I'm Back

After a productive Inktober, I took a bit of time off, but now I am back (with a pun no less).  I found a bunch of my old Muscle & Fitness / Muscular Development books that I used for anatomy references but also for ideas to torture my lifting partners and myself.  

This is from a photo of Charles Durr, who competed in IFBB in the 90's, who was doing front pulls (bar not included).

                                       Ink and watercolor in Etchr Sketchbook

                                               Just the ink version

Biscuits

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love biscuits (buttermilk biscuits, cheddar biscuits, jalapeño cheddar biscuits!).  When I travel, I will search out the best breakfast places based on their biscuits.  At fast food restaurants I tend to make little sandwiches out of biscuits and chicken fingers or simply slather them in butter and honey.  Yum!!

                         Watercolor on 6.9 x 9.8 200 GSM Perfect Sketchbook

A Self portrait of sorts. . .and other odds and ends

I do not think the reference picture looks like me (plus I was +12 lbs at the time), but it is a funky cool photo.  Just bing watched Season 2 of Jessica Jones and her landlord is a painter and had all kinds of portraits lying around his apartment kinda inspired me to do this one.  May not look like me, but I like it.

                 Pen & Ink + watercolor on 180 lbs Stilman & Birn Beta



A very small copse of evergreen trees just outside my window, just playing around with color and water.  More a doodle than a painting.

                                   Watercolor on paper 5.5 x 3.5 inches


I have seen Leigh Reyes do this to great effect.  This is my first pass at trying it.  Not bad, but I will do better next time.

             Vert de Rio ink (Robert Oster) on 140 lbs watercolor paper (4x6 inches)

The Rule about Bears

A simple ink sketch using two of my favorite brown inks with a little bit of watersoluble crayon to round it out.

                    Pen & ink, neocolor watersoluble crayons on 180lbs paper

Oh the winding road. . .

Trying to overcome the urge to always cover the entire paper in pigment.   The calligraphy needs a bit of work though.

                          Watercolor on 180lbs paper (with a touch of brown ink)

Horse - De Atramentis Document Brown Ink Test

So, I was finally able to obtain some De Atramentis document brown ink.  Getting a hold of this ink in the US is like winning the lottery (I have been trying since the summer).  And having the chance to actually get to play with it, I can see why it it is so valued.  

Wow.  This ink is just smooth.  I did a quick sketch using a dip pen (kuretake comic book nib) and the ink flowed smoothly and gracefully on the paper.  What a joy.  Since the ink is waterproof, I added some Noodler's kiowa pecan to blend for shadows.  The sketch was finished off with a bit of watercolor.

                          Pen & Ink on 180lbs paper (with a touch of watercolor)