SKETCHBOOK - "A few from 2025"

It's been a while since I've been doing much sketching. I'm pushing myself to get back out into the world.

Sketchbook: "Fall Dirt-Diggers"

I've been on a long break from sketching, so I'm pushing myself into drawing more. I love drawing construction equipment and machines. The first in line was a sketch at my church, the second sketch is the view from my driveway of the Water Company digging a hole. The last sketch is from the opposite side of the street from the digger.

Leftover Sketches

Sometimes, when I have to wait for things like an oil change for my car, or while at an airport or flying, or waiting at a doctor's office ...I sketch. Today, I was looking at some of my older sketchbooks and ran across some "waiting" sketches that I had not scanned or posted yet. These sketches usually are "off the top of my head" and are just plain goofy. No surprise there.

 

SKETCHBOOK: "Longmont, CO"

Last Thursday night, I got home from a trip to Longmont, Colorado, to see my eldest daughter Jenni and her hubby, Brad. We made pickled onions and cucumbers, played some putt-putt golf (each of us got a hole-in-one!!!), and I got to sketch a little bit. Great food, great conversations...a great time! Oh...forgot...baby goats.

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.

TRAVEL: Colorado Sketches

Yesterday, I returned from a 10 day trip out to Colorado to cat/house-sit for my daughter who lives in Longmont. She and her boyfriend went on a trip to Belize, while I stayed at their place. I had a range of various kinds of weather...sunny, warm, rain and snow. But I managed to get out and about to sketch and paint some. Here are the results. The oil painting at Red Rocks amphitheater was done 50/50 on-site and indoors (due to rain).

TRAVEL: Scotland 2018 Pt. 1

This post should've been added a long time ago, but lots of things took first place in line. In August of 2018, I took a wonderful trip with my eldest daughter, Jenni, to see the Highlands of Scotland. We only stayed about a week, so we just scratched the surface of all there is to see. We chose to go to the highlands because...well, we got some good deals on the flights and lodging. We also chose to see less of the "touristy" spots, and just explore all around where we stayed.

Before I post all of the photos that I had taken, I'll begin this series with my sketches. I did not sit and draw as much as I hoped, because we were on the move to see as much as we could see. Next time, I'll plan to visit fewer places, and sit longer.

 

The top sketch was done while waiting in Denver Airport for our flight to London. The one below that is my view for the next 9 hours of flight...a LONG way to go!

While in London Heathrow Airport during a 6 hour layover, I drew a few weary passengers. Jenni is in the upper right sketch, catching some Z's.

On our train ride from Inverness to Thurso, I noticed an older couple that was sitting in the row behind us. Every so often, the gentleman's face would appear...so I snuck a quick photo of him, for the intent of sketching him later. On one of our train or plane trips, I sketched from the photo viewed on my iPAD.

These images below are from Inverness...a church by the River Ness downtown, and our view out of the window of our B&B apartment.

The coastal sketch below is from our backyard view of the ocean while we stayed in Thurso. The rains were always a possibility every day...a storm blew up and I had to go inside and finish the sketch from an upstairs window. The other sketch is of the ruins of Thurso Castle done on my last morning there. There is SO much to see and draw in Scotland...it's a wonderland!

 

Mom's Passing

 

This post is a very difficult one to write. Not because I don't have much to say...but because words wouldn't do justice. This past November 10, 2018, my Mom, DeLeath Ludwig, passed away at the age of 85. Our family is still in the middle of processing it all, dealing with the huge loss. But we were so blessed to have had her in our lives, and readily acknowledge all the good that she passed on to us. 

My Mom was one of my favorite "Sketching Buddies". For the last several years, I have enjoyed trips to my hometown of El Dorado, Arkansas, to spend a few days wandering around town to various locations to sketch. Often we'd just stay at her house and set up a still-life. Mom's health was in decline for some years, and she was hooked up to oxygen much of the time. In fact, in her final days, she and I had talked about how she could have died many times over in the last 15 years, with all she battled with. But on the days that she felt good enough, she'd be sketching and painting watercolors almost every single day. We have a legacy of many, many sketchbooks that she filled up.

I will miss you, Mom...and I look forward to sketching with you again, when I meet you in Heaven!!

SKETCHBOOK: "A Week in Colorado"

 

I recently returned home from a week of visiting my daughter Jenni and her beau Brad (and also house/cat sitting for 2.5 days) in Longmont, Colorado (northeast of Boulder). I was really looking forward to my "free time"...it had been a long while since I've been out and about drawing. I sketched at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Red Rocks, Eldorado Canyon State Park, and then on Hwy 66 near Jen and Brad's house. A lovely time with gorgeous weather!

 

SKETCHBOOK: "Cars at the Auto Museum"

 Yesterday and today, I went sketching at the Kansas City Automobile Museum in Olathe, Kansas. It's been in operation for 3 years now, but I have only just recently heard about it. It's a wonderful place to sit and draw, with great music from the Big Band era to Hot Rod Rock & Roll tunes from the 1960s. The also change up part of the exhibit each month, so there will be more to draw. I will be hanging out there a lot!!  

Click HERE for the link to the Museum's web page!
 

SKETCHBOOK: "Sides of Buildings"

Had to get some work done on my car that took a couple of hours. So I wandered around and did these two sketches this morning. The salmon colored building baffled me...why put that weird little balcony up there with no way to get down?

SKETCHBOOK: "Earth Movers"

I decided to return to where I was sketching last week, on this gorgeous Sunday morning...my church's Youth House lot, which will be torn down in the near future. The church sold the land, so I've enjoyed drawing the earth movers while they've been working. Below is the sketch I did last Sunday, while sitting under the shade of a mimosa tree.

SKETCHBOOK: "Gnarly Tree"

This gnarly tree is across the street from the nearby post office. When I mail letters, I look at it often and think, "I need to sketch that tree." Today was the day.

My New Book

Yesterday was a very exciting day for me! I just got my first printed proof copy of my new book, "Jewels In The Junkyard". I have spent the last year and a half working on it, and it is now available to order through Amazon.com!!! It is also available as an eBook in the Kindle format.

It's been a tough assignment, and I felt like quitting several times along the way. But I know that sharing my story of the last seven years since losing my wife, Cathy, will resonate with others who may be struggling with grief. Thanks to all those who have been so encouraging to me while on this project!! 

Click here for the link to Amazon.com!

Below is a postcard that you can digitally share with those who may find my story helpful.

SKETCHBOOK: "Headdresses and a Gentleman"

Went sketching today with a couple of groups that met together to draw at the Nelson-Atkins museum in Kansas City. These were my efforts: African headdresses and a marble portrait of a "Roman Gentleman". Thanks for letting me join in "Urban Sketchers - Kansas City" and the "Art Mob"!

SKETCHBOOK: "More Bones"

Yesterday was a nice sunny day, but a little on the chilly side for sketching outside in the morning. So I decided to drive to Lawrence, Kansas and visit one of my favorite places. Here are some more bones from the KU Natural History Museum. The sketch above is a musk ox skeleton. The skulls below (clockwise from the top) are from an African buffalo, a musk ox, a big horn sheep, and an elk. So much cool stuff to draw in there!!!

NEW PAINTINGS: "Squaw Creek"

Had a fun day with some artist friends at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge south of Mound, MO (North of St. Joe). It was a gorgeous day! Here is my painting of a little frog pond by the entrance.

 A little selfie with the frogs.

 Here's my set-up.

I decided to draw a small sketch in the afternoon instead of setting up my oil paints.

And here are the other artists who met up at the refuge to paint today.

T-Shirt Designs

Normally, I don't show my professional work on this blog. But lately, I've had some fun designing "wearable art" for t-shirts. While these have yet to get produced, they have been submitted to threadless.com and I am waiting for the results. I will continue to design these, because they are fun to do, which is what this blog is all about! The "tree" concept above was requested by my eldest daughter, Jenni. So far, it has gotten the most votes of the designs I've submitted...hope it becomes a real shirt soon!