Sketchbook Project Special Edition 2012—Pirate #sketchbookproject

Here's the next page from my Sketchbook Project Special Edition. Still figuring out the how-to-use-the-markers thing. This Square Kat would be a Pirate, as in, the ones from Pittsburgh.

Yeah, it's from last year. Better late than never.

Day 14 of 31 Day Challenge #RottyHalloween

I've challenged myself to draw something for Halloween every day in October, and The Rots' Facebook followers are holding me to it (I hope).

Once again with the marker thing. I'd like to think I'm getting a little bit better with them, but that doesn't really feel true.

I'm thinking he's not a happy camper.

Day 13 of 31 Day Challenge #RottyHalloween

I've challenged myself to draw something for Halloween every day in October, and The Rots' Facebook followers are holding me to it (I hope).

Another one with markers. The red marker turned out to be more pink than red, but I'm thinking it's in support of breast cancer awareness month.

Yep. That's it.

Day 12 of 31 Day Challenge #RottyHalloween

I've challenged myself to draw something for Halloween every day in October, and The Rots' Facebook followers are holding me to it (I hope).

I decided to try and crush my fear of markers with this one. The fear isn't completely crushed, but I'm learning more every time I use them.

I also did something I don't normally do in Photoshop. After I scanned the page in, I didn't try to get the paper as white as I usually do in other scans. I think it looks just right with an antique-y sort of tone.

Day 3 of 31 Day Challenge #RottyHalloween

I've challenged myself to draw something for Halloween every day in October, and The Rots' Facebook followers are holding me to it (I hope).

Day 3 kind of made me feel a little naked. When you draw in your sketchbook, it's supposed to be just for you. A place to experiment and let your guard down, knowing nobody else is going to see it and form an opinion.

Here's what I drew in my Moleskine, and it isn't the best thing I've ever done. I drew it with a Pilot Precise V5 marker, so there was no erasing when it wasn't going the way I had planned. But I promised a sketch every day, and this is what happened.

So, yeah. A little naked.

Sketchbook Project Special Edition 2012—Patrick #sketchbookproject

This is Patrick. He is part of my Sketchbook Project Special Edition sketchbook. I also painted him on wood for your amusement.

Sketchbook Project Special Edition 2012—Buster #sketchbookproject

I think I've been slacking a little getting these things posted.

Here's another image from my Sketchbook Project Special Edition sketchbook. It's of Buster, who my mom used to call our "Halloween Kitty."

According to legend, he was as evil as he looks here.

Sketchbook Project Limited Edition 2012—Nacho #sketchbookproject

The next page from my Sketchbook Project Limited Edition. One of the people who likes The Rots Facebook page suggested the name "Nacho" for this little guy, and it stuck.

So.

Say "hello" to Nacho.

You can take a look at the digital version of Nacho on this page here.

Sketchbook Project Special Edition 2012—Oscar #sketchbookproject

 

Here's the next page from my Sketchbook Project Limited Edition sketchbook. I've filled the entire sketchbook with Square Kats, but the twist was, I drew them all using markers. From the first pages of the sketchbook, you can pretty much tell I haven't used markers all that much. O.K. I haven't used them at all. This was all new to me, but by the time I got to Oscar I was starting to learn a little.

 

Just a little.

Sketchbook Project Special Edition 2012—Snowflake #sketchbookproject

Here's the next page from my Sketchbook Project Special Edition. I was having so much trouble with the markers that I went the safe route: no browns to speak of and not a lot of colors to mess up.

 

I also went safe with the drawing. I had originally drawn Snowflake for Christmas cards that I sent out last year, and I thought he would be a good confidence booster considering how much markers are hating me right now.

Sketchbook Project Special Edition 2012—Just Turn the Page #sketchbookproject

 

Maybe this isn't the best Square Kat I've ever drawn. O.K. It isn't. But he's in the Sketchbook now, and markers are more permanent than plastic so there isn't anything I can do about it.

Sketchbook Project Special Edition 2012—Cupid #sketchbookproject

Here's the next page of my Art House Co-op Sketchbook Project Special Edition. I'm still working with markers here, and it's hard when you don't have the colors you need. Cupid ended up being yellow, which I really didn't like. I went over him with a lighter colored pencil to take off the edge, but I don't know that it helped much.

The whole idea of the Sketchbook Project is to try out something new. They don't expect you to make a masterpiece, so I need to cut myself a little slack.

So that's what I'm doing. I'm looking for my sharp cutting implement right now.

Sketchbook Project Special Edition 2012—Stripes #sketchbookproject

Here's another spread from my Sketchbook Project Limited Edition.

I really wasn't liking the markers as I worked on this. The ArtHouse people encourage you to try new mediums and ideas and to embrace the idea of a sketchbook, but it's still embarrassing to my sensitive little ego to put something like this out there for all the world to point and laugh at.

(O.K. Maybe not all the world. I doubt that many people will be looking.)

My Sketchbook Project has been digitized

So I kind of made the mistake of signing up for the Sketchbook Project: Limited Edition earlier this year, and I ended up getting pressed for time (doesn't everybody?), and delivered a sketchbook that tells the story of what a bad time I had trying to make a new medium (markers) work. I started posting the pages here and here and here on the blog, and then I got sidetracked, as I tend to do.

Anyway, they've gone and digitized the sketchbook so you can see all of it at once (well, at once, but just two pages at a time) on their site: http://www.arthousecoop.com/library/10060. Still not too proud of how it turned out, but it's a slice in time, and I was learning, and I got some practice on my lettering skills.

By the way, the sketchbook is all about the Square Kats, and I went and bought the domain squarekats.com even though I don't know when I'll find the time to build a site for it. But I'll work on it, and I'll let you know when it happens.

Sketchbook Project Special Edition 2012—April Fool #sketchbookproject

And this would be the second double-page spread from my Sketchbook Project Special Edition sketchbook. The initial Square Kats drawings seem to be fine; it's the coloring in with markers thing that's really turning me off. I think I'll still use the Kats in paintings later though, so all is not lost.

Sketchbook Project Special Edition 2012—Vincent #sketchbookproject

O.K. Here's my first poor attempt at marker art. Markers feel like all the bad things that watercolor and pen & ink have to offer: none of them are very forgiving. I'm also kind of stuck with the colors I have, and I'm not able to blend them very well. I ended up going over the cat fur with a white pencil to lighten it up a little.

So far I'm not liking the markers. I hope I don't embarrass myself with this little side project.

Sketchbook Project Special Edition 2012—Cover #sketchbookproject

So I went and joined the Art House Co-op and their Special Edition Sketchbook Project. They're going to print at least one spread from each sketchbook they get back in a series of books they'll be publishing documenting the project.

I know. I almost have time for this.

I decided to try out a relatively new medium for me: markers. That might be an idiot of an idea, but I've also decided to draw things that aren't so new for me: Square Kats. Hopefully the markers will be kind.

Here's the cover and the first page pages: