Crabapples in progress. . .

 

I am tickled pink to be headed to Italy tomorrow to help with a sketching class taught by one of my art heroes, Ken O'Connell. We will spend the first couple of days in Rome, and then two weeks in the Terni area at La Romita, with side trips out to several different small hill towns to sketch. This is one of those bucket list items for me--can it get any better?

I sketched the crabapple blossoms with a Copic W2 Original marker. Ken has been encouraging me to try sketching with a marker or multiliner rather than my tool of choice, a pencil. I chose a light value, warm-toned marker knowing that I could always cover a bad line if I really needed to. I can still see the original circles that I started building the larger blossoms with, but if I just fill in some color, I think those lines won't be distracting. 

As you can see, I'm not finished yet. It's a sketch in progress. (Is it my schedule or a touch of ADD? Who knows?)

Want to know my BIGGEST challenge for the sketch class in Italy? Working with a really limited palette. I think Ken suggested twelve colors. Then I picked another twelve. But I still had no oranges, no purples, and precious few blues. So, I'm up to thirty-six now. (Shhh! Don't tell.) I will still be missing my other 322 markers, so it's quite a limited palette, in my opinion. ;-) I'm taking watercolors too. Now there's another challenge. . .

Thanks for visiting--ciao!

Comments

[Lori Craig]

{{Debbie}} So excited for you! Can't wait to hear all about it. Please take a ton of pictures! Be safe! Love you!!

[Maggie S.]

What a fabulous opportunity. Can't wait to hear all about it and see tons of photos.

[Danielle]

Wow! You're amazing Deb!

[Cindy H.]

Beautiful sketch, Debbie, and with just the small amount of coloring that you did, I can see it holds the promise of something gorgeous.

Seriously, 12 Copic colors?! With my limited art vision and that palette, I'd guess you'd probably have to make monochromatic, sepia, or black and white art. I hope you'll share what you do make because even though I'll never be an artist, I learn so much from you ...and I love seeing your art. Have a super fun time in Italy!

[Brecken]

Thank you so much for doing this blog. I use my Copic markers to color my sketches more than stamped images, so it has been very helpful to read through your posts on this blog!! I hope you continue to post as often as possible!! Thanks again!

[www.buildahealthybrain.com]

This is my first time pay a quick visit at here and i am really happy to read all at single place.

[Katherina]

Whats up this is kind of of off topic but I was wondering if blogs
use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML.
I'm starting a blog soon but have no coding know-how so I wanted to get guidance from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Marie Gamber]

I ove your gorgeous sketches! Your art always inspires me to pick up a pencil and give it a try... haven't had newerve to post anything yet~ Your work is always stunning.
Question. I have been an inking fool since our class at Anaheim. I am going to teach a few classes on background (Suzanne wanted me to do something on a few of my backgrounds I use. I wondered if it is ok if i also include some airbrush, faux stone and a couple others I learned in the class as long I I create my own teaching tools. I would teach to technique - not the same pictures.
Thank you
Hugs,
Marie
mariegamber@comcast.net

[private charter plane]

Thanks so much for the article post.

[susieq]

You need to do more of this - they are really quite lovely!

[Marie Gamber]

Waiting for more of your gorgeous, stunning sketches!
Hugs,
Marie

[Cheryl Neumann]

I would like to know what kind/brand is your spiral sketchbook?

[Debbie Olson]

Hi, Cheryl,

I generally use Copic Sketch books. Here is a link: http://store.copicmarker.com/collections/paper/sketchbooks

Hope that helps!

Debbie