Doodling in the New Sketchbook

Just some doodles in a new sketchbook with heavier paper.  My old sketchbook is really not made for for wet techniques, so I bought a Stillman & Birn Archival Sketchbook (zeta series).  The paper is 180lbs and handled multiple washes.  Below are the first few sketches/doodles that I have done thus far.

 

Hulk Crash

I wanted to try something a bit more loose and expressive in comic book form.  This is a fast sketch where I was not overly concerned with anatomy or proportions.  I first did a loose drawing using a watercolor pencil and hematite genuine because I love the way it granulates (see below).  Next came the watercolor and then I finished it with pen and ink.  Overall, I am satisfied with the result.

                           Watercolor, pen & ink on 140lbs paper 9x12

And here is the underpainting using hematite genuine.  I think I like this better than the finished product.

Sleeping Pelicans

This year we decided to be more active and biked every morning which allowed me the opportunity to paint some new topics/venues.  The point where A1A curves back away from the ocean (to run parallel to Duval St) is a place many seabirds gather.  I was able to get nice and close to a pair of sleeping pelicans.  It gave me quite the view (I never knew they had such sharp tips at the end of their beaks).  I also painted the outcropping where other seafaring birds were sleeping (the dark grey shapes).

                             Watercolor and Pen & Ink on paper 5.5x8.5

                                      Watercolor on paper 5.5x8.5

Sunset in Key West

Another wonderful Key West vacation has come to an end.  And what better way to reflect on an ending than with a sunset.  

                                         Watercolor on paper 5.5x12.25


The beaches of Key West are not quite the same destination as their northern cousins of Miami or Ft Lauderdale and as a result we tend to spend more time at the pool.  However, we really wanted to see a sunset at Smathers Beach.  I am happy with how the water/paint rolled down the page (when held vertical) to build the waves.  The dark green masses on the beach is the plethora of sea grass that washed onto the shore.  And if you look real close (click to embiggen), you can see the actual sand from the beach that I accidentally spilled on the paper.
 

And above is a poor attempt to stitch both halves together to better show how the paint ran down the paper to create cool looking waves.