March is Sketchbook Month...Day 31

Well, it's the final day of Sketchbook Month (as declared by friend and fellow artist Cedric Hohnstadt). I hope I will keep up this discipline, it's been a great exercise. I mean, I end up drawing something every day anyway, but it's more often for a client. Drawing something just for me has been a great adventure... and a mini vacation every day. (Though I can't promise I will post something new every day.)

What I have learned from Sketchbook Month:

1. Bold simple shapes work best. Even in complex drawings.

2. A personal sketchbook is like a diary. Do not draw with the idea that someone will be looking at it. If you do, your drawings will be self-conscious, and not as good.

3. Corbett Vanoni is the heir apparent to Mort Drucker.

4. I am surprised at how the medium I choose affects my drawing style.

5. I really like drawing gorillas.

Be sure and check out all the great art at http://sketchbookmonth.wordpress.com/.

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 30

Yes, cats always land on their feet. But somehow this time I don't think it makes a difference.

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 29

Variations on a theme...

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 28

Seems like I've seen an idea like this before, but this image sort of came to me watching my neighbor grill from my second story window, and hearing the birds nesting in my attic. Things just sort of meld.

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 27

Since it's Sunday, I included a doodle of a man of the cloth...

...and since I listen to the Beatles...the Lovely Rita, Meter Maid.

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 26

Last night we watched "Get Low", a 2009 independent film with Robert Duvall, Bill Murray & Sissy Spacek. It takes place in 1930's rural Tennessee. Duvall plays Felix Bush, a hermit who wants to have his funeral before he dies. Bill Murray is the Funeral Home owner.

Check it out.

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 25

Why do baby birds look like they were born inside out?

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 24

Only about a week left in Sketchbook Month. I wonder if I'll keep up the discipline of drawing every day during April & beyond.

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 23

The last page of this sketchbook! I break in a new one tomorrow!

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 22

My mind took my pen on a little walk today.

Then I went back and worked it over with some tones...

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 21

Over the winter, while walking my dog, I ran across the remains of a rabbit. I scooped it up in an extra poop bag I had with me, and buried it in the back yard when I got home.

Last weekend, I exhumed it, and set it to soaking in some diluted hydrogen peroxide, along with a bird skull that my wife found in the front yard. (Never use bleach. It breaks down the bone and turns it into powder.)

Here is the bunny skull for your enjoyment.

I have a skull collection: A deer or two, a cow, a bobcat, a house cat, a beaver, a couple of birds including a blue heron, and a wild pig. Some I found, some I traded for. They are great for comparative anatomy studies, and for freaking out people.

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 20

See the pearl in her ear? She dove for that herself.

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 19

After several pages of bad drawings of gorillas, birds, a horse, my dog, etc... I finally came up with this one. A little smudgey, and those tiny pages in the small moleskin book are hard for me to draw on, but there you go.

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 18

A very so-so self portrait. I think I aged myself 5 or 10 years.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I drew this on my regular brown paper, but I took it into Photoshop and altered the overall hue in deference to the Emerald Isle, and splashed a little color here and there.

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 16

My friend, Tom Bancroft.

Actually, this looks a little more like his twin brother, Tony.

In case you're new to my blog, the whole "March is Sketchbook Month" is an idea started by my friend Cedric Hohnstadt. He invited dozens of artist friend (professional and non) to get back into daily drawing in their sketchbook, and to post one drawing each weekday. He collects everyone's contributions at: http://sketchbookmonth.wordpress.com/. It's been a great discipline for me.

Check it out.

P.S. Tom Bancroft & Rob Corley (from yesterday's post) are both contributors to Cedric's daily sketch blog, to.

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 15

My friend, Rob Corley.

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 14

After a few more gorilla sketches, I finally ran out. But they'll be back. They always come back.

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 13: Gorillas

Seems that no matter what Sketchbook I pick up this weekend, nothing but gorillas comes out.

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 12

I love gorillas. They are such peaceful creatures. And I am amazed at the raw power and terror that is pent up inside them.

I drew this on a scrap of cardboard that came with some postage stamps I ordered. It's about 6x9", and drawn with a fine point marker, then shaded with gray Prismacolor markers, then highlighted with a white pencil.

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 11

This year I am a judge of the animated entries for the Williamson County Film Festival. It's for high school students in the area. They sent me a postage paid envelop to return my ballot in, so I thought I'd decorate it before I sent it back.

It's not technically in a sketchbook, but it should still count, right?

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 10

...and part two of yesterday's sketch...

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 9

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 8

Oh what joy to ev'ry girl and boy.

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 7

"Frankie & Johnny"

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 6

I started this page last night. Finished it this morning.

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 5

Technically, the rules that Cedric set up for Sketchbook month say that we have weekends off. But I'm going to try and keep it up.

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 4

The top sketch is Leonard. He visits the same facility where my son goes for physical therapy.

I don't know the girl in the bottom image. She just emerged from my pencil.

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 3

I did a few sketches today... more than usual. But this was the only one I liked.

March is Sketchbook Month...Day 2

I drew this while my wife was watching "Good Morning America". There was a report on the upcoming Royal Wedding.

March is Sketchbook Month...

...as declared by friend and artist, Cedric Hohnstadt.

So assuming I can keep up with the schedule, here is the sketch from March first. Hopefully, there will be 30 more to follow.

(Check out Cedric's blog for other artists' links who are joining in the fun.)