The end of a sketchbook

I have come to the end of a sketchbook that i have had for the last 3 years. It's kind of fun to look back through it and see the past years ideas and random drawings. Here are some highlights, in chronological order...



Time to throw out the old one and buy a new one. Actually, i said that so my sister would freak out. She always bugs me to keep everything when i tend to just get rid of things. Don't worry, jenny, i keep all my old sketchbooks, even dating back to art school. The high school ones went on a bonfire years ago. Just too embarrassing...

You can see as Jonah get older he gets more difficult to draw, as he doesn't sit still. I plan on doing more drawings from life in the next one. It's something i have neglected for a while, and it shows. I have already bought the next one, and will christen it soon.

stumped

I have decided to take a couple of weeks to do some work on paper, sketches, and some drawing from life. I dragged this old stump from my backyard into my studio...




And this is what i came up with.




This was like using a muscle that is a little out of shape. You can see how i got a little distracted on that second one. I haven't really done that much drawing from life in years, and i can see i need to do so, and much more often. I think it is important, although i can't exactly tell you why. I remember those years of life drawing back in art school, and i still consider it one of the best parts of my art education. Unfortunately, i don't have all that much time for it now. Which is why i am making some time, before i get all wrapped up in paintings.




And this is just something i was just having fun with on a big piece of paper. I may work on it some more. We'll see...