Festive Sprouts...

I realise that I like being able to tell what time of year it is from the pages of my sketchbook. For that reason, I've been thinking Christmas-sy thoughts when looking for subject matter for the drawing a day recently.

These sprouts seems appropriate (I used to really dislike sprouts, but am making a big effort to like them now... smoked bacon seems to really help). I mentioned to my Mum that I had brought some sprouts when shopping... she instantly replied 'to draw?'... and she was right.

I drew them in pen, and then decided that a sprout really did need to be green...

so out came the watercolours. 

Then I realised I hadn't thought about my Christmas cards for this year, and so I measured the top of the sprouts and on another piece of paper (not in the book as not directly observed) some hats appeared...

... and finally with a bit of photoshop magic the sprouts donned the hats! Hurrah. Festive Sprouts.

Oh my!

Compare and contrast!

Yesterday I looked at my beautiful Christmas tree and thought about drawing one of the decorations. I looked at them all, settled on one, then had to sit on the floor with my back in the draught from the door so I could see it at the angle I wanted! This is the one I settled on

12.12.2013

I sat down this evening and wondered what I might draw today. Out of interest I thought I'd have a look in the 2008 book to see what inspired me 5 years ago.
This little picture caught my eye...

09.12.2008

I couldn't believe it! I had no conscious recollection that I had drawn that one before. 

One of my friends had a look through the drawing a day books recently and she noticed I'd drawn a few things in both 2008 and 2013, so tonight, after the above discovery I decided to investigate further!

There are the bananas!...

The favourite mug (struggled with the type both times!) Bizarrely only a week or so apart (+5years!).

And also this keyring! I will keep an eye out for more!

I've been printing!

Well, the drawing a day is still happening, but recently I've been having a go at printing.

A little go at lino...

... and a go at Drypoint, which I really enjoy...

The travel team

I'm not sure why these caught my eye yesterday, but the did, and so they were drawn! A slightly odd collection of travel bottles - especially as there are two shampoos in the team!

Am yet to do my drawing for today.. but have been playing with some possible card designs from the drawing a day collection!

A little bit festive!

I thought I was quite good at not being too-Christmassy-too-soon however, these festive treats appeared in the house...

The last three days...

...look like this in my sketchbook. I quite like the differences in style!

I really like drawing sheep, but every time I start to draw them I'm surprised at how they are nearly always on the move (except those lying down!). They admittedly move slowly, but it's fairly constant!

Boiled Egg and Soldiers

When I flick through my sketchbook of 2013, this entry always catches my eye. I drew it on the 12th January... ages ago! It is still one of my favourites so far.

Autumn leaves

I have been admiring the autumn colour this weekend. The sun was shining through the leaves in the cherry tree outside this morning. The leaves are all different colours, green, orange, yellow and red.
I found a fabulous red leaf yesterday and drew that. A golden yellow cherry leaf the day before.

Fancy a picnic?

Pens, Pencils, Paintbrushes...

I was having a think about what would make a nice title image for this page and flicked through my drawing a day book for this year. I was surprised that quite a few pens and pencils had crept in over the year so far!
I dug out the 2008 books and sure enough discovered that it had started there. Tonight I found my favourites and have scanned them and put them all together...

The four on the left are 2013 drawings and the three on the right are 2008. The sketchbook I'm using this year likes watercolour / watercolour pencils a lot more than the 2008 book, the water used to stay on the surface and dry in an odd way! So I used to just stick to the watercolour pencils without the water.

A Drawing a Day... where it began

In 2008, I decided to do a drawing a day. This was my New Years resolution.  The aim was to increase the amount of drawing I did, to keep a different kind of diary and to try an be a bit more spontaneous with the sketchbook - draw what I see, when I see it.

I made a couple of fairly strict rules for the drawing a day book...

• It had to be directly observed
• It had to be drawn on the day

I missed three (possibly 4) days during the whole year. It ended up being two books, both of which I love. They travelled wherever I did and documented the whole year.

At times it was a bit of a chore, and there were a few too many 'what can I see from the bed' drawings, as I was desperate to sleep but realised just before turning off the light that the drawing was yet to be done!

I was very happy to give it up on New Year's eve.

I had been toying with the idea of 2013 being a drawing a day year back in December, and then one of my Christmas presents was a sketchbook, the perfect size and so the decision was made for me! 2013 is another 'Drawing a Day' year.