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In Context—Another Peek at Pandemic Life
Pandemic life can’t help but pop up in your journal if you’re working from home. I’ve been sorting my images, all in little folders ready for blog posts. I have had some, like this one from 2020 set to go—but I don’t remember what the topic was to be. Last week (2021) I cooked a […]
The April Demo—Thinking About Pattern and Texture in the Design of a Painting
This month on Patreon I do a graphite and watercolor portrait. I use this portrait to begin a discussion on thinking about how the texture of brush strokes and the use of pattern and other textures in a painting impact the readability of that painting. The discussion will continued in May when I look at […]
In Context—Looking At Details
These are some quick sketches of strong man Eddie Hall from 2019. I used a Pentel Brush pen and ink wash on the verso page. The recto page uses the same brush pen but watercolor. These sketches are in a commercially bound journal with green-lined pages. The smooth paper is something that I enjoy working […]
It’s Official #MarchIsSketchAlunArmstrongMonth
Yep, #MarchIsSketchAlunArmstrongMonth. It seems the best way to improve the current situation. I woke up this morning to icy rain. By the time I finished cycling (inside of course) there were fat, light flakes of snow falling quickly past the window behind me. The Minnesota State site for Covid vaccination eligibility said it would be […]
Update on the Stephen Quiller Color Theory Books I’m Always Recommending
Nothing is ever actually straightforward or simple. Of course now buying Stephen Quiller’s books on color theory now falls into that category. As far as I know he has the following two books on color theory: Color Choices: Making Color Sense Out of Color. Note that this is a […]
Painting on Drawing Paper
In this brush pen and watercolor sketch I painted on the drawing paper contained in a Hahnemühle Drawing and Sketching book. (It’s about 8.5 x 9 inches or so). As I mentioned in a recent post, I enjoy sketching on drawing papers, well certain drawing papers. Why? Because I enjoy the drag of the pen […]
In Context: Small Details Matter
In this brush pen and watercolor sketch in a Hahnemühle Travel Journal I’m working with wet media on a drawing paper and loving it. (I’ll have a counter opinion about using non-watercolor paper coming up another day on the blog.) You can click on the image and read the in-context text, me cooling my heals, […]
A Little Dip Pen and Watercolor
At the beginning of the month I had a pen sketch of this muse from Sktchy. Here today is another sketch, from the same muse with different facial hair. I’ve used a different painting approach: dip pen and watercolor. (See the caption for additional media comments.) This is actually a painting made on a sheet […]
Ink or Paint, Either Way Thank Goodness for Hipsters
I am so grateful to the younger generination, especially the hipsters who devote real energy to their facial hair. There is nothing more fun for me than sketching beards, and there are great beards out there now to sketch. This young man actually had Dundrearies! Named after a character in the 1858 British play […]
In Context—Brush Pen Portrait
I post this today as a reminder that when you’re going through rough times it’s important to keep using your creativity. Something imperfect is better than not having a go. Exercising your creativity generates new energy.