Journal pages for Saturday 14th March (am) ...



Last Saturday was a fantastic day. Started the morning out at the Kumeu Show. This was always a highlight for us local Kumeu kids. Attendance, exhibits and even animals seemed down in numbers on previous years. Though my friend Sharon went on Sunday and apparently it was much busier.

I spent the morning wandering the exhibits, photographing and took some time sketching the giant pumpkins (always a popular exhibit) and in my quest for new I tried Scottish shortbread and whitebait fritters. At some point I'm sure I have had whitebait but can't remember specifically - they were doing a roaring trade by the way.

About the page:

• Pre-washed backgrounds
• Sketches using Sepia Micron 01 , a little black Micron 01 and watercolour
• Fold out page page made with handmade paper with photos machine stitched onto it. The stitching makes a natural fold line.
  

It is so easy to over work a sketch. Fiddling, working and reworking can lose the dynamics of sketching from life.

Usually there is something specific that catches your interest in a scene, it's what stopped you and made you take notice. It might be an interesting composition, subject, colours, light reflections, shadows, texture detail.. any number of things.

What caught my eye in this scene: Dimply bum shapes (hehe), light reflections, interesting subject and rich orange colour.
Recording all of those things was achieved by focusing my attention on the front pumpkins. This also solved some perspective problems for me too by giving my composition a foreground. By putting more emphasis (detail and working) on the front pumpkins it visually places them forward where I couldn't rely on perspective techniques of reducing size/angle as some of the rear pumpkins were larger and my slightly high veiw point.

So my tip for today is: sketch just enough without the pressure of completing every last detail and enjoy satisfying result of capturing your inspiration on paper.

~ Kathleen
PS: I'm looking forward to posting the rest of March 14th. That day totally ROCKED!

Labels: Great-Places-Auckland-Region, Journal-Pages, Sketching-Tips