CHALK ART: "Postcard #66"

 

I ran across this editorial online on a sign at a bookstore. Made me chuckle...so I did my version as a "postcard". After I finished my chalk art, it dawned on me that bookstores are almost extinct these days. Ironic.

SCULPTURE: "Stegoroostaur"

 

Word on the streets is that dinosaurs are related to birds. I've seen images where some folks have put a photo of a Chicken's head onto a T-Rex body (or the other way around). I thought it might be goofy fun to do a sculpture mash-up of a 4-legged dino. Here is my "Stegoroostaur". He even has "vestigial wings". (Google it...ha!)

 

CHALK ART: "Postcard #23"

UPDATE...I went ahead and redid the lettering on this project after I had posted on my blog. I think it is easier to read, and the orange color matches with the artwork better. I don't like doing lettering, so it's close enough for me.

Today I finished a new postcard. I really wanted to draw a dinosaur...then I discovered how labor intensive drawing all those bumps was!  After the initial sketch on the blackboard, I started working on the eye first and made my way outward. I then filled the large spaces with color and blended them with my hand. After that, I just drew gobs of circles for hours, while listening to some good music. I may try to redo the lettering, because I didn't plan it out so well. (But I probably won't.)

 

SKETCHBOOK: "More Dino Bones from KU"

It's been a long time since I went out sketching, so today I visited one of my favorite places: Kansas University Natural History Museum in Lawrence, KS. I love drawing their dinosaur/mammal bones exhibits.

CHALK ART: T-Rex!

Today was a lovely morning to work on another idea for my driveway...a T-Rex to scare the little Trick or Treaters in my neighborhood.

I started with a loose sketch done with white chalk, then used "chalk paint" to fill in the shapes. The pigment is darker when wet, but dried to almost white. I need to look for some other supplier for the paints, so I can get some richer colors.

Here are a couple of selfies with my new pet.

UPDATE...I realized that I had forgotten to post a couple of other driveway murals that I did back during the summer of this year. Here is my "Summer Sea Serpent".

And after that one, I did some "Bugs"!

SKETCHBOOK: "Back to Boulder"

I just returned from a week-long trip out to Boulder, Colorado. I was Cat-sitting at the apartment of my daughter Jenni and her man, Brad. They were gone on a trip to Cancun, Mexico to celebrate her graduation and passing boards to become a Registered Nurse!! A big deal indeed!!

I was able to do some sketching and painting while out there, and it was a rejuvenating time for me. I won't go into a lot of narration, but will let the sketches carry the load. Above are some drawings I did while waiting for my plane to leave Kansas City, and while on the flight to Denver.

Below is the afore-mentioned kitty cat, Pika. He is not fond of strangers, but he warmed up to me before too long. I spent the first day there watching tv with him, while it snowed outside.

Here is Brad's Bonzai tree that Jen surprised him with. Brad found the little figurine of the old man at a garage sale.

I drove to Denver to see the Museum of Nature and Science. What an impressive place!!! I could have stayed there for weeks sketching stuff!! I went ga-ga over all the dinosaur displays.

These are sketches I did at Eldorado Canyon State Park from two different days there. I tried drawing with Prismacolor sticks. I'm not too happy with the waxy quality. Once I got back to the apartment, I added a bit of sepia line-work, and liked the end results a bit better.

I decided to try using B-lead pencils and watercolor washes. I was so enamored with the rushing water, that I bit off a bit more than I could chew with my composition. I got a little muddy with all the trees in the sketch. But it was such a wonderful spot and the weather was gorgeous.

Jenni had left me a three-page list of places that I could explore. One of them was at South Boulder Creek West Trailhead. I have not been really successful using gauche paints, but went against my better judgement and brought them on the trip. I was painting on brown-toned paper. I am frustrated by how the colors shift when they dry, and how they lift up colors underneath. I was really wishing I had my oil paints with me!!

I spent a whole day wandering around on Pearl Street, in Boulder!! It is about four blocks of stores that are linked together by a cobblestone street. No cars can park there. Street performers are scattered about...so much fun!! Below is a giant bronze frog that is in a children's play area.

I saw these boots on top of a trash can with this backdrop of bright orange flowers. I found out later that people will leave clothes behind for the homeless to use.

Below are two musicians that serenaded me while I sketched them. I think they were infringing on the turf of one of the other performers. A contortionist was near-by, but could not drum up business. I had to listen to him for about two hours as I drew this sketch. I could pretty much say his routine for him: "Excuse me. I need some attention. Ladies. Ladies...I need some attention. I need a crowd...any size crowd will do. Don't worry...I'm a vegetarian. I'm fine now...I'm sober. I need some attention."

Later in the afternoon, I walked over to the Farmer's Market. They were setting up the tents for the various vendors. I sat in the shade of a big tree, while I drew this gnarly one. A delivery truck showed up about halfway through the sketch.

Below is on the campus of Colorado University. I was trying to find the Museum of Natural History, but had parked too far away. So I just decided to walk back to the car. On the way, the Engineering Center jumped out at me and begged to be drawn.

On my last day there, I enjoyed some time with Jenni and Brad, since they had returned from their trip the night before. Since they had just done the hour-long drive from the Denver airport, it was more convenient to ride the shuttle bus. I tried sketching some while on the bus, but it was VERY bumpy! I drew one more sketch at the airport, while waiting for the delayed flight home.

As we taxied out to the runway, we had to wait in a long line of at least 10 jets trying to take off. Denver Airport is huge, and was very crowded. 

It was a great trip and I still have lots and lots of stuff to explore and sketch when I return!!

SKETCHBOOK: "Hello T-Rex. It's been so long"

It's been months since I've been out sketching just for fun. I've been working on writing a book, and had some other projects going on. So today I went to visit a very old friend at the Museum at Prairiefire, in Overland Park, KS. It was nice to just chill out with a pencil and draw for a couple of hours.

SKETCHBOOK: "Dinos in Smackover"

I suppose it is appropriate that I am posting about dinosaur bones, since I just got back home after attending my 40th HIGH SCHOOL REUNION! I spent several days after the event sketching with my Mom.  Below are the results!

These were taken at the Arkansas Oil and Brine Museum in Smacker, Arkansas. A nice display of a traveling exhibit.

Mom and I drove around El Dorado and sketched from her air-conditioned car. There was a heat advisory most of the time I was there. Love stopping and drawing construction equipment!

Here are a couple of vehicles...a great old restored Chevy truck, and my Mom's new riding lawnmower. 

This last item is a vase that my grandmother gave to Mom years ago. Fun to sketch it!