Sketchbook Project 2012 Completed!

Yes, January 31st postmark ends the submission for the Sketchbook Project 2012; a constantly evolving library of artists' sketchbooks from across the globe.

I DID IT!

You can check their website to see when the world tour will be in the city closest to you. This year thousands of sketchbooks will be exhibited at art spaces in 14 cities. After the tour, they will join the collection of the Brooklyn Art Library and made available to the public seven days a week.

A digital view of my sketchbook:

Cover
Title Page

Sunday Sketches

One day I was driving to our favorite walking spot and I saw my friends on the bridge at Woodard Bay in Olympia, Washington, watching and taking photos of what?

Stopping I learned that the Mama Mergansers will carry her babies on her back to move them. Later when I got home Barry sent me an e-mail with photos! Barry Troutman is not only a great photographer but also a wildlife specialist who shares his knowledge about what you are looking at when you are with him. Even in his e-mails!

"Here are some of the birds we were watching today down by the bridge. The Mergansers nest upstream, then move downstream with their broods within a day of hatching. Once they head out, they don't return, but spend their early days growing up out in Chapman Bay or outer Woodard Bay beyond the trestle."

The photo is dated July 1st, but it has taken me this long to capture Mama and her ducklings in my sketchbook.

Sunday Sketches

Very little vegetation life outside right now, but ferns are thriving here in the Pacific Northwest.

I thought I would create a sketch in colored pencil of ferns covering two pages in my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project 2012. Three more double pages and I have completed the sketchbook! Looks like I will have no problem with the January 31st deadline.

More Scribbles

I picked up one of Bet Borgenson's book on colored pencil techniques and shared it with my art therapy client who, unfortunately is now immobile due to Parkinson's. I have shared my recent creations at times, but I no longer get her feedback. I shared my woes regarding colored pencils and brought Bet's book and my sketchbook on my last visit.

What I learned is the importance of paper when using colored pencil. Bet showed a cross-section of different papers and how the colored pencil works with each. Returning again to my frustration and challenge with the paper provided in the sketchbook, I scribbled. The last sketches in my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project 2012 will be done in colored pencil because gluing the watercolor sketches into the sketchbook has made it rather bulky.

This scene was inspired by a vista from my walk on the Chehalis Western Trail not far from my house in Olympia, Washington. I love to watch the seasonal transitions of the ponds and especially like cattails. I am a frequent flier on the Trail.

Sunday Sketches

Scribbling

Do you remember scribbling when you were a child? Or, better yet, getting accused of scribbling by another child who thought they were cool?

As an art therapist, I am aware of scribbling as the first stage of artistic development for a child. It is such a freeing feeling and can be very colorful.

I was having these thoughts as I scribbled with colored pencils to create my maple leaf sketch. What fun! It is the only way I know to layer color with this medium. Leaves are a favorite of mine and I could not resist filling a page of my sketchbook with a leaf in its last days.

Maybe it is symbolic of the year ending?



Happy New Year!

Looking For Color

As the dark days of winter set in, I am looking for any ounce of color.

Cyclamen!

The unique flower that blooms year round. I have always loved the grace of the cyclamen from the early rise of the bud similar to a fern's uncoiling, to the flowing dance of the blossom. Not to forget the beauty of the fluid curve in the rise of the leaf as well as the heart shaped leaves.

Another watercolor sketch to add to the sketchbook:

No Excuses

I am using the holidays as an excuse for not painting even though I do not believe in excuses.

In order to set the record straight, I will gear up on artistic creations since I have one month to complete the sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project 2012.

I am amazed by the spectacular blooms of the tropical plant,Anthurium, which has a predominant spot in the living room window that faces south. It just loves this spot and graces me with blooms year round.

After completing this sketch and watercolor of the Anthurium, I am considering a full size painting.

Sunday Sketches

Finished another sketch for the Sketchbook Project 2012. I took Carol's advice to use better quality paper and glue it into the sketchbook.

I have been looking at this photograph of the Quechua school children waving good-bye to us after our visit to their school. It was a memorable day for both the children and us.

I love the line up and knew one day it would be a painting. It was challenging to capture their faces with a single line of ink. The watercolors were applied after the ink drawing.

Title Page for Sketchbook Project 2012

Challenges accepted and proceed ahead!

Here is the title page:



Now to figure out what direction to go and how to cover up the bleed through from this page to the next.

I will have time to think about it as I am off on another adventure. This time to Peru.....Machu Picchu and the Amazon rain forest.

Until next time.......

Sunday Sketches

Ha Ha!

Many lessons ahead........

I began my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project 2012 and found out that this may be more challenging than I thought. First, different paper always presents unknowns. Today, I learned that "there are no mistakes" since I sealed the cover and cannot rebind the sketchbook.

For the cover I chose to create a colored pencil drawing on paper and glue it to the cardboard cover. It needed to have some kind of protection and I just happened to have a container of Golden gel medium which I won at the local Golden demonstration. It worked!

Here is the cover; imagine it folded in half:


The theme of the sketchbook is "Along The Line".

I came up with an idea for the title page and that is where the real challenges begin.

I tried some of the Golden acrylic paint to cover up the brown cardboard on the inside. It was rather messy and I managed to get acrylic paint on the cover and the next page :( When I turned the page, I notice that the ink from drawing on the title page came through to the next page :( Okay, now I need to think of a some kind of artistic creation that will cover up the lines and paint.

Yes, I see this sketchbook creating itself as I proceed.

More to follow. Stay tuned!

Sketchbook Project 2012

My good friend an gifted artist, Ellen Miffitt, encouraged me to enter the Sketchbook Project 2012 sponsored by the
Art House Co-op.

First you choose a theme for your sketchbook and Art House Co-op will send you a sketchbook. I picked "Along the Line" and not sure why, but it will unfold (pun intended!). Your sketchbook must be postmarked by January 31st 2012 in order to be on the 2012 Tour. The tour begins in April and thousands of sketchbooks will be exhibited at galleries and museums as they make their way on tour across the world.

You can find out the which cities are participating in the 2012 tour and a recap of the five month 2011 tour at the website.

After the tour, all sketchbooks will enter into the permanent collection of The Brooklyn Art Library, where they will be barcoded and available for the public to view. Many of the books will be available by digital image too.

2011 Sketchbook Project Tour Seattle from mightymoss on Vimeo.

Another Great Idea

A new blog to follow.....

Sketchers from around the world will be sharing their art on postcards.

The project has grown out of the Sketchercise group which was founded by Katherine Tyrrell.
Sketchercise is a group of people who enjoy sketching from life, have already developed the sketching habit, and have found ways of exercising with a sketchbook.

The idea of A Postcard From My Walk is that once a month an artist will mail a sketch done on one of their outings to one of the group of Sketchercise members who are participating in the project. That way they get to see the real sketch rather than just the image on the Internet.

The blog will record a monthly postal exchange of sketches on postcards between the 14 members of Sketchercise over the course of one year.

What a fun idea. Since I love to travel, I look forward to seeing the sketches from around the world.

Here is one of my sketches when I was traveling in Greece.

Kastraki Joanne Osband
watercolor & ink
September 2010

The Island of Antiparos

After spending time in Kastraki and visiting the clifftop monasteries of Meteora I decided to save Delphi for my next visit to Greece and head out to the islands.

I was intrigued by the mention in the Lonely Planet Greek Islands book of the great place to windsurf between the islands of Paros and Antiparos. I thought I had best check this out.

Traveling from Kastraki to Paros was a FULL DAY trip and did not reach the port of Parikia until nearly mid-night. When you get off the ferry people are gathered at the end of the docks with signs for rooms to rent. Running the gauntlet, I picked a woman and we negotiated terms. I was happy to have a place to rest!

The next morning on my way to the bus stop, I stopped at a bakery and bought a "spinach pie" which was still warm.......oh my gosh, was that delicious! Then, I found a gentleman at the dock who was selling fresh fruit; I bought some local grapes. While waiting for my bus, I was approached by a young man about a place to stay in Antiparos......word spreads quickly amongst the locals!

A bus ride and a short ferry between Paros and Antiparos, I left my backpack at this cute little place in Antiparos, and headed to the beach.

After swimming in the crystal clear turquoise blue waters, I pulled out the paints and sketchbook. What I learn was in the hot climate of Greece it is impossible to do a watercolor wash as the paint dries instantly! I painted quickly and then back into the water to cool off. What a life!


And you ask, did I go windsurfing? To be continued......