The Sketch Hunter

This blog will be on hiatus.

2007-11-19T18:28:00.000-06:00

This blog will be on hiatus. I am moving to the Philadelphia area. I will update when I can.

Sketch Dump #4 continued....

2007-10-02T21:07:00.000-05:00

Sketch Dump #4-From small and medium sized sketchbooks-continued.....

2007-10-02T21:01:00.000-05:00

Sketch Dump #4-From small and medium sized sketchbooks

2007-10-02T20:50:00.000-05:00

These sketches are from various sources. Some are from life, some are from various books, others are from various sites on the internet, including wetcanvas.com. The sketchbook sizes range from 31/2 x 51/2 to 51/2 x 81/2 inches. The work spans several months of sketching. There will be more sketches uploaded tomorrow.

An Antelope and Some boats in a harbor

2007-10-02T20:34:00.000-05:00

I know, four months is far too long to go without posting. So, to everyone who has been asking for updates, here are some, with more to come tomorrow. The first image is a pen and ink of an antelope known as Gunther's dik dik. It's called a dik dik because of the sound it makes when it runs, if I remember correctly. It's based off a photo I took at the Dallas zoo. It's created using a 3x0 rapidograph for the whole piece. The second piece is also from a photo I took while in Alexandria, Va., of the harbor there. It is watercolor.

Work In Progress (WIP) Autumn Maples Finished!

2007-05-23T21:57:00.000-05:00

Well, I finally finished this drawing that I had on the backburner from last summer. I've lost count of how many hours I put into it. Probably around 70 hours. I'll show the steps and the finished piece. It's stippled primarily with a 00 rapidograph, I also used a #2 sized one and a 3x0. F&W acrylic inks were used, as well as, some india ink.

Last of the sketches from the old moleskine sketchbook

2007-03-13T18:17:00.000-05:00

People at the market, wetcanvas.com, watersoluble graphite.
Left: 42nd Street,NY, wetcanvas.com, watersoluble graphite/Right: Australian Landscape, wetcanvas.com, watersoluble graphite.
I wanted to upload this old sketchbook, and some other's that I will upload, because afterall, this is a sketchblog primarily. I'm thinking about restarting my habit of keeping a "journal", rather than just a sketchbook. I think that when you write about your ideas about art, life, and what inspires you, you get a more informed look at oneself and one's art. I used to do this regularly when I was in art classes at my arts highschool, but this practice fell by the wayside, as I had less time to do just the sketches that I was doing. I think it's important for artists to know how to talk about their art, even if only to be able to know where you're coming from for yourself. And I think that journaling aids in this practice.

sketches continued.....

2007-03-13T18:07:00.000-05:00

Left: My partner in hospital waiting room-watersoluble graphite/ Right: My partner's leg on gurney, watersoluble graphite.
Left: My hand, from observation, watersoluble graphite/Right: Apple, from observation, watersoluble graphite.
Woman, from wetcanvas.com, watersoluble graphite.
Rainy Day, from wetcanvas.com, watersoluble graphite.
Traffic, from wetcanvas.com, watersoluble graphite.

sketches continued.....

2007-03-13T17:58:00.000-05:00

Left: pen and ink-wetcanvas.com/Right: My partner sleeping, from observation, pen and ink.
Dancer on sofa, from wetcanvas.com, pen and ink.
Dancer by window, from wetcanvas.com, pen and ink.
Left: Dancer, pen and ink, wetcanvas.com, Right: Dancer, watersoluble graphite, wetcanvas.com.
Left: Woman, watersoluble graphite, wetcanvas.com/Right: Self-Portrait, from observation, watersoluble graphite.

sketches continued.....

2007-03-13T17:40:00.000-05:00

Left: My hand from observation-Graphite/ Right: My partner sleeping from observation, pen and ink
Left: Macy Sleeping and Awake gestures, pen and ink, Right: "Disadvantage" After Illustrator Joseph Clement Coll from Illustration 1860-2000, pen and ink.
Left: My partner sleeping, caran d'ache watercolor crayons, Right: Blue Self-Portrait, pen and ink, caran d'ache watercolor crayons, prismacolor markers.

Katrina Boat Overturned from my photo, pen and ink.
Destruction Katrina as seen from car window, pen and ink, from my photo.

sketches continued.....

2007-03-13T17:28:00.000-05:00

Colored Pencil-Wetcanvas.com
Left: Colored Pencil: Illustrators Reference-Faces/Right: Graphite wetcanvas.com
Left: Pen and Ink wetcanvas.com/Right: Graphite wetcanvas.com
Rose from my photo-Dallas Arboretum, pen and ink.
Waves, from a photo I found, source unknown, pen and ink.

More sketches

2007-03-13T17:06:00.000-05:00

The first and second images are pen and ink from wetcanvas.com. The third image: Left-pen and ink from wetcanvas.com, Right-Colored Pencil from Illustrators Reference Book for Faces. Fourth image: Left and Right-Colored Pencil from Illustrators Reference Book for Faces. Fifth image: Colored Pencil from wetcanvas.com.

More sketches

2007-03-13T16:18:00.000-05:00

The first image: Left-Pen and ink and Payne's Gray acrylic from wetcanvas.com. Right-Stippled Pen and Ink and line from North American Trees. Second:Left- Passengers on a Greyhound from observation. Right-Mississippi River-Algier's Ferry Side-New Orleans, from observation. Third: Top-Pen and ink and Payne's Gray acrylic from wetcanvas.com, Bottom- Watercolor from wetcanvas.com. Fourth: Left-Self-Portrait, Pen and ink and prismacolor markers. Right-Stippled Pen and ink of a toad from my photo-Dallas Arboretum. Fifth: Left-Crosshatched Pen and Ink from wetcanvas.com. Right-Pen and ink and Payne's Gray acrylic from wetcanvas.com.

New Sketches from Old Sketchbook

2007-03-13T15:55:00.000-05:00

The next several sketches are from a 3.5 x 5" Moleskine sketchbook from last year. From May 30, 2006 to July 20, 2006. Most of them are based off photos from wetcanvas.com, some are from the illustrators reference guide to faces, others are from a Reader's Digest book about North American Trees, and others are from direct observation. There is some slight camera distortion of some of the pen and ink sketches because I am still learning my new camera. I will try to point out the medium, source, and distortion, if any, in the sketches that I post. I'm not sure of the source of the first pen and ink image. The second two images-the left pen and ink is from observation from my apartment window. The right is from North American Trees. The third image is also from North American Trees and is pen and ink and payne's gray acrylic. The fourth image is from wetcanvas.com and is pen and ink and payne's gray acrylic. The fifth image is my cat Macy sleeping and is from observation.

I know I've been promising more frequent updates......here are some.

2007-03-11T23:29:00.000-05:00

I know, I know, I've been promising more frequent updates. It's not that I haven't been doing any artwork, truthfully, it's that I've been waiting until I could get a better camera. I didn't want to continue to put poor quality photos of my art on my blog. It doesn't do my own work justice, and it doesn't please those who view my blog. Now, I have a good camera......finally! So, I will be posting frequent updates. All of the photos except the piece of the eagle and Native American Chief Wolf Robe, are taken with the old camera. I wish I had time to re-photograph everything on here, but I don't. The eagle and Chief Wolf Robe is 9x12 inches on Bristol Smooth. 95% stippled with a 3x0 Rapidograph pen. The small paintings are acrylic on Bristol Smooth, no gessoed ground, no airbrush. Golden heavy body and Grumbacher Academy acrylics were used. They range in size from 4x6 inches to some odd size, I'm not sure of. Oh, I wanted to mention that the reference for the eagle came from wetcanvas.com and for the native american this great site www.firstpeople.us. The glass candle holder is from direct observation, and the apple is from wetcanvas.com.

More Airbrush Work-Fire and Trees

2006-12-17T17:06:00.000-06:00

This is my first attempt at doing fire. I worked from a photo I took of fire. The photo wasn't that great because the flames were too white in the photos, and I had to invent some of the colors and values. I'm going to try again with a better reference. The forest scene is based off a Wetcanvas.com photo.

More Airbrush-More Animals

2006-12-17T16:55:00.000-06:00

These are all 12x16 inches on Canson watercolor paper, cold press. Paasche V airbrush used along with transparent Golden Airbrush colors and FW acrylic inks. Combination of airbrush and paintbrush used for details. All images based off photos from the Wetcanvas.com reference image library.

Sketch Dump#3-Sketches from the old sketchbook continued...

2006-12-12T15:12:00.000-06:00

These sketches are also based off photos from the wetcanvas.com reference image library. Except for the last image on the right, which is from observation. They are pen and wash and acrylic ink.

Sketch Dump#3-Sketches from the old sketchbook.

2006-12-12T15:05:00.000-06:00

These are sketches from the sketchbook that I finished about a month or so ago. I will be posting sketches from the new sketchbook soon. This is the first of several sketch dump posts. The watercolors are done from observation from a bus window on a trip to Florida. The ballpoint pen drawings are based off wetcanvas.com reference image photos.

More Airbrush-The Finished Pieces

2006-12-12T14:58:00.000-06:00

These are the finished pieces. They are all a combination of airbrush and paintbrush. I airbrushed the entire image first, and then used a paintbrush to put in the details that would bring the image into sharper focus. All reference images courtesy of the wetcanvas.com image library. The image size is 16x20 inches. Also, on the previous post the image sizes are 9x12 inches.

New Work-Taking up the airbrush!-the images.

2006-12-12T14:53:00.000-06:00

For some reason the images didn't show up, so here they are.

New Work-Taking up the airbrush!

2006-12-12T14:36:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone: I'm sorry that I haven't updated this blog in a few months, life has just gotten in the way. However, I have made time to still do my artwork, and I have plenty to post. As you all may know, my first love is pen and ink, but recently I have become a bit burned out with it. Or rather with all of that stippling. I'm not going to stop doing pen and ink or stippling entirely, but I really need to start producing more work quicker, so I have taken up another medium-the airbrush. I only started four days ago with the airbrush, but I think I have become quite good with it in this short amount of time, though I still have a long way to go. I use a combination of airbrush and paintbrush for the details. I know that there are people out there who do photorealistic work with an airbrush and get sharp details with it, but I'm not sure how they do it with a tool that seems to be made for doing soft-focus work and backgrounds. At any rate, I've never been a photorealist, and it's no sin to combine tools for the effect that one wants. And I think I've arrived at a unique style. So enough, with the introduction, I will start off my showing some of my first airbrushed efforts and then my later finished pieces. All images except for the self-portrait are from the wetcanvas image library. The first eagle, and the smoker, and the clouds are airbrushed without the use of a paintbrush for details. The blue-violet eagle and the self-portrait show the use of a paintbrush to bring the image into sharper focus.

Sketch Dump#2

2006-10-27T19:29:00.000-05:00

More new work from this month. The first image on the left is after an Andrew Wyeth drybrush entitled "Johnny Lynch". The woman on the right is from wetcanvas.com. The middle images are an acrylic painting of a lion. I used to think that I just didn't paint very well with acrylic, but this painting is done on a pre-gessoed hardboard. It's one of my best acrylics, I think. Image courtesy of wetcanvas.com. The third images-the one on the left is a self-portrait. The hands on the right are from wetcanvas.com. The first and third group of images is completed using a black ballpoint pen. The last images are also taken from wetcanvas.com and are completed using rapidograph pens 4x0, 00, and 2 sizes.

Sketch Dump-More New Work

2006-10-27T19:18:00.000-05:00

Here's a bunch more new work. Also on the previous post, I wanted to mention that the autumn forest image was taken from the reference image library of wetcanvas.com.
The first image of the two boys is completed with watersoluble graphite. Images courtesy of wetcanvas.com. The second images-the woman sleeping on the left is my partner, and is drawn from observation. The cityscape on the right is drawn from one of my personal photos of New Orleans, post Katrina. The man in the middle is based off an Andrew Wyeth drybrush called "The Finn". It is pen and ink using 4X0, 00, and 2 sized rapidographs. And the final images are also from wetcanvas.com.

New Work-Sorry it's been so long.

2006-10-27T19:06:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone. I'm sorry it's been so long that I've posted anything. Life gets in the way sometimes. However, I have been very busy drawing and sketching, and I have plenty of work to post.
The first two are of a pen and ink drawing that I'm doing. It's being done with rapidographs and acrylic ink. It's taking me forever, but it's worth it in my estimation.
The second is of a sratchboard and acrylic painting. It's my homemade version of scratchboard, which didn't work out too well, hence the acrylic background to the cat. But it was a learning experience. I took a gesso coated hardboard panel and covered it with ink. The ink hardened too much the second day to scratch through very well. I colored the cat with acrylic ink. I gave this one to my mother as a gift, since it's a portriat of her cat Precious.

Self-Portraits and a smoker

2006-09-21T16:02:00.000-05:00

I do lots of self-portraits in my sketchbook, and they all come out differently. This one is just a quick sketch, it's completed in ink and watersoluble graphite. Derwent makes watersoluble graphite pencils and the sticks that don't need to be sharpened as well. They call them Graphitints. I like the wash effect they give and they are great for quick sketches. I prefer the sticks to the pencils.
The spoons have my reflection in them, so in a sense they are self-portraits. I got lazy and did the shadows and background in watercolor. Originally, I was going to fill the page with spoons, but then I decided I didn't want to spend all day sketching them.
The smoker is taken from a photo from Wetcanvas. com-reference image library. It's an image I have drawn many times, but I have never done it in pen and ink until now. I love the textures on the face and the challenge of drawing the smoke, and I think that's why I keep returning to this image.

More Moleskine Sketches

2006-09-11T18:40:00.000-05:00

Here are some more moleskine sketches. I've been sick with a cold, and I haven't gotten out to do much outdoor sketching, plus it rained today. I'm beginning to get a little antsy to go outside. The drawing of the leaves is taken from North American Trees, a Readers Digest book. The hand is from observation, but the background and the rain is made up. The other sketches are of Turtle Creek, a park in Dallas. And they are from my own photos.

"Spring"-finished work

2006-09-11T18:30:00.000-05:00

This piece is 6x8 inches. It evolved from a series of nudes that I did in my sketchbook. I wanted to illustrate the seasons by using a human figure in some way. This is the first piece that I have done so far in this series. It is done using 4x0, 00, and 2 sized rapidographs. The background is based on my own reference photos. The figure is taken from The Nude Figure a visual reference for artists.

Moleskine Sketches

2006-09-09T14:05:00.000-05:00

I finally finished my larger sketchbook, and moved into my favorite 3x5" moleskine. Some of the images are small finished drawings, others are sketches. Some use the reference image library from wetcanvas.com as a source. The shoe and the cat are from direct observation.The drawing to the left of the falcon is a close-up of a hibiscus. The falcon is from The Complete Encyclopedia of Birds and Bird Migration. I drew the falcon's eye too large, but it is a sketchbook afterall and it doesn't have to be perfect. I think we all have to remind ourselves of that sometimes. Sorry for the uneven picture quality, my camera doesn't do well with pen and ink images. Which is too bad because I mostly work in pen and ink.

Gestural Sketches-a cat and figures

2006-09-09T13:57:00.000-05:00

The first sketch is a gesture drawing of my cat bathing. The others of a female nude in motion are taken from the book The Human Figure-a photographic reference for artists by Erik A. Ruby.

More sketches

2006-09-09T13:51:00.000-05:00

Here are more fountain pen and watercolor sketches. These sketches used the wetcanvas.com reference image library as a source for the images.

New Sketches

2006-09-09T13:43:00.000-05:00

These first three sketches are from Whiterock Lake in Dallas, Texas. The first two were done on location. The one of the crane is from a photo that I took. I used a fountain pen and watercolor for all three sketches.

2006-08-29T16:55:00.000-05:00

Here's two finished pieces. They are both pen and ink, done with a rapdiograph technical pen. The images are drawn from my personal reference photos. The drawings are both of people and things in New Orleans. One is of an old fashioned candy wagon, and the other is a woman getting her body painted. I apologize for the blurred images....my digital camera is a piece of crap. These were the best images I could get.

2006-08-29T16:31:00.000-05:00

More sketches from the same series-using the Wetcanvas reference photos.

2006-08-29T16:11:00.000-05:00

These first posts are all fountain pen and watercolor sketches. The reference images for these sketches comes from a site call www.wetcanvas.com. If you don't know what Wetcanvas is, it's a great website for artists that includes art instruction, forums, and a reference image library all for free. Just sign up for their membership. I hope to get out to do some drawing from life very soon, but it has been rainy here, and this is what I produced.

2006-08-29T15:55:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my blog everyone. This blog is of sketches and finished artwork. All art is copyrighted by the artist. I hope you all enjoy looking at my art. Feel free to comment, and thank you for taking the time to look.