Important Things to Learn

Dried out Tulips in a Lazy Vase(ballpoint pen)

It has been a while since I've drawn something with a ballpoint pen. Perhaps the watercolors have taken all my attention. I love watercolors and usually I'm the most inspired while using them, but I think it's important to use different techniques. When I keep changing my way of working I have to stay alert and challenge myself all the time.

This time I happened to have some dried out tulips on a vase. I had been too lazy to throw them out and actually I kind of like the way tulips look when they get old. Originally, I was meant to paint a colorful picture of the fresh tulips, but this sketch was a good variation for me.

I still need to practice my thinking while drawing. With this one I didn't bother to draw all the reflections on the vase and now it doesn't look very convincing. It's almost impossible for me to draw something and leave it unfinished so that I could continue working later. I'd rather finish a work quickly than let it wait for me to get my inspiration back. That's actually a big problem for me, because when working tired and uninspired, I usually do something stupid. Like get lazy and leave something out. I think I'm going to add this thing to my list of Important Things to Learn(That I just made up). Point one: Don't force it, it's ok to continue later.

Art Gallery

Art Gallery (collage)

This time I asked some help for my sketchbook page. I would like to thank Senni, Jukka, Siiri, Pietu, Miina, Titta, Anne, Mika and Raimo for helping me out with this art exhibition. I only made the frames and drew one of the portraits and the rest was made by this great art crew. Although they are all great, my personal favorite is the groovy red cat on the top row made by Senni, our youngest artist.

A Brief Moment with Some Tulips

Tulips (black fine liner, watercolor)

Here's a quick sketch of tulips lying on a table. I should definitely do more of these pages that take so little time and effort. Still, when they turn out to be good they give you so much joy. The only problem with these is usually the lack of courage that troubles me sometimes. I tend to worry that I somehow ruin my whole sketchbook with a bad page. Maybe I should do one really bad work to get rid of this problem once and for all.

Although this is not one of the best works in my sketchbook, I'm still happy I made it. I've noticed that with art the more I'm afraid the more I learn.

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.

What a Day to Visit a Woodshed!

In a Woodshed (black fine liner, watercolor, waterbrush)

I was visiting my parents few days ago and decided to go outside to paint something, because the weather was quite nice, only a light rain and three degrees Celcius.. Somehow I ended up in a woodshed making a sketch of logs. It was interesting, but as it seemed, possible to draw and paint with your gloves on. I also tried out my new Derwent water brushes that I found the day before. The brushes have their own water container which was very convenient as I was outside without any water source.
I had to work quickly and take a break to warm up, but it was still nice and the end result is ok. The water brushes worked perfectly and I can recommend them to everyone who likes to use watercolors.

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