Botanical Drawings Book Project

 Beginnings ~ a book of botanical drawings. 

"...and then, I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough?" ~ Vincent van Gogh

Unique vintage handmade sketchbook by Ericka Schmitt, an inspiring gift from my lovely friend Jane Guill. It's beautifully made and embellished - a pleasure to draw on the cotton rag paper.

 

 

 "...and the naiad - like the lily of the vale..." ~ Shelly 

Lily of the valley - Majalis "of or belonging to May." Mayfly naiad

walnut ink on 100% cotton rag, 5 x 7.5"

“So in the dark we hide the heart that bleeds,                                  And wait, and tend our agonizing seeds.”

~ Countee Cullen                          "Bleeding Heart and Goldfinch"

Courting Candle Daily Sketch

"Candlemas" Courting Candle

Catch up sketch, two days in one. This was done on Candlemas, also known at Imbolc and Groundhog's Day. The Courting Candle history is found here.

Sketches Inspired by Inspiring Friends!

"Peter's Flute" with Peter Fraterdeus

"Mortar & Pestle - found at Pinder Pottery" 3 x 5"

"One Sketch A Day." The top sketch was done with a marker, the bottom with my freshly flushed fountain pen.

Walnut Ink Studies

"Bird Sanctuary?" 5 x 6"

"From My Studio" 5 x 6"

Studio interior and wild life fun, that was one squirrel but he was difficult to capture so I drew him twice! Walnut ink made by my friend Thom Metcalf, dipped the fountain pen for these but still had trouble with the ink drying out and paper scratching through. Dry overheated air, with this winter's extreme Polar Vortex conditions.

4 Up

Spread of four daily sketches

Having some trouble with my fountain pen drying out and the thin paper of the sketch a day journal bleeds through. Still like the results on this four day stretch!

Turning Over a New Leaf: Daily Sketch

3 x 5" December 29, 2013

The beginning of my daily sketch blog posts.

Happy New Year!