SKBK#6

 When I heard that permanent markers would be the tools for our next portfolio drawing, I was nervous. I do a LOT of erasing and redrawing. But, as usual, Professor Young broke it down into smaller steps to build our abilities and confidence. He also said these drawings were not about realistic representations but images that convey the theme of the scene or story.

We started with the fun exercise of graphite texture rubbing. I remember doing this as a child, and teaching my children and grandchildren to do it. We never did this many different textures at once so finding different things to do the rubbings was challenging. I labeled each rubbing to help me remember what surface had produced it.

SKBK#6.1
Cross-over texture

SKBK#6.2
Cross-over texture

Next we used the permanent markers to reproduce some of the textures in our rubbings. These reproductions did not need to be exact. We were to exaggerate elements to draw attention to them and simplify or delete other elements.
I did the six minimum but created another page of 3"x3" squares for more experimentation after I started my drawings.

SKBK#6.3
More Invented Textures

SKBK#6.3
Invented Textures

I also did some experimentations with my markers to see what size lines they produced.

The next step was to think of stories and scenes from our childhood. Another challenge to my brain...

SKBK#6.4
List of stories

Finally we were to make thumbnail sketches of our stories. I used thumbnails of several stories to help me decide which group of three to choose. 

Cotton fields to
neighborhoods

Life on the farm

Flowers we raised

Then I did some thumbnails of the stories I chose. To be honest, I drew the last four after I finished the drawings because I realized I did not have ten thumbnails of the actual drawings I did. Maybe if I had done ten thumbnails I would not have had to redo my actual pictures😏

SKBK#6.5
1-4 of 11 thumbnails

SKBK#6.5 
5 of 11 thumbnails

SKBK#6.5
6 of 11 thumbnails 

SKBK#6.5 
7 of 11 thumbnails

SKBK#6.5 
8-11 of 11 thumbnails

I also found that it helped to do preparatory sketches on the side before I actually drew them in the picture.

An example of why thumbnails are a good idea

Some preparatory sketches

I also took pictures and observed trees
 to get an idea of how to draw representations
of bark, knots, limbs and leaves.

My Final Four pictures: Friendships of an Introverted Bookworm

 While three were required, I did not feel any of my three original ideas were what I wanted to draw for my larger drawing. So I added a fourth drawing. My theme was Friendships, but as I drew the pictures I realized the common thread was that I always had a book. As I reflected back I realized, books have been my "friends" my whole life. They were my sources for comfort, encouragement, enlightenment and companionship in my childhood and continue to be so in my life now. 

Final 14x14
My Safe Place

For the larger picture, I decided to add the titles of some of the books that I remembered (with the help of Google) from early childhood through high school. I incorporate these into the bark texture of the old tree that used to shade our backyard swing. This was one of my favorite reading spots especially in the summer without A/C in the house. I included our dog and the house to tie into the picture of the scary dog of elementary school, and the radio to tie to the high school picture. The books themselves tie into the middle school picture as my "safe haven" from the turbulence of that season of life. The two birds and three eggs in the tree point to the future, with my husband and three boys. 

While I do not feel these pictures were as successful as my earlier portfolio drawings, I believe I will use what I learned in this lesson more often. I already have some ideas for future projects including the ones listed above in SKBK#6.4. This type of drawing would be well suited to the type of children's books I would like to write for my grandchildren.

Thanks for another fun adventure in Drawing 1!