June 30, 2011

While on the Big Bus tour that I took earlier in the month, I started this sketch of one of the local sushi restaurants. I was having a hard time sketching this properly as the bus was not only very bumpy but was passing this spot too fast. Fortunately, I took two trips around on the bus and was able to get enough to start a sketch. I had my trusty camera with me to take reference shots for the details.

"Oishii Sushi Restaurant "

Denman and Robson Streets, Vancouver
(In progress)
[Clicking this image will show larger image]

June 26, 2011

The sketch of the old car with the three men changing the tire was sketched from an old family black and white photo. Inspired by sketches done in Japan by Kumi Matsukawa while on Sketchcrawl 31 and other Japanese sketchcrawlers, I decided to do this sketch covering two pages of my book. I think it turned out well.

"Can Never Be Enough Supervsion"

(Final) - From old 1930 photo

1929 Chrysler Imperial Sedan
[Click on image for larger view]

Can Never Be Enough Supervision

(In progress)

Can Never Be Enough Supervision

(In progress)

Sketches done from my Big Bus tour. The #415 bus I was on for my first ride round (I went around the second time that day on the open topped bus. The Tacofino van was parked on Morton Street in English Bay selling it's "Fish Tacos". Apparently these are a West-Coast specialty - yeah sounds ? delicious ?

Big Bus #415 and Tacofino Van

Tourists, Hoodie and Headless Girl

June 25, 2011

Test using Holbein Waterbrush

with pre-mixed watercolour paint

inside. Use for greys and initial

line-work.

Mini Sketch Kit

Travelling Light on Short Sketch Trips

Tucano Messenger bag is small and lightweight. Has top zippered opening for iPad and Moleskine Watercolour sketchbook. Has front zippered pocket for all other items of the kit.

Tucano Finatex Extra Small Messenger Bag

Toothbrush Holder for carrying brush, eraser and pen, 
Winsor Newton mobile palette, Camera bag for Finepix 
XP20 Digital camera and iPad adapters

12" x 8.5" Moleskine Watercolour book, iPad 1.

June 23, 2011

Testing Holbein Waterbrushes

Holbein Waterbrushes

More Waterbrush Testing

The Hot Phone

June 21, 2011

Big Bus #415 and Tacofino Truck
(In progress)

Big Bus Tours

(Final)

June 19, 2011

More of the Big Bus Tour Sketches

Bus Driver and Benched Tourist

(Final)

Big Bus 415 and Tacofina Van

(In Progress)

Tourists, Hoodie and Headless Girl

(In progress)

Sketchcrawl Kit

First The Bag

The Crumpler "Dreadful Embarrassment" messenger bag with Eagle Creek Waterbottle holder attached with two carabiners. Being a long time IT Geek used to carrying heavy old-style laptop bags loaded with laptops, books adapters and gadgets, I like being able to convert to using a lightweight messenger bag. After checking out all sorts of worthy bags such as Waterfield and Booq, I am happy to settle on an Australian company called "The Crumpler". These guys are as funny as hell and have off-the-wall names for their products. Although I bought the slightly smaller "Considerable Embarrassment" to carry my laptop and work gear, I also bought the larger "Dreadful Embarrassment" to hold my Sketching supplies. Shown below is the "Dreadful Embarrassment" model in black and yellow with a bright orange interior. For those interested see The Crumpler Website

The Gear Inside

Listed and shown below is the gear I presently carry. After a few trips I will probably reduce the items carried otherwise I may end up giving myself a hernia. LOL But for now this is the kit I carry in the bag above. The different watercolour pencils and paint options give me a variety of different texture finishes in my coloured sketches. The water-soluble Pastel Pencils give a more toothy finish even when water is applied. I like the watercolour pencils as they are easy to apply with less mess but give a different finish than regular watercolour paint. I still prefer the old-school regular pencils over mechanical pencils, just because I like the feel in my hands. I just like the Pilot Drawing Pens in the 03 or 05 fine-tip sizes.

Above picture shows:

• 2 - 8" x 12" Moleskine Watercolour Sketchbooks
• 2 - 5" x 8.25" Moleskin Plain Notebooks
• 1 x iPad and Targus iPad sleeve (for protection)
• 2 x paint cloths in ziploc bags
• 1 x extra pair of eyeglasses
• 1 x rain poncho (for emergencies)
• 1 x bag of Wet Ones (wet towels)
• 1 x bag of Kleenex (wet towels)
• 2 x sizes of ziploc bags (rolled up)
• 1 x Fujifilm XP20 digital camera (used to take these photos)
• 1 x Camera bag with adapters, spare memo card and battery with neckstrap
• 1 x camera battery recharger
• 1 business card holder
• 1 x extra eyeglass cleaning cloth
• 1 x empty pill bottle (to hold pencil sharpener and shavings)
• 1 x circular cutting board
• 1 x steel clip with two screw-top water containers
• 1 x Targus iPad Stylus
• 1 x Swiss Army Knife
• 1 x Steel Multitool

Above picture shows

• 1 x tin of 72 water-soluble Derwent Pastel Pencils
• 1 x tin of 36 Derwent Watercolour Pencils
• 1 x tin of 24 Derwent Graphitint Pencils
• 1 x tin of 24 Derwent Inktense Pencils
• 1 x Winsor & Newton Travelling Watercolour Palette ( I use WN tube paint)
• 1 x metal pencil sharpener
• 1 x set of utility knife blades
• 1 x Eraser (stick form)
• 5 x DR Pigment Ink Pilot Drawing Pens
• 1 x tin containing:
• 2 x short handled watercolour brushes
• 2 x X-Acto knives with #11 blades (1 not shown in photo)
• 7 x Koh-I-Noor 2B Pencils
• 6 x Koh-I-Noor HB Pencils
• 7 x assorted Derwent Graphic Pencils (Hard 4H-8H + Soft 4B and 9B)

June 23rd amendments to kit

added

• 1 x bamboo brush roll-up with a few brushes
• 3 x Holbein Waterbrushes
• 1 x 12" triangular architects rule (used as a scale and straight-edge)
• 1 x travelling watercolour palette - 18 small paint wells :)

eliminated

• 1 x tin of 72 water-soluble Derwent Pastel Pencils (experimentation deemed this unnecessary)
• 1 x tin of 36 Derwent Watercolour Pencils (experimentation deemed this unnecessary)
• 1 x WN Travelling Watercolour palette - 8 small paint wells
• 1 of the Moleskine 5" x 8.25" Notebooks

June 17, 2011

More Big Bus Tour sketches

Big Bus Double-Decker Driver (left)

Tourist on Bus Stop Bench (right)

(in progress)

Tourists, Hoodies and Headless Girl

(in progress)

June 16, 2011

Time to update this blog after a few years of neglect. Sigh!

I made a promise to myself to not only do some sketching daily, but to do regular postings here. Enrico's idea of Sketch crawling has given me new inspiration.

Started new sketchbook for 2011

Vancouver Seawall Traffic

Big Bus Tour

On Tues June 14, I took the Big Bus Hop-on Hop-Off tour to seek out sketch material for upcoming sketch sessions. This to prepare for World-wide Sketchcrawl 32 on July 23rd 2011.

Sketch still in progress (does anybody else wonder how the guy balances on the two-legged chair? LOL)


Revised sketch of self