I don’t mind saying that the Sparks/Hill household is a little down at the moment. A round of well below freezing temperatures is in store starting tomorrow and that doesn’t help. We’ll be listening to the sound of drips from the kitchen faucet again. I really can’t complain about that as we’ve had warmer than average temperatures this winter.
Let’s see, a positive…it’s sunny today. There’s still a little snow on the roof of the shed and on my windshield – that will be gone later today when I drive to the post office to turn in our PO BOX key. I completely forgot about it yesterday.
A quick little sketch from the other day.
These are nothing to write home about, but they’re fun and they provide a very much needed creative outlet. Of course, my biggest supporter, Don Sparks, raved about it and insisted on taking a picture of the page. God bless him. He’s the best guy in the world. He said it reminded him of a New Yorker cartoon/sketch and I suppose he’s right.
The idea is to do a quick sketch, maybe 10 minutes max. I use the same pen I use in my planner – it’s an excellent Pentel Arts Hybrid Technica .05. I first ran across one of these at a local art supply shop. It has a very fine point and I love a fine point, especially when writing in my planner. But I suspect it’s used as sketching tool more than a planner tool. During the middle of lockdown, I purchased a big box of pens so I wouldn’t run out, but there are only a few left. So, the other day, when we were in a neighboring town, I bought another one and advised a woman who was checking them out to buy one. She was looking for a sketching pen for her friend who is in a nursing home. At the age of 93, he wants to sketch. Bravo! I also bought some Tombow markers, another tool that I use frequently. I’m not ready to haul out the easel, but I am ready to do some sketching. There’s a whole category of sketching called Urban Sketching and I run into those accounts on Instagram. The detail is extraordinary! The skyline, a street, a building, detail on a building – all of that is included in this category. I am really just a doodler, if that.
Not quite finished yet with The Dictionary of Lost Words, but I’ll finish it this morning.
We have a free trial of HBO Max going at the moment. I have to tell you, a series called The Last of Us, is – to my mind – a must-see. It’s based on a video game, which would normally make me yawn and say “No.” But we didn’t know that when we started watching it. We just knew that a lot of people were raving about it. It’s about the world after a fungal disease takes over and kills most of the population. It’s beautifully done, but last night’s episode, with Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett, may be one of the finest things I’ve ever seen. Episode 3. Extraordinary. I can’t stop thinking about it.
They’re releasing new episodes on a weekly basis and we watched the first three episodes on Monday and Tuesday.
When I’m down, one of these cuties usually lifts my spirits. Yesterday, it was Madeleine.
Keeping me company on the sofa.
Stay safe.
Happy Wednesday.
Love the sketch…love it. I like pens. I keep one with journal, one with planner, one with devotional book, one with Bible…one at my secretary desk where I do correspondence. LOVE Pentel…my friend finally got the Penny book from library…he is about my age and doesn’t collect books anymore…he was a professor…his brother loved it. We will discuss on email when he is finished…am going to gift my copy to a friend in Iowa…will mail it when family gets back from Disney with my vehicle…hope you have a good day…you are both so sweet and good together. amazing…prayers dear one.
I feel the same way about pens. I use all sorts of them, including fountain pens. So nice of you to share your copy of the Penny with your friend, Brenda!
Stay safe.
i know better days are ahead, but am sorry you, don and others feel down. hoping and praying those down times/events go away soon for everyone (myself included).
look at those sketches (including what shows through on the page before) … wonderful!! glad you are doing things with your creativity. :)
bravo to the 93-year-old man wanting to sketch, too!
hearing how you and don support each other makes me smile, too.
when i write, i like a certain pen and it’s almost always blue ink in a medium point (bic). i also have preferences for knitting needles and yarn. no painting done here in a while, either, but recently found some new supplies … inktense pencils and blocks by derwent. they are made of ink, can be layered with other mediums and used as is (dry) … but when you go over some or all of it with a wet brush, they look like watercolor. very cool!
hope you get some snow and enjoy your day. happy, safe days and february 01 to all!
kathy
I’ll have to check out the pencils and blocks you recommend, Kathy! Sounds like something I’d like to add to my art explorations.
Stay safe.
We’ve been loving The Last of Us as well. It’s something that we are watching with our teen and ya daughters and the whole family was blown away by episode 3 on Sunday. I can’t say enough good things about the story, the acting, the heart-wrenching feelings! I’m so glad to hear that others are enjoying it too. I’ve been using our cold weather to cozy up and do some knitting and reading. I consider it a “hibernation” period to rest and do some of the things that I can’t get to in the summer when the outside chores seem endless. :)
It’s such a good idea to consider this time a hibernation period, Rachel. I’m going to do that, as well.
The Last of Us has blown me away, that’s for sure.
Stay safe.
Hi! Long time reader, first time commenter.
Love when you post your Blythe dolls. It brings a smile to my face.
Madeleine is super adorable with her curls!
Oh, thank you! I worry that they’re not everyone’s cup of tea, therefore I try not to post them too often. I’m so glad you enjoy them, Kelly.
Stay safe!
I enjoy seeing your sketch. I’ve been doodling with my watercolors a bit more lately and it’s a nice and easy creative outlet. I have heard of that HBO show so I’ll be sure to add it to my list to watch. Dreary weather has made me slow down so much and so reading has been everything this week. Hugs!
You must watch it, Linda. I think you’d really love it.
Enjoy your reading.
Stay safe.
Love your sketch, Claudia. So detailed yet so simple. That’s the charm. My hsband is an artist by trade and has books filled with his sketches so I’m a little intimidated by that although he is always encouraging me to try. Loved Madeleine in her pretty dress and striped stockings. Our Blythe dolls certainly lift our spirits. I’m working on a hat and earmuffs for mine. Hugs, Elaine
hej, elaine. :)
while i certainly can relate to feeling intimidated doing something (new to me or not) that others do so well, i hope that feeling won’t stop you from following your creative interests and curiosity!
i knit and am getting back to cross-stitching, both basic … do the same things over and over, follow the chart/in one hole and out another and end up with hats or dishcloths, etc. the other things i do (writing a couple of children’s books, painting with watercolors and occasionally acrylics) don’t have patterns and so are a bit more intimidating to me …. regardless, i do those things because i enjoy the trying and feeling happy that i am trying, the process and occasional progress (whatever that means, because to me art is so subjective), seeing the colors, seeing a project grow. and especially because when i do creative things, time feels like it’s standing still and i feel free. even if what i write or paint doesn’t see the light of day.
i hope you give yourself those opportunities and have fun!
kathy
Hi Kathy, thanks for your encouragement. Creativity comes in many guises. I love counted cross-stitch, knitting, quilting, baking. I’ve often thought I would love to give my husband a sketch or a small water color to surprise him. I remember we had art once a week in public school. My art teacher’s name was Miss Apple. She had us do some pencil sketches. Mine, actually, wern’t too bad all things considered. So never say never. Just do it! Hugs, Elaine
Oh, it’s always hard to test the waters when your partner does it for a living. But you can do it!
My girls almost always change my mood for the better and I need to remember that.
Stay safe.
Your sketch is lovely Claudia. It is very well done and oh so charming! The series “The Last of Us” was filmed downtown Edmonton, Alberta, not too far from where I live. Last summer they had a downtown street completely blocked off and staged for filming. I was able to get a glimpse of the set. It was amazing. Hugs!
Yes, I read that it was filmed in Alberta and not only Edmonton. By the looks of the mountain scenes, it was filmed in the mountains, as well.
The set design is incredible by the way.
Stay safe!
I like your sketch a lot!
Oh, thank you, Terri. How kind of you!
Stay safe.
I loved your sketch, Claudia; you’re very talented!
Thank you, Vicki. I try!
Stay safe.
I love your sketch! I wish I could do that well. Improving my ability to draw is on my 2023 list. I’m going to try out the pen you mentioned. The hair on your couch companion – adorable!
Go for it, Lynda! I think Micro pens are also excellent for drawing.
Stay safe.
dear Claudia/Don — this sketch is great — sure wish (many times, ha) that I had been given some (just a little) artistic ability but it is not gonna happen, but I so appreciate the work of others who have this extrodinary ability. do hope you all get to feeling back to an even spot soon. stay safe, healthy
If I have even a smidgen of my dad’s artistic talent, I am happy!
Thanks so much, Linda.
Stay safe.
I love urban sketching. I’m not very good at it, but I really enjoy it. And I’m always making sketches in my journal (which isn’t really a diary (I don’t write daily) but a journal with sketches. So, when I saw your sketch of your living room, I almost squealed aloud with delight. I like it too — and it does have that New Yorker feel to it. Glad to hear of your pens. I use the microns because they don’t bleed through but are permanent after a minute or two so I can watercolor over them. I’m in the process of going back through the journal and painting the sketches — more just adding color, as you did with your pillows.
I’ve been catching up with Kavanagh QC episodes on Britbox — they were in the 1990s but the scripts still feel very topical. And I just love John Thaw.
I hope today is a better one for you.
I have to get some microns, Jeanie. Thanks for reminding me!
It’s sort of fun to do these sketches. It doesn’t involve a huge time commitment and I quite like that!
Stay safe, my friend.
Your sketching is just beautiful! So happy Don took a snap of it! Blessings to you both, and stay warm with the temperature dropping!
Thank you so much, Tana!
Stay safe.
Episode 3 of The Last of Us was beautiful and heartbreaking. I am looking forward to tonight’s episode.
We’re going to watch the newest episode tonight.
Stay safe, Cindy.