Co-operative Art

Onni and the Sea (pencil)

I wasn't the only one who had some difficulties staying alert at the teachers' lecture. My colleaque Raimo looked like he needed something to cheer him up so I gave him my sketchbook and encouraged him to draw anything he wanted. I also told him that I would then continue working with whatever he drew. After a while he handed me this lovely sketch of a landscape.

I happened to find a photo of my friends' dog Onni from my phone. Onni looks a bit depressed in the photo, so I decided it could be missing someone at the beach. I think that the end result is something I wouldn't have done by myself. The background made me think differently. I think I should do more sketches together with someone.

Greetings from Tallinn!

Teachers' year started with a day that was full of speeches and lectures and because I had some difficulties to concentrate for eight hours straight I had to come up with something to do while listening. Luckily I knew how the day was going to be and was well prepared. I took my sketchbook with me and the day just flew by. Eight hours felt like three because I was drawing almost the whole time. Drawing usually helps me to concentrate on the lectures as well and I think it did so again. 

I had these two watercolored backgrounds that I had made earlier and now I finally came up with something to use them for. I went through the pictures of my cellphone and found some pictures of Tallinn. I took these pictures in December when I was visiting Tallinn Polytechnic School, Tallinna Polütehnikum. I really liked Tallinn and all of it's beautiful streets and buildings. I took a lot of photos I could make sketches of later.

I chose these two pictures because they show two different sides of Tallinn. The other one is from the old town and the other looks more modern. Both scenes have something in them that I found appealing.

For both of these works I used pencil and watercolors. Finally I added some light with white ink. I had to water the page so the ink didn't look too sharp from the edges. I added the watercolor and ink at home because it would have been too difficult at the lecture without a table. That's why I had time to draw other stuff as well. I will post those later.

Two Scenes from Tallinn (watercolor, pencil, white ink)

My First Ball Gown

Today I started practicing for my future lessons starting in January. The aim is to design and make beautiful sketches of dresses using different techniques. I noticed that I've never actually drawn any dresses or made any clothing design sketches since drawing princesses as a young girl. I decided to use some inspirational sketches to get started so I found myself in Pinterest going trough different kinds of fashion sketches. At first I felt a bit rusty, but when I kept drawing it got easier as usual.

My favorite is the one I did last. I took the pose from a sketch by Michel Canetti and designed my own ball gown. Then I added some glitter, because after all, its New Year's Eve!

Ball Gown (pencil, watercolor, glitter glue, diamond stickers)

I love the fashion poses, because they are so interesting to draw. Also, the human proportions are usually way of, and you get to exaggerate. What could be more fun? I wanted to use different designers' sketches so I could try out different styles. I used sketches from designers and artists like Pamella Rowland, Katie Rodger, Marchesa and Holly Sharpe.When I relaxed and let myself draw without thinking too much, I also started to like what I was doing more.

Now, because my blog is all about showing you that it's OK to draw, even though all your works are not masterpieces, I will also show you the first five sketches. There you go!

The First Five (pencil, watercolor, glitter glue)

Happy Holidays!

Santa (pencil, watercolor)

Christmas came again, and I didn't send any cards. Every year the holidays come even faster. Maybe next year I'll have to start the preparations earlier... Well, I still managed to draw something christmassy for my friends. So here it is, Father Christmas himself, feeling jolly as always. With this drawing I'd like to wish merry Christmas to everyone!

Can You Here the Music?

The Uke Player (watercolor, ballpoint pen)

Here's the other page  of my ukulele themed spread. I drew the uke being played and it was difficult because the player's fingers were moving all the time. It was fun though. The watercolored background is my favorite part of this sketch although it was quite boring without the drawing. The background took me for about one minute to do and the sketch for about 15 minutes, so this was a nice quick project. I hope that together the two different techniques give the watcher a feeling of music being played.

Uke 'Em!

The Ukulele (ballpoint pen)

Here's the reason I haven't been drawing much lately. It's our new ukulele. I have never played an instrument before, but now I got enchanted by this cute little thing. After one week my fingers feel numb, but it didn't stop me from drawing a quick sketch of the uke. I used a ballpoint pen for this one and because I was a bit lazy, the proportions are not quite right. The technique also prevented me from doing a lot of changes afterwards. The background was made earlier with watercolors and it brings something extra to the sketch, I think. Still, this one is definitely not the best of my sketches.

Salvador and Raimo on My Mind

An Idea (pencil)

Here's another sketch of my project. Now the face is beginning to look right. I also tried out a Dali-ish idea of long-legged little Raimos taking photos, but it doesn't really work as well as I hoped.

I showed my sketches to Raimo and he was quite happy with them. He also thought that this one looks like him but preferred the background of the other sketch I made earlier. So I think I'm going to paint some nice and a bit weird scenery to the background .