Welcome! Yes, I know it's been a long time since I posted here. Life's been busy. . . I just got back from a trip to Oregon last week where we made plans for next year's Copic classes. We were fortunate to have Ken O'Connell (President of Imagination International, Professor Emeritus from the University of Oregon, and inspirational sketchbook-keeper extraordinaire, among other things) teach us a brief class on sketching. (Ken's blog is here, and I found an interesting article about his sketches here.)
Ken walked into the room with a handful of radishes and announced that we would all be sketching them, then handed out a few Copic markers and multiliners. (Thankfully, I had brought 72 of my own Copic markers with me, along with my Gray 0.3 multiliner, just in case!) He gave us about 10-15 minutes to sketch the radish in front of us in ink--no pencil under-drawing. This is mine, and I discovered something: if I'm sketching in ink rather than pencil followed by clean ink lines, I'm less uptight about perfection. I know that it won't be perfect, and I can live with that. If I sketch in pencil first, I'm much more careful about the ink lines and the entire piece. Hmmm. . .
Next, he had us draw a rectangle about the size of two packs of cards, then sketch the radish again, touching the form to all sides, and extending past the edge with one piece of the radish. After we did that, he said that we should color only the negative space (in this case, the parts that are not the radish), in two different hues. You know how I love my Blue-Violets and Blue-Greens, right?
Finally, he told us to do one more quick sketch and then add color to the radish and to least one leaf.
Oh, and one more thing. . . those funny little people! He gave us a quick lesson on sketching people with very few strokes and told us to sketch two or three people looking at our radish. (Yes, I know that three would be more pleasing visually, but I hated to mess up my painterly-looking radish!) What did I learn? It is not a newly learned thing, but more like a long misplaced lesson: you don't have to spend HOURS on something for it to be worthwhile. And you don't have to have time to make it photographic before you sketch. I like my 10-20 minutes sketches. In fact, they feel fresher than some of the ones that I've labored over for hours and hours. Maybe less is more sometimes?
All Copic colors used are listed on the sketches. I'm headed to Lansing for both Copic Standard and Intermediate classes this coming weekend. The Standard is pretty full, but the Intermediate still has room if you are interested. Thanks for visiting!
Debbie
great work here
Posted by: Joan B | 11/01/2011 at 12:19 AM
Thanks for sharing. Your radish is beautiful.
Posted by: SueB | 11/01/2011 at 12:31 AM
This is a wonderful sketch, Debbie! In ink, huh?! Brave lady, and so talented. Love the funny little people, too. I have a watercolor tutorial where the instructor teaches you to make people in the distance using a carrot shape :) tfs
Posted by: Cindy H. | 11/01/2011 at 10:36 AM
So nice! At first as I skimmed over the pictures I thought they were water colored then was surprised that you used copics! Love what you've done so far!
Posted by: Nancy Jensen | 11/01/2011 at 11:55 AM
Debbie, it's clear that you have an incredible gift. To consider these quick sketches--most of us could work a lifetime on such a "quick sketch" and never accomplish the realism you've managed here in just a few minutes. I would love to attend one of your classes just to see your work in real life! Awesome.
Posted by: Kathy V. | 11/02/2011 at 10:58 AM
Thanks for sharing. Know you are awfully busy but just wanted to let you know you will be missed on the PTI Design team. You are my go to artist followed by Dawn. Hope this gives you some more free time...I couldn't go at your pace. I will continue to ck this site along with the other. Thanks for all you do. And REST. :)
Posted by: MOI | 11/04/2011 at 08:46 AM
Just to clarify, I am not quitting PTI; I am happy to be staying at a reduced capacity, just as I have been for this past year. I don't participate in group posts, but I definitely still enjoy creating with my PTI goodies! ;-) Thanks!
Posted by: Debbie Olson | 11/05/2011 at 06:39 AM
I absolutely *love* this Debbie (with those cutie little poeple)! It's so inspirational to see your Copic art, you have a wonderful gift!
Posted by: Nerina | 11/11/2011 at 06:29 PM
Debbie, thank you for this incredible tutorial! I will practice. :Your work is gorgeous!
Hugs,
Marie
Posted by: Marie Gamber | 11/16/2011 at 11:18 PM
Sigh...I love these! They're so fun! And I love seeing the different techniques he was getting you to develop! I just heart those little people too! Debbie I'd love to just sit beside you and watch you! I so want to deepen my coloring skills more, and I love seeing what you're doing!
Posted by: ChristineCreations | 11/17/2011 at 04:08 PM
So inspiring. Thanks for sharing and taking the time to write this blog. And I love those little people. So fun!
Posted by: kathy k | 11/28/2011 at 10:03 AM
Hi there, I found your website via Google while searching for a related topic, your website came up, it looks great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Posted by: marta | 01/27/2013 at 10:31 PM
thank you for this post, I am a big big fan of this web site would like to continue updated.
Posted by: martyna | 02/02/2013 at 01:54 PM
Heya i’m for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and help others like you helped me.
Posted by: jak kanar | 02/06/2013 at 10:47 AM
It’s hard to seek out educated people on this subject, however you sound like you already know what you’re speaking about! Thanks
Posted by: lublinprzeprowadzki | 02/17/2013 at 02:01 AM
Super-Duper website! I am loving it!! Will be back later to read some more. I am taking your feeds also
Posted by: Witold | 02/27/2013 at 02:57 PM