Another Sketch

pen & ink sketch kid's sunglasses

Stacy L. Rowan

Lesson learned with this one. I had a rather long wait for my children one day and decided to sketch in the car. Only to find I had very little of anything that inspired me to sketch. So now I know I should carry subject material for sketching with me.

graphite sketch kid's sunglasses

Stacy L. Rowan

These sunglasses belong to my daughter. For some reason they do not sit flat, especially when propped up on the dashboard. Could be they were made that way, but it is more likely that someone sat on them at some point. I sketched them first in pen and then in pencil. Daylight was fading quickly so my primary focus was on speed. Even then I did not get to finish the pencil sketch.

Snubbies

graphite sketch

Stacy L. Rowan

Another sketch - this time of a stuffed Snubbies* that belongs to my kids. If you are not familiar with this toy, look here and you will see that they really are dogs with large heads. Interesting I know, but at least we clarified that this isn't a really bad sketch.

*I don't know if there is a singular version of this word. I've only ever heard them refered to as Snubbies, never Snubby. Anyone know?

Bethlehem Town Hall Rotunda

Tomorrow is the last day to catch the Bethlehem Palette Club Annual All-Member Exhibit. The exhibit is hung at the Town Hall Rotunda. There is a artist reception Sunday from 2pm - 4pm, after which the show will be taken down. My painting "Sentinels"of the Bethlehem Waterworks, seen here, is hung in this show. So if you want to see it in person and are in the area, stop by!

The Rotunda is located at 10 East Church Street in Bethlehem, next to the main branch of the Bethlehem Area Public Library.

Happy Anniversary

cupcake watercolor sketch

approx. 5" x 4" on Arches 140lb cp paper

Stacy L. Rowan

To me! Or...well...To my blog! One year ago today I created this blog and started posting. Truthfully, at the time, I was a little concerned because I didn't know much about blogging and I wasn't sure if I could stick with it.

Now here I am safely through the first year. To celebrate I created a yummy little watercolor sketch. And the best part - no calories! I made the sketch using a few different photos as references. I just couldn't justify bringing more sweets into the house until all of the Christmas cookies are gone and a lot more miles are logged on the treadmill.

To wrap up this party I'd like to thank all of you for reading my blog and supporting me through its first year. Stick around and we can have another celebration the same time next year!

Is it Too Late...

wooden Santa decoration

graphite sketch (approx 6" x 9") in spiral sketchbook

to post a Christmas sketch? Since I haven't taken down any of my Christmas decorations yet, I feel like I can still squeeze in this sketch. Am I the only person still enjoying holiday decorations? Come on, you can be honest. There's no shame in having the decorations still up. Christmas was only two weeks ago, even if it seems much longer.

And it's also not too late to make those New Year's resolutions either. Although before you do, I recommend you read this post from Christine Kane's blog. She recommends a new New Year's ritual that I find intriguing. I'm going to give it a try. Maybe you would like to too?

About the sketch: I was sitting on the couch, nursing a cold, looking for something to sketch when I saw the late day sun spotlighting the edges of the reindeer. It made me think of Santa's sleigh climbing into the sky toward a full moon. My goal was to capture that strong light on the reindeer and the reins.

Sketchy Resolutions

glass of milk

graphite sketch in Moleskine sketchbook

Stacy L. Rowan

First let me say a belated Happy New Year! Although I wasn't posting I was thinking of all of you. I've been trying to come up with a witty summary for 2007 or some fabulously motivating goals for 2008. But honestly, what I've got is a bit sketchy.

2007 was a year of building. I met about half of the goals I set at the beginning of the year. The other half I consciously tossed to make the most of other opportunities, like the mentorship with Michael Newberry.

I'm still working on my goals for 2008. I have three objectives that I want to work on this year, but I haven't translated them into well-defined, measurable goals.

My three objectives are...

1. Enjoy art more. Have fun creating it and showing it. Let the joy come through in the work.


2. Clarify my motivations for creating art and make sure my message comes through in each work of art and in my written and verbal communications.


3. Create a regular sketching practice so when I travel to Germany in August I can create a fabulous travel journal for remembering our trip.

The last objective is pretty easy to put into goal form, but I am struggling a bit with the first two. So I'm going to let these objectives incubate for a while. And as I work on projects I'll ask myself if the work is taking me toward my objectives or away from them.

The sketch above was the first in my regular sketching practice. It is my daughter's glass of milk from our lunch at the Bethlehem Brew Works. Unfortunately she drank it all and they cleared her glass before I was done with my sketch. Next time I'll speak up and have them leave it. Or I'll make her go thirsty until I'm done. After all, what is a small sacrifice in the name of art?

(By the way, you don't know what control it took not to title this post "Got Milk"!)