If you are looking for the Life Imitates Doodles Weekly Wednesday Giveaway #16 , you can find it here.
Artwork: Zebra Pen Technical Pen and Fineliners in Sketching Stuff Activity book.
The prompt at Doodlewash today is Blue-plate Special, and I think this illustration would make a special plate. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
The drawing is an exercise from The Sketching Stuff Activity book by Charlie O’Shields. Several of the activities focus on recognizing the simple shapes in a scene. This is surprisingly difficult to do without practice. I decided to draw just the shapes on black paper.
When you draw on black paper, you are forced to think in the negative. I felt that would help me see just the simple shapes. I decided to just draw the more important leaves.
Then I drew the bird in the activity book with a technical pen.
This time I drew the leaf clusters in more detail.
I finished by coloring the drawing with fineliner pens.
If you missed my video walk-thru of Charlie’s book, here it is again. You can find the full review here.
Did you know that there is a Sketching Stuff Facebook Group for people to share their work from the book?
Wanna buy some of these cool toys?
The Sketching Stuff Activity book by Charlie O’Shields
Hahnemühle Black book – Rochester Art Supply FineArtStore
Zebra Zensations Technical pens (review)
Zebra Zensations Fineliner Pen 0.8mm Assorted 24Pk
Charlie O’Shields is the founder and admin of Facebook’s ‘World Watercolor Group’, World Watercolor Month, and the Doodlewash Community. For more then 1400 consecutive days, he’s delighted his readers by sharing his watercolor art and a rambling essay about life, his interests, and the importance of staying young at heart.
Life Imitates Doodles 
Very Nice! Thank you!
Thank you, Carol! I always feel strange when I post something that isn’t on Hahnemühle paper, lol!
Sandra, you’ve convinced me to get this sketchbook. Thanks for your compelling presentation.
Thank you, Sharon! It’s a great book! There’s a Facebook group for sharing your work, whether in the book, inspired by the book or just something interesting you are doing. You don’t have to wait until you get the book to join, if you are interested. https://www.facebook.com/groups/sketchingstuff/
Thank you for the info. You’re a great cheerleader as well as an accomplished artist.
Thank you, Sharon!
Hi Sandra, Waiting for my copy now ordered it few days ago. Really like this picture too!
Thank you! Did you know there was a Facebook group for sharing your work, whether in the book, inspired by the book or just something interesting you are doing. You don’t have to wait until you get the book to join, if you are interested. https://www.facebook.com/groups/sketchingstuff/
Love your little bluebird – so sweet! 😍👏🏻❤️
Very cute! The book sounds great!
I’m really enjoying it. It starts with very basic ideas and works on up to more complex techniques.
I really like your sketch on black its terrific an the finished piece turned out beautiful. Using fineliner colour pens isn’t easy but you did a fantastic job blending the colours.
Sandra I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw your art an the print on page 25 of Charlie’s new book, which is awesome. The reason for the OMG surprise is that I just got a postcard today from a friend in Norway with the exact same print, this made my day. Any chance do you know the name of the bird? I mentioned to my friend that I’m going to watercolour this bird an I hope mine turns out, still learning how to paint with watercolours. Have a wonderfully happy day. I wish I could send you a photo of my card, thank you Charlie for having it in the book.Joan
Thank you, Joan. I think the bird is a blue tit. Charlie credits the photographer and he got the photo from Jill Wellington on Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/photos/spring-bird-bird-tit-spring-blue-2295434/
Appreciate the information an Pixabay sounds like a good place for references. Charlie did a great job with his book.
Sandra did a quick pop over to the Pixabay an the photo looks even better, what a great reference.💖🤗