Currently Browsing: Popular Culture 158 articles
I Liked Dried Out Pen Lines
Here’s another of my Fair Goer sketchers from a photo Earth’s World captured at a West Coast Fair. (See #earthsworld, @earthsworld on Instagram and Flicker; Earth permits artists to use the photos as sketching reference with attribution!) I was using a very dried out pen. I have replaced it since then (May) of course, and run […]
Sketching Fair Goers without a Fair
I spent the year sketching Fair Goers who Earth’s World had captured at Fairs and Festivals. (See #earthsworld, @earthsworld on Instagram and Flicker; Earth permits artists to use the photos as sketching reference with attribution!) Even in May I kept thinking I’d better practice just in case. No Fair for me this year, but I […]
In Context: More Watercolor Sketching on Drawing Paper
Rounding the week out with another short post to balance Monday’s. Here’s another brush pen and watercolor sketch in my last Hahnemühle Travel Journal. I was patient this time and there was no paper pilling. This is an actor from one of my favorite shows “Brokenwood Mysteries.” I sketch “Frodo” a lot. There is […]
The 2022 Great Minnesota State Fair Sketch Out Is Almost Here!
Yep, it’s that time again to sketch at the Minnesota State Fair. Artist LMNOP is hosting. A map showing the meeting place (the same outdoor food court between the Food Building and Ag-Hort Building that’s been used before) and other details are in the linked post. There will be a 9 a.m. and 3 […]
Why Character Actors Make the Best Models
This sketch of a character actor in an historical drama (set in the 1930s) is not exaggerated. This is how he looked (essentially, OK there is always some exaggeration when you draw directly with ink, because if a line goes a little wonky I simply keep going…) It’s no secret, especially when I work with […]
I’m Learning More about Neill Rea’s Face
Season 8 of “Brokenwood Mysteries” started streaming in July on Acorn. I’ve been watching along as they release the new episodes; and of course sketching. I think I’m finally starting to get a little better feel for Neill Rea’s face. (His cheeks need to be a little plumper to catch his character’s kind but “I’m […]
Another Bit of Brush Pen and Ink Wash
In 2021 I drew a lot of sketches of actor Alun Armstrong. Many were sketches in my journals. It was a project I did—#MarchIsSketchAlunArmstrongMonth. As I go through and work on rebuilding my digital archive it’s fun to come across these sketches and be reminded of the fun of trying to decipher […]
Thinking about Ink Wash
Last week I started another one of these notebooks with printed ink lines. I always have a book like this near the TV so I can sketch if the mood takes me. This sketch is from spring 2021. It seems a lifetime ago. Back then Niji water brushes were what I was used to when […]
Some Thoughts on Beards
It’s pretty obvious I draw a lot of men with beards! I’ve explained why countless times. (Actually I suppose we could use the search function to sort of count but not every time a post is illustrated with a man with a beard do I write about beards, so…) The other day on Instagram a […]
Victorian Top Hats and the Evolution of the T-shirt
Late at night I sometimes curl up with my journal and sketch Victorian Fashion, specifically top hats. Since I started the week with a doodle of a man in a top hat, I thought I would continue along with more Victorian top hats. Watching dramatizations of the books of Charles Dickens will provide you with […]