The Artistic Biker

Sketches and Musings

  • Twitterpated

    Yesterday, I decided to get twitterpated.  Usually, that involves staring into the eyes of my lovely wife, but this time it refers to twitter.com.  There, people can post little blurbs throughout their day.  Most just post what they are doing, but many post random, often hilariously personal, thoughts about the world around them.  I’m just now feeling it out, but if you twitter, there’s a link to follow on the right, or just add @Blade21292.

    Last night, two of the three girls went with me to sketch the EDM challenge, draw a streetlight.  I had been thinking about this one all day and was determined to get the streetlights from downtown.  As we were walking out the door it occured to me that it would be more in the spirit of the “everyday matters” to have drawn the one in our back alley.  As I stood there sketching in the placements of the lamposts, making the occasional reference to Mr. Tumnus, Girl2 was running up and down the sidewalk being chased by the lovely Mrs. Blade.  It started sprinkling on us and since I already had the placement down, we hurried back to the house out of the rain.  I completed the shading in our living room and noticed the curb didn’t diminish properly.  I like the composition though, and I think I’ll try to get this one again.

    EDM
    EDM 80: Draw a streetlight

  • First Thing In The Morning

    judycp
    This is a photo reference from the wet canvas library

    Last night, I attended my second meeting of the Colored Pencil Society of America, Oklahoma Chapter.  They had a decent turnout and I met several talented people.  It turned out to be more of a business meeting so there weren’t any technique demonstrations or really any discussion of art at all, other than listing  the upcoming shows in the surrounding areas.  The two things that did excite me, besides the hugs from new people, was the discussion of gathering outside the meetings to draw, sketch, paint, and socialize, and that there would be video demonstrations now that they had a widescreen monitor available to them.  That’s enough to make me want to go back.  I get one more meeting before I have to decide whether or not to join.

    I’ve decided to start posting first thing in the morning to get my creative juices stimulated right off the bat.  Turns out, I don’t wake up that fast.  So now I’m trying to get something out quickly before I have to dash out the door.  C’est la vie.  The first thing you will notice is that there is no EDM post.  I am still going to do those in the evening, so today’s hasn’t happened yet.  I will publish them in the morning.  This also allows me to spend more time with the girls without the stress of having to get online to post every night.  Maybe it’ll keep me from staying up ’til 1am too.  I wouldn’t know how to operate on a full night’s sleep.

  • The Better To Hear You With…

    Just a quick post tonight, then it’s off to bed.  I want to try something different tomorrow.  I want to move my “creative moment” to the beginning of my day to see if it has a bigger impact on me than it already has.

    Whenever I have drawn ears in the past, I have always used that symbol language that you develop as a child.  I would draw an oval with a scribble in the middle.  I probably still will for the average sketch.  Everyone was asleep by the time I got around to this tonight, so tonight’s EDM challenge, draw an ear, is from a photo reference from Wet Canvas.  I suppose I should be practicing that too, but I much prefer drawing from life.  It’s safer this way, though.  The women folk get a bit edgy when I turn on the light while they are trying to sleep.  There are just some things you would be better off drawing from a photo.  Like  rabid pit bulls… or frenzied sharks… or mad cows…

    EDM
    EDM 79: Draw an ear

  • Biker Sketcher

    On the ride home from work today, sketch kit on my shoulder, I decided to cruise downtown and do something for Urban Sketchers.  I was rocking along with my headphones, painting the federal building, sitting on my bike.  Once or twice I chuckled at what people must think driving by to see the leather clad biker dude playing with his watercolors.  I think I actually sang Jack’s Lament out loud.  Anyway, this was fun.  I think I may try to do all of the buildings downtown.

    Tonight’s EDM challenge was to draw a souvenir.  It just so happens that I was at the Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock, TX lately.  I got this pair of sunglasses for Girl1.  To bad she made it out of here this morning without them.  By the way, two of my three babies have now joined the tax paying work force!  Boy1 is working in a custom body shop and Girl1 got a job as a waitress!  I was especially proud when I found out she reported all of her tips.  It’s not easy instilling that kind of honesty into teenager these days.  Brings a tear to my eye.  Or maybe that was just the onions on her uniform.

    EDM
    EDM 78: Draw a souvenir

  • True Love

    It is only because my beautiful young bride loves me so much that I was able to complete tonight’s EDM challenge after the fashion that I wanted.  You see, it is at the end of March and we have mostly stored our winter clothes.  We have just come through a freak ice storm and it looks like there is another one coming in the next few days.  This lovely woman that I am married to was all bundled up under her red quilt on the sofa.  I needed something “Cold or cool”.  Since my wife is the coolest person I know I decided to draw her.  She wouldn’t come out from under the blanket, and in her words, “I am not taking my clothes off in the living room when it is this cold!”  That sort of makes me look forward to summer.  I was able, however, to peel the blanket back far enough to capture something cold as ice.

    EDM
    EDM 77: Draw something cold or cool