Still Going Through Journals...

 to see what I might want to revisit.

I forgot how much I like Art Nouveau letters...

and a mandala made from an Eiffel Tower stamp!  This stamp is included in an alphabet set called Paris Lower from My Sentiments Exactly. The way the shape forms the mandala is an idea that I want to let percolate for awhile.

Thoughtful

Curly Beard

So, You Wanna Go to Sea, Billy?

Beards are Fun!

Sailor Fude Pen and Watercolour

11" x 14" Strathmore Sketchbook

Roz Stendahl, one of my sketching heroes, loves to sketch men with beards.  I can see why - scribbling is fun!

The Paper Buckles, But So What?

Sailor Fude Pen and Watercolour

Strathmore Sketchbook

11" x 14"

You can see on the background of this scan how the thin paper buckles when I add watercolour to it.  But these sketches are so much fun I don't care!

Working Large

Sailor Fude Pen and Watercolour

I've been using an old 11" x 14" sketchbook as a studio journal lately, a place to keep notes, test colours, do thumbnail sketches, etc.

I have found that I enjoy the freedom of working large again, something that I haven't done for a few years.

More Men in Hats

ATC, Markers

It Didn't Start out Purple

Artist Trading Card, Markers

For these value studies, I thought I pulled out the same gray marker I used in my last post.  The barrel of the marker is gray.  It went on gray.

By the next day, it had dried purple.  And what's more, it isn't actually this grape colour, it is more magenta.  Usually my scanner is good with colours, but not this time.  These really are "magic pens", as advertised, only in a slightly different way!

Men in Hats Artist Trading Cards

Markers

Some men in hats jumped out of the journal and onto artist trading cards for our July swap.

After doing one in colour, I decided to play with values:

Steve McQueen

Frank Sinatra

Elegant Writer on Canvas Paper

Benny Hill

Douglas Fairbanks

Pencil Crayon

Men in Hats

I know I've gone through a "drawing men in hats" phase before, but indulge me please.

Playing with Metallic Pencil Crayons

I was browsing Roz Stendahl's blog and came across this post on drawing with metallic pencil crayons. She's the bomb of portrait drawing, IMHO.

I couldn't resist giving Jack Lemon a go.

Lincoln

Fruit Crate Label, pencil crayon

Boss

Fruit Crate Label, pencil crayons

Golden Girl

Pencil Crayon

Handsome Men in Hats

I'm not familiar with Dana Andrews, but I do like drawing handsome men in hats.