Journal pages for Saturday 14th March (am) ...



Last Saturday was a fantastic day. Started the morning out at the Kumeu Show. This was always a highlight for us local Kumeu kids. Attendance, exhibits and even animals seemed down in numbers on previous years. Though my friend Sharon went on Sunday and apparently it was much busier.

I spent the morning wandering the exhibits, photographing and took some time sketching the giant pumpkins (always a popular exhibit) and in my quest for new I tried Scottish shortbread and whitebait fritters. At some point I'm sure I have had whitebait but can't remember specifically - they were doing a roaring trade by the way.

About the page:

• Pre-washed backgrounds
• Sketches using Sepia Micron 01 , a little black Micron 01 and watercolour
• Fold out page page made with handmade paper with photos machine stitched onto it. The stitching makes a natural fold line.
  

It is so easy to over work a sketch. Fiddling, working and reworking can lose the dynamics of sketching from life.

Usually there is something specific that catches your interest in a scene, it's what stopped you and made you take notice. It might be an interesting composition, subject, colours, light reflections, shadows, texture detail.. any number of things.

What caught my eye in this scene: Dimply bum shapes (hehe), light reflections, interesting subject and rich orange colour.
Recording all of those things was achieved by focusing my attention on the front pumpkins. This also solved some perspective problems for me too by giving my composition a foreground. By putting more emphasis (detail and working) on the front pumpkins it visually places them forward where I couldn't rely on perspective techniques of reducing size/angle as some of the rear pumpkins were larger and my slightly high veiw point.

So my tip for today is: sketch just enough without the pressure of completing every last detail and enjoy satisfying result of capturing your inspiration on paper.

~ Kathleen
PS: I'm looking forward to posting the rest of March 14th. That day totally ROCKED!

Labels: Great-Places-Auckland-Region, Journal-Pages, Sketching-Tips

Hi all,
There is so much happening in Auckland at the moment. Its like the last available month of decent weather has multiple activities all over town available to the willing.

Last week I went to ZooMusic. I'm a bit of a fan of Pluto (this won't be the last you hear me mention them...lol) and they were the featured band along with Mint Chicks. So I decided to turn the experience into a bit of an excursion. Turned up at the Zoo a bit early and set about taking photos and doing some sketches.

Sketching animals is super fun! I am going to buy myself a years Friends of the Zoo pass so I can go whenever I like and practice. I would have liked to have finished sketching the elephant, except when a elephant walks away there is no convincing him otherwise ;) What to do? Sketch of his backside as he walks away!


In the examples from my book, the Rhino is essentially a large rectangle with a smaller rectangle on a 45degree angle (the head).
The flamingos are ovals - or even better, eggs. Eggs are dimensional rather than flat so seeing them that way makes it easier to show their form with shadow and highlight.
The elephant, a combination of rectangles and squares. Even his backside is a square with the corners chopped off.

Try it, it's easier than you think!


This journal spread:
Left side - Pre-washed background, animals sketches, photos and notes, piece of bark tied to the page.
Center insert - Zoo Music advertising eyeleted and attached to the spine.
Right side - Pre-washed background, notes, a sketch of the harsh late afternoon shadows from the line of people waiting to get in, photos of the band and photo of late night dinner at GPK.

Note: Bombay Pizza from GPK is the best - Indian spiced chicken, red onions, cashews (!), mango chutney, yoghurt, coriander and....banana. Fantastic surprising combo of flavours.

By the way, I stayed for a bit of the Mint Chicks but really Pluto is where its at. Music must accompany this post! ....

Labels: Great-Places-Auckland-Region, Journal-Pages, Restaurant-Review, Sketching, Sketching-Tips