly closer, visit Great Crescent Brewery 315 Importing St, Aurora, Indiana 47001 Thursday August 7th for a special Pencils and Pints/ Drink and Draw! Tell a buddy, bring a friend, the fun starts at 6:30 pm from the folks at Cincy ComiCon 

Sketch Trip to Newport Aquarium

Octopus by Vanessa Sorensen

I went with Amy Bogard, Vanessa Sorensen and Monica Lira for an afternoon of sketching at Newport Aquarium.

Check out the rest their AMAZING sketches and photos here and here. Mine are here.

If you ever want to join us on a sketch outing, drop me a line. It is getting warmer so we will be able to sketch outside soon.

Amazing fish by Amy Bogard

Beware the wobbegong! by Christina Wald

Modern Makers + The Cincinnati Ballet: Dance/Draw 1-29-14

Interesting drawing event:

Modern Makers + The Cincinnati Ballet presents Dance/Draw


-View performance by CBII, Cincinnati Ballet's Second Company
-Mingle with CBII dancers
-Bring your drawing supplies and capture movements on paper
-Free + Open to the Public

So if you want to be a modern Degas, this may be the place to start! 

https://www.facebook.com/events/634905783236529/

Illustrators Sketch Group

Sketch by Christina Wald

Sketch by Christina Wald

Some of us have started sketching on location after some of the weekly lunches. If anyone is interested in joining us, drop an email for the weekly details if we go (weather permitting). This will probably be more of a warm weatherr thing. But we may go to some indoor locations.

Location vine videos:

https://vine.co/v/b2tmDp671YY

https://vine.co/v/bEh9AdXbpEW

Sketch by Christina Wald

Christmas is Coming! Illustrator Wish List...

What are the hot art books and products this holiday season? Here are a couple of my ideas. Does anyone have anything else to add?

 An amazing collection of the artwork of Jeffery Jones. I hope to see the documentary that Maria Cabardo did that has been making the rounds http://macabfilms.com/, but until then, this will have to suffice...

http://budsartbooks.com/prod.cfm/pc/JJLH/cid/14

This book just came out and looks really cool. From the Bud Plant description:  "For the first time an exhaustive look at the art and career of Walt Kelly; from his days at Disney working on such films as Snow White, Fantasia, and Dumbo to his work for Dell comics. His brilliant Fairy Tale Parade and Animal Comics, culminating with his creation of Albert and Pogo as a comic book feature! This full color art book has it all!"

Pogo is probably one of the best cartoons ever, I definitely plan to check this out.

http://budsartbooks.com/prod.cfm/pc/WKLIFE/cid/14

Although this came out in 2008, it is a must have in any illustrator's book collection.

http://budsartbooks.com/prod.cfm/pc/JCLH/cid/14

I loved this art book. No matter how you felt about Brave, this book has some amazing concept sketches and paintings.

http://amzn.com/1452101426

Another animation art book, the Paranorman art book is amazing!
Not only concept art, but the armatures and sets are also discussed in depth.

http://amzn.com/1452110921

 Of course Spectrum 19 goes without saying.

http://amzn.com/1599290642

 I have been obsessed with keeping a sketchbook lately. This is a great resource to break the ice if you want to sketch more.

http://amzn.com/1440308683

This Plein Air easel from Dick Blick is really cool. It is unbelievably only $90 and comes with a carrying case.

http://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-french-easel-by-jullian/

This product looks interesting for the plein air and urban sketcher. it is a portable stick chair. I am temped to try it out since finding a place to sit is sometimes the biggest challenge. I still think a situpon like we had in girl scout days would be more useful...

http://www.dickblick.com/products/the-original-stick-chair/

If you want a more conventional portable stool, this may be the ticket...

http://www.dickblick.com/products/mabef-folding-stool-m-39/

I have to admit I have fallen in love with these Hand Book Artist Journals by Global Art. They come in a wide variety of sizes and colors, have a nice tooth ant take watercolor well on both sides...

http://www.dickblick.com/products/hand-book-artist-journals/?clickTracking=true

But wait, there's more!

Creative Illustration is considered Andrew Loomis's magnum opus, which was aimed primarily at the professional-level illustrator. Divided into seven sections: Line, Tone, Color, Telling the Story, Creating Ideas, Fields of Illustration, and Experimenting and Studies, this book is filled with instructions, tips, insider experiences, and incredible illustrations.

http://amzn.com/1845769287

Suggestion from Brian Hagan:

"Jose Clemente Orozco, Diego Rivera, and David Alfaro Siqueiros. Now legendary, these men have emerged as the most prominent figures of the famed Mexican mural movement, which lasted from the '20s through the early '70s and was hailed as the most significant achievement in public art of the 20th century. The dramatic story of the movement is told here in a fascinating history of the artists, accompanied by over 100 spectacular color reproductions of the murals"

http://amzn.com/0811819280

 Gift Certificate to Taos Sketch Journal Workshop by Amy Bogard:

This is a great week of soaking in the Taos, NM art scene and sketching. I would go again if I was not going to Italy in March.

http://www.amybogard.com/blog/?page_id=1179 

Cool Article in the NYT: Why Drawing is Important

Engineering Building at UC designed by Michael Graves. Photo courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.

Really interesting article by architect Michael Graves (who got his undergrad degree at University of Cincinnati) about why drawing is important. It also has a nice slide show of his sketches over the years.

My favorite quote from the article:

"The referential sketch serves as a visual diary, a record of an architect’s discovery. It can be as simple as a shorthand notation of a design concept or can describe details of a larger composition. It might not even be a drawing that relates to a building or any time in history. It’s not likely to represent “reality,” but rather to capture an idea. 

These sketches are thus inherently fragmentary and selective. When I draw something, I remember it. The drawing is a reminder of the idea that caused me to record it in the first place. That visceral connection, that thought process, cannot be replicated by a computer."

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/02/opinion/sunday/architecture-and-the-lost-art-of-drawing.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Does the Inkling Really Work?

I have hear a lot about this new Wacom Inkling product lately. Has anyone used it?

The video looks impressive:




But it is a marketing video so it is hard to tell what its practical user experience is like.  I hate to sink money into it if it is something I will use a couple times and then abandon.

It could even be a very good idea but the tech needs work. I read a couple reviews, but would like to talk to someone who actually bought and used one.

One more thought: What is the best stylus for the iPad out there?

Plein Air Sketching

Is anyone interested in some plein air sketch outings? I am always trying to improve my skills drawing foliage...

I was looking at this flikr group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/urbansketches/

Dr. Sketchy June Spy

Just piggy-backing on Justin's post. :)
I have to agree that Dr. Sketchy is just a great environment and a lot of fun. I hope more people will come out to them. Here are few pictures I took and some of sketches from the Dr. Sketchy June session I did.

Life Drawing

Life drawing is essential to keeping up one's chops as an illustrator and I just found out about a new group meeting on Thursdays from fellow illustrators lunch regular Bruce Erikson.

Open Life Drawing at Xavier

Every Thursday (except for holidays, spring break and the summer) we have a model from 6-9PM. There is no model on March 4th which happens to fall during spring break or April 1st which is our Easter Break. We finish up on April 22nd.

We do one long three hour pose so that people can paint or sculpt as well as the customary sketch. Each session is $7 or $30 for all 12-13 for the whole semester.  Its pretty low-key, but lots of fun.

If anyone is interested in checking it out, drop me an email and I will send the maps that Bruce provided that show where the studio is on campus and where to park.

Other Life Drawing Opportunities

Manifest Gallery also offers open life drawing sessions. Chuck, Oliver and Paula have attended them and can perhaps give more details about the group and pose lengths.

Dr. Sketchy's is a life drawing group with themed poses and costumes, which is a fun change of pace. They are the 2nd Thursday each month at Leapin Lizard Gallery. The next one is March 11th from 8-11ish. You can get regular updates from the meetup site. Many of us have attended these as well and they are a lot of fun.

I know there are some other groups as well through the Art Academy and Cincinnati Art Club. If anyone wants to recommend a group, post it!

More "Sketchy" Fun

Here are a couple of my favorite sketches from Thursdays' Dr. Sketchy's drawing session. It was a lot of fun with plenty hot cider and coffee since it was absolutely FREEZING out.

The venue is an old church in Covington's Main Strauss area and is a lovely place to sketch with the fabulous stained glass windows and interesting spaces.

I am still figuring out the ideal mix of drawing materials. I am enjoying the ink for now.

Next month's costume theme is Russian Cold War from what I understand. Hopefully in a James Bond way. Too bad there is not a bar here like the Safe House in Milwaukee.


I am pushing for a whole Lord of the Rings theme with Arwen, Aragorn, etc. (Brennan, hint hint?)I am sad I missed the session where the models dressed as fairies.

By the way, I hope to see other people post what they are doing for Christmas cards. Show them off!