The Sketchbook Project [88,89, 90,91,cover, etc]

The last few pages from 'The sketchbook project'. I only tore out one page from the book after the picture went horribly wrong, but rather than chucking it I painted it with green gouache, cut out a sea weed shape and stuck it in the centre of the page above - the ends move about as if they are in water.

I covered the book with an old transfer print [paper painted with transfer paints then ironed/heat pressed onto some other paper, it is normally transferred onto fabric]. I then gave it a couple of coats of acrylic wax to help protect it.

This is the title page at the start of the book. It was also some transfer prints and a fish drawing which I scanned into the computer, combined and added text, the text has also got a reflection but it doesn't show up too well on the image below.

I also included a list of contents.

All the pages of the sketchbook can be seen on the other blog page, see top right

The Sketchbook Project [24,25,86,87]

More pages from my moleskine for 'The Sketchbook Project'

"Below the surface"  ..... of the sea

On the pages above I used paints - watercolours, metallic acrylics, an ink jet print [trawler], the net is a fruit net. The fish are collaged & I have used painted papers for them - I used a fish skeleton punch and stuck the skeleton shapes to other decorated papers and then cut fish shapes out.

 Below - the pages had a coating of acrylic wax and I used a sharpie, watercolours, brush pens and felt tips. I sent my sketchbook off today to America and I have mixed feelings about it as I had grown quite attached to it. Well at least I have scanned the pictures of it even though I can't actually turn the pages of the book.

The Sketchbook Project [80-85]

Below the surface.....of the banana skin, ......custard,

..............tongue,

.....................shoes

The Sketchbook Project [12,13], & Moss

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This is the first blog I have done this year, I have been away, staying near Alston, in Cumbria. The photo above of the moss on the wall was taken there.

Below is a page I did for my sketchbook a while ago, but as it was done on thick paper I didn't stick it in until recently. I have used textured paper, paint, rub & buff and the fruits lift up to reveal the insides of the fruit. They were drawn with pen on the original paper in the book

The Sketchbook Project [76,77]

Below the surface  ..... of the ocean.

Gesso base, metallic, gel, felt tip and brush pens.

The Sketchbook Project [74,75]

Below the surface  .... of the ground (prairie dogs)

Gesso base, sharpie pen, watercolours.

I've almost finished my sketchbook! I've a few to scan into the computer & I will post them soon. [ish]

Bird's new accessories & Illustration Friday & Sketchbook Project [56-59]

I saw a cute bird in a shop with a Christmas hat & scarf, but I didn't buy it. I made the hat and scarf for the birds I have already got. They are made from sparkly felt & fur fabric. My plan was simple - just glue together, but it just would not stay together so I ended up stitching it. I didn't have any fur balls so I just cut circles, one on each side of the felt.

Below is my picture for Illustration Friday, the theme this week is mail. I had already started this picture for The Sketchbook Project, "Below the surface" .. of the mail bag. One page is a collage of found images and the other is a drawing/painting with added found text. The flap on the bag lifts up to reveal a collection of mini envelopes, drawn, cut out and collaged. Picture below.

The Sketchbook Project [72,73]

Below the surface   ....  of the lake.

Gesso base, sharpie, watercolours, brush pens

The Sketchbook Project [68,69 - Badger]

"Below the Surface"

Fine liner, brush pens, felt tips, gel pens, metallic pens.

The Sketchbook Project [66,67]

Below the Surface   ......  of the ground, worms.

Which reminds me of a song my elder sister taught me when I was a child.

Nobody loves me, everybody hates me

I think I'll eat some wor-r-rms

Big fat juicy ones

Long thin slimy ones

Itsy, bitzy teeny weeny wor-r-rms

First you bite their heads off

Then you suck the guts out

How they squiggle and sqi-r-rm

Big fat juicy ones

Long thin slimy ones

Itsy, bitzy teeny weeny wor-r-rms.

I believe there are more verses but that is all I learned

The Sketchbook Project [62,63]

"Below the Surface"  ----- swimming race

This page was done with a liner pen, brush pens, felt tips, watercolours and metallic paints [Pearlesce liquid acrylic]

The Sketchbook Project [64,65 & 78,79] & Illustration Friday

Below the surface ..... of the egg shell

and

below the surface ...... of the sea, which is also my picture for the Illustration Friday challenge - "Prehistoric"

The Sketchbook Project [70,71] & bigger icicles

More & thicker icicles on the shrub

and

ice all around the rose stem below

The Sketchbook Project - 'Below the surface' of the forest canopy

The Sketchbook Project [60,61]

Below the surface ...... of the clouds

[liner pen, felt tips, brush pens, gel pens]

The Sketchbook Project [54,55]

The Sketchbook Project, Below the Surface- a kingfisher catching a fish. This one is a bit different to my usual style. Watercolours & gouache

The Sketchbook Project [52,53]

I've just done a load of scanning, I didn't realise I had so many of The sketchbook project pages not done, so here is the first of the batch. One page I painted with gesso [the paper is so thin] and the other was stuck to the next. The sticking of two pages doesn't seem any better than the gesso, so I have gone back to doing that. It could be my sticking that is the problem, it's not flat. I also wonder if people will try to unstick the pages. The gesso has ruined some of my best pens so I've started using some old felt tips, gel pens and cheap supermarket brush pens which is what I have used for the above.

We have had more snow, I've never seen so much here before. I thought these planters looked like giant snow cupcakes.

The Sketchbook Project [44-51]

I'm posting  four double pages today from my book for The Sketchbook Project because they are linked. The edge of the paper at the top has been trimmed and there are holes in the pages to see what is 'below the surface'. Each page has it's own [below the surface] subject too.

The Sketchbook Project [38-41]

The Sketchbook Project spread over 4 pages

Below the surface ..... of the forest floor

the top two pages are the leaves, some collaged, the bottom of the right page is cut around some of the leaves and under the leaves on the next two pages are the insects, creepy crawlies, snails, ants etc

Paints [gesso, watercolours, acrylics], pens, brush pens, felt pens

Sketchbook Project [34,35,36,37]

'Below the surface' ..... of the pie crust.

How many blackbirds in the pie? The nursery rhyme says 24, but that is not the answer.

The Sketchbook Project [6,7], Swans, Illustration Friday

The Sketchbook Project 'Below the Surface'

I saw these swans today at Saltwell park, Gateshead

below is for the Illustration Friday challenge 'Afterwards'