I took my sketchbook hiking!

If your sketchbook hasn't got any scrapes, stains, grime or grit on it then something is definitely wrong!I took my sketchbook hiking and it was fantastic!

This past Sunday morning Lauren and I joined some pals for a hike through Big Santa Anita Canyon ending at Sturtevant Falls. What a stupendous time it was! We gallivanted through tall grass, over boulders and across streams. I breathed deeply of the sweet clean air and stood in awe of what nature can do so effortlessly.

Standing before such beauty I dared to venture a sketch or two. I don't kid myself that I can compete with nature but she filled me with an inspiration that yearned to be expressed.

Tomorrow I will post more about the hiking/sketching adventure (with photos) but today I just want to say "Thank you" to mother nature. Your beauty, perfection and timeless truth is not lost on me.

Lauren...Still Smokin'

Here's the completed sketch from the progress that I posted on Saturday.
I knocked this one out with a combination of colored pencil, pen, marker and brush pen.

With regards to the eyeshadow I have to quote the great Chris Gargan and say...
"A little purple goes a long way". He's darn right about that!

Thanks to Lauren who once again inspired me.

Enjoy!

Smokin' Hot Lauren

When Lauren walked in the door I darn near fell out of my chair!

Last week Lauren went to the salon and got her hair done. She also got her nails done that day (French Tips - my favorite)! Meanwhile I was cranking away at the drawing board but then I heard her key hit the door. She walked in and...
SHAZAAM!

Dang, she looked good! I was all smitten and googlie-eyed like an adolescent. So I did the only sensible thing for a man to do in a situation like that: I whipped it out (my sketchbook, you dirty bird).

Me: "Stop, baby! Sit right here."
L: "Oh..um..okay."
Me: "I've just got to draw you right now."

And so I proceeded with the sketch that you see here. I'll finish it up soon but I like how it's turning out so I wanted to share it with ya.

Top 10 reasons to LOVE chipboard!

If you have not yet sketched on chipboard then you have not yet lived!I'm far from the first to do this but I began doing it recently and it's a blast. For those who don't know chipboard is a thin but fairly sturdy cardboard like you might find inside a new store bought shirt in order to keep it looking flat and pressed.

I purchased a ream of this stuff from Kelly Paper. I bought the 11x17 size in case I wanted to work large but typically I cut it down to various smaller sizes. I feel like I could write all day about this stuff but I have heard it said that brevity is the soul of wit. And so...

The Top 10 Reasons to LOVE Chipboard.

1. Super portable and easy to carry.
2. Stands up well to handling which makes it great for sketching at coffee shops, bars, etc.
3. Takes lots of media like a champ (pencil, pen, marker, pastel, ink, gouache, etc.)
4. Makes an awesome giveaway if you sketch someone in public and want to present them with a gift (see my post on Sunday for a perfect example)!
5. Cut to any size that suits you and go nuts!
6. Perfect for trading with other artists. Swapping original sketches is fantastic!
7. Fan yourself with it if you're somewhere hot (no kidding, this works).
8. Use the natural tone of the board as a mid tone, then add darks and lights for a cool effect.
9. Stands up strong to repeated erasing (for those days when you're just not on your game).
10. Adds to your skill set and archive of practiced techniques.

By golly with a list like that how can you go wrong? Drop me a line if you use (or start to use) chipbard. I'd love to see and share with other artists about this.

Dig in and have fun!

My humble sketching skills warrant a free coffee!

Wow! What a surprise I got last night! To properly set the stage I'll need to back up and begin the story on Friday night...

Lauren and I went to a coffee shop and I was sketching. One of the employees stopped by the table and chatted with me for a minute about my sketches. It turns out that she's an artist as well (portraits). I told her that a few nights prior I had used her as inspiration for a sketch. Here it is...

 She adored it and shared it with some of her co-workers. It was fun and it felt great to spread good vibes with my art!

Lauren and I were back at the coffee shop again last night (Saturday). When I got to the counter to order my coffee (and an ice water for Lauren), that same employee was there. Then she tossed out the coolest offer. She told me I could have the coffee on the house in exchange for a sketch! I was totally surprised and happily agreed. I told her that I would color the sketch I had shown her last time and she could have that one - if that was cool with her. We shook hands on it and that's when we introduced ourselves officially and I learned her name is Bianca.

So I went back to the table with my free cup of coffee (and Lauren's ice water) and proceeded with coloring and finishing the sketch.

I stopped a couple of times to chat with some other folks who stopped by to share kind words or talk about potential projects for my illustration services.

When I had wrapped it all up I took it back up to the counter and delivered it to Bianca. She was kind enough to pose for a photo with the drawing and give me permission to use the photo here.

It was such a fun an unique experience! It's always a treat to know that my artwork has a positive effect on people and is capable of delivering some measure of joy to a person's day. Thanks to Bianca for the cup of Joe, to Laure for keeping me company on yet another session at the coffee shop and to EVERYONE who stopped by with kind words to say!

We've moved!

Lauren and I have moved to a new place. Thanks a million to Scott, Frank and Pauline for all of your help! We really like the new joint. My workspace is fantastic. Bay windows, hardwood floors and lots of natural light make it a delight to work in. But sometimes a fella just wants to walk away from the big fancy drafting table and draw the way he did when he was a kid so...

I plopped down at the dining room table on a Sunday afternoon and created this fun little moving announcement. Obviously the little sign in the ground has our new address on it but I took it out for this internet post. Gee whiz I can't have all those gorgeous female fans of mine stalking me at my house!

Lauren got a kick out of watching me create the announcement so she snapped these pics. Thanks, L!

Back... with a new policy & a Free Original Sketch Giveaway

Okay, no lame excuses. Life got a twisty for me and I neglected my blog. I apologize. I love posting, I love your feedback and I'm just plain old fashioned sorry for the disappearing act. Which leads me to my new policy...

For the rest of 2010, if I go more than one full week without posting I'm going to give away a free original sketch to the first person who busts my chops for it. That's right! Loud and clear, plain and simple. No whining, no back peddling, no garbage excuses.  I get lazy, you get a sketch. Simple as that.

That's the new policy, here's the bonus...

THE FIRST PERSON FROM MY LIST OF FOLLOWERS TO DROP ME A COMMENT WILL GET A FREE ORIGINAL SKETCH RIGHT NOW!

I'm super duper grateful that none of you have ditched me during my vanishing act and I want to extend my appreciation. Just two rules...

1. The winner must be someone from my current list of followers (presently numbering 35). No fair signing up right now just to get the free sketch. ;)
2. The winner must also be someone who has not received a free sketch from me yet.
How easy is that?

Thank you SO MUCH for sticking around and if you've just discovered this little corner of the blogosphere then I say welcome! Stop back often because I'm about to go on a rampage posting up new art and I don't see that tidal wave crashing any time soon.

Love ya.
N

P.S. I almost forgot - those two sketches posted up top there are from a recent coffee shop visit. Enjoy!