Nature's Little Wonders at Lake Lestijärvi

The End of a Roach(pencil, black fine liner, watercolor)

A Happy Dragonfly(pencil, black fine liner, watercolor)

For these sketches I used my Ogami sketchbook again.  I was very excited about how the paper reacts with watercolor. The paper doesn't absorb the water right away so you have some time to play with it. With the pink background I kept moving the watercolor around with a brush for few minutes until it started to dry. I'm very happy with the left page, but the right one is too messy. I would have wanted the color to be more even. Now it takes some attention away from the dragonfly itself.

The other thing I thought about while drawing these was the use of an empty space. Especially with the roach and the pliers I tried to place them on the spread differently than I usually would have. Every sketch doesn't have to be in the middle of the page. Actually placing the objects differently has a huge effect on the end result and in many cases makes the work look more interesting.

Painting Horizons

Windmill (pencil, watercolor)

Here's something I made before my summer holiday. I wanted to do something with watercolors and ended up drawing houses with a small windmill. The sky was the most interesting part for me in this work. I decided to paint a sunset so I could use bold colors. I used a photo as a model for the sky, but unfortunately I don't remember where I found it.

Although I've been busy this summer with other art projects and gardening, I'll be back soon with some newer sketches.

Bugsy's New Improved Spread

Bugsy's New wallpaper(pencil, black fine liner, watercolor)

Wallpaper(black fine liner)

This is a page I drew one night while watching TV. The spread looked a bit empty with just the bug so I decided to draw something simple on the other page. I started to draw with a black fine liner and tried not to be too strict with symmetry. First I meant to do just a small pattern but didn't know how to stop drawing until I reached the edges.

I think that the spread looks much better now. It almost looks like Bugsy went shopping for a nice wallpaper and chose this one to look at.

The Key Element

Faces(colored pencil, pencil)

Planes(ballpoint pen)

When I had practiced to draw the different parts of a face, I decided to sketch some complete faces. I drew some from pictures and then started to draw from my imagination. This turned out to be quite difficult, because it was hard for me to draw the "empty space" between these awesome body parts I had studied before. I managed to give my faces some shape, but I was hesitating and feeling a bit lost all the time. I realized that now I had found the key element of learning to draw the human face. This "empty space" between all the "important" parts is what connects it all together. Of course it is difficult to draw the parts that you usually don't even notice, but all the different planes on a face makes it recognizable as much as eyes or noses.

I had to take a step backwards and learn to draw the planes on a face. I drew them on pictures I found on magazines until I started to find some repetitive patterns. After that I started to sketch some faces, but now I did't think about the noses and lips or eyes and ears so much. I didn't want them to distract me. I made some mistakes, but I think I made some progress too.

I still need a lot of practice, but it's fine with me. Actually I'm really happy about it. I don't remember when I have been this excited about drawing. Maybe when I was four years old.

So Many Stories

So Many Stories 1(pencil, watercolor)

So Many Stories 2(pencil, watercolor)

My fourth lesson was all about eyes. I have often wondered why so many of my students like to draw eyes. Drawing eyes has always seemed so complicated to me. Well, now that I've tried it, it seems that it's not any more complicated or more difficult than drawing noses or ears or lips. They all have their own set of rules and when you understand them, it gets easier.

I started my eye lesson same way I start every other lesson; by finding models and looking pictures of the day's topic. I used my own eye as a model and looked out some old photos. When I had sketched enough eyes from a model, I started to design my own eyes. The first sketch without a model is always the hardest, but then it gets easier. You just need some courage and patience.

Backgrounds for these sketches were made with water mister and watercolor once again. It's a really quick way to add some color to your sketchbook pages.

Lots of Lips

Lips(pencil, watercolor, water mister)

After drawing noses and ears, it was time for my third lesson, mouths. I took some photos of my own mouth and found some pictures that had somehow interesting looking mouths in them. Then I used these pictures as a model and started to practice. After drawing a few, I understood some basic rules and started to draw without a model.

Drawing mouths is different from drawing ears and noses, because you can move your lips and also show some teeth. Therefore there are so many different possible combinations that I just decided to draw a few different shapes and sizes.

The background was made earlier with a water mister and some watercolors. I think it was suitable for this lesson as it was pink and not too dominant for my pencil sketches.

A Hard Working Builder Wanted

My Future Summer Cottage(pencil, watercolor, water mister, salt)

I made the background for this spread earlier, because I felt like I needed to splash some watercolors. Those small patterns up in the sky are made with salt. The salt absorbs some of the water and creates  interesting shapes to the color.

Later I came up with an idea that I wanted to draw some kind of a building. And not a very realistic one. I wanted the drawing to look like it's from a fairy tale. I started by looking a lot of pictures of different buildings. I like to do some research before I start to draw so the different things I add look more credible. First I drew a high house on the other page, but then I decided to add more parts and make it even higher. Finally I used the whole spread for this project.

I think I have to do some more buildings, because it was so much fun to draw. Big part of the fun was to imagine who lives there. I think I could.

On the River Bank

A River Bank(pencil)

This is another sketch from Lake Lestijärvi. It wasn't too cold so I decided to go sketching outside. I had a plastic carpet with me that I placed on top of the snow and sat down to. I was right on the edge of the river bank. Here's where the lake ends and the river Lestijoki begins.

The scenery here was beautiful, all the trees had a reflection on the water. I even saw two swans flying above me. I think I drew for about an hour before it got too cold. I took some pictures so I could continue working inside, but I was satisfied with this sketch so I let it be.

All Ears

All Ears(pencil, watercolor, water mister)

This is my second lesson on my way to drawing different faces. I started with noses and now it's time for ears. I had to draw the first ones from a model, because the shape of an ear is actually based on some basic rules. When you know these basics, you can make all kinds of variations. I also drew few ears from different perspective because it's important to me to learn to draw people from different viewpoints.

My next lesson will be eyes or lips. I haven't decided yet, but I'll be posting.

Gone Fishing

Ice Fishing(pencil, watercolor on the next page)

At Easter holiday in Lestijärvi, we decided to go ice fishing. When ever we go to the lake, I usually fish too, but this time I decided to do some sketching instead. It was a lovely day, the sun was shining and the wind was mild. I had three jackets and three trousers on me and that way I was able to sit still and draw.

All the sketches were made of the same person. I had about 20 minutes at a time and then he changed his position. He had only one fish and it was so small he threw it back to the water. Maybe you can see his frustration on these sketches, or then I just imagined it.

Getting Nosy

One day I decided I have to start practicing more. I have always wanted to learn how to draw different faces and all the interesting details on them. Of course this is only one area I have to improve, but you got to start somewhere. Or continue somewhere, because I've been practicing over seven months now.

So I started my practicing with noses, just because I like them. Noses can be very distinctive and they are fun to draw. I did the first few from a model, but then I started to design my own noses. Few of these look pretty unnatural, but I don't mind, as long as they can be recognized as noses.

The background I made earlier with a water mister so the white page wouldn't be so intimidating.

Noses(water mister, pencil)

A Sick Looking Chick

A Chick(watercolor, black, non-permanent ballpoint pen, feathers, white ink, pencil)

I wanted to draw something for Easter. I chose a green ballpoint pen and when I added some watercolor I realized the pen was not permanent. The green color spread and it didn't look very nice. I tried to fix it with white ink, but it didn't help very much. The background was made earlier at the same time as the next page with a frog on it(The Frog Prince, posted 29.1.2015).

If I could start this page again from scratch, I wouldn't use a green pen because it makes the chick look a bit sick. Obviously I wouldn't use a non-permanent pen either. I would like to use happier and brighter colors. Maybe next Easter.

The Whole Spread(watercolor, black, non-permanent ballpoint pen, feathers, white ink, pencil)

You Should See My Kitchen

What a Mess(pencil, watercolor)

Sometimes you just have to make a mess. And I really did. It was fun and the end result looks quite bad. When I realized I have to show this to people I went pale at first, but now I'm just happy of the brilliant mess I made. What a good way to wind down and then teach myself another good lesson about courage by posting this here. You should all give it a try!

Something Different

Tractor (pencil, watercolor, waterbrush)

One day I was visiting my friend and her son Jimi asked me to draw him a picture of a tractor. He brought me his toy as a model and decided to draw one himself as well. I was a bit scared, tractors are not my thing(although I have driven one). Still, I decided to be brave and started to draw.

While I was starting my sketch, Jimi was already finished with his! Luckily this way he had the time to help me color my work. So this sketch ended up being co-operational too. I asked Jimi many times if he thinks the work is finished, but he encouraged me to continue my work repeatedly. Finally, the work was done and we could sign our work. Looks a lot like a tractor, and no wonder, I had an expert to help me!

The Shining

Bugsy the Shiny Bug (pencil, watercolor, waterbrush)

I found this great picture of a beetle at M.E. Smirnov - photos of exotic scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae) http://www.zin.ru/animalia/coleoptera/eng/m_smirn6.htm. I chose this particular beetle because of the shiny armor it had. The colors changed a bit when I printed the picture, but I only noticed it when I was done. The aim of this project was to find out if I could use watercolors to imitate the shining and the texture of the shield. Well, it took me few hours, but I was quite happy with the result. Maybe I was even too happy, because I didn't make any background for this cutie. I just decided that it was ready.

First I made a drawing with a pencil and then started adding color layer by layer. I think I made about ten layers for some parts of the shield. So this is perhaps not the best project for an impatient person, but it was a really educational one. Also, my students are always wondering my interest towards insects and they are bored with the bug-related assignments I give them. I think I kind of owed this one for them.

My Heart Beats for You

Valentine's Day(pencil, black fine liner, acrylic paint, felt tip pen)

So I didn't send any Valentine's Day cards either.. But I drew this picture of a heart instead. I used an old background made with a sponge and acrylic paints because I thought that the colors were just perfect for this occasion. And what could be a better topic than a heart? I drew it from a picture (http://thegraphicsfairy.com/royalty-free-images-anatomical-heart-vintage/) with a pencil and then continued working with fine liner and a felt tip pen until I was ready.

With this picture I want to wish everybody a wonderful Valentine's Day!
With heartfelt regards, Anni <3

The Frog Prince

Waiting for a Kiss(collage, watercolor, pencil, feathers)

Here's my newest sketchbook page. I did the background few days ago when we were trying out collage technique with my students. Today I had a day off so there was a lot of time to finish this page. When I was looking up some ideas I saw this photo of a frog and wanted to practice coloring its different textures. It took me few hours to make this page but I think it was time well spent although the frog and the background don't quite fit together. Maybe a bird of some kind would have been a better match. Well, I'm still happy with this page.

I almost forgot to tell the name of the photographer. The original photo of the cute frog was taken by Sebastian Lassie.

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)