One last sketch from my Bali trip. I wasn’t able to sketch a lot on site so I took lots of photos, sometimes from the car while driving through all that crazy traffic, trying to capture some typical Balinese street scenes. This little sketch was from one of these, shot while we were passing a group of women wearing their elegant and colourful outfits, carrying their offerings to a temple.
I always find it difficult to get back into the daily grind, and coming home with a touch of Bali Belly didn’t help. I was feeling rather flat post trip, and suffering from acute lack of motivation and inspiration. Then I happened to notice the beautiful light on the trees out the front window which made me want to do a quick sketch with watercolour and my relatively new water soluble oil pastels. I would like to play some more with these at a later date.
One online friend suggested doing an daily advent calendar sketch leading up to Christmas, so I stole an idea from another trying 3 different techniques on the same subject. Strawberries 3 ways, watercolour brush sketch, then gouache and a contour drawing with some colour splashed on.
My new car was the subject for my next sketch. It is a beautiful apple green and I found that Koi Sakura green in the travel palette was the perfect colour. I love the fact that I can find my car easily in car parks filled with white or grey cars.
Next sketch was of poor old Snoopy, found while looking through some boxes. Snoopy was my sons very first toy and is wearing a jumper knitted by his Nanna.
The marker I used for the lettering smeared when I used an eraser. Maybe I just didn’t give the marker time to dry on this paper. I’ll need to experiment with this a little more.
As I was supposed to be doing Advent type sketches I thought I’d do something Christmassy. I haven’t put up the large tree for a couple of years as we were spending Christmas elsewhere and it does take a some time to set up and decorate. But this year the crowd will be at our house so out came all the boxes.
And then the decorations, too many to sketch 😀
These sketches were in my resurrected Stillman and Birn Alpha journal. I took this with me when I visited France a few months ago but it didn’t get much use. I found I preferred my little lightweight handmade journal that I could slip into my bumbag when I went on my morning sketchwalks, and I tended to use the S & B only when I was able to sit at a table or desk and spread out a bit.
So the next challenge for me is to fill up this journal 😀
Ros Jenke 
These are great. I also sketched the sun coming up on our trees outside just a few days ago. Then took a photo as the light was changing. Your Snoopy is wonderful-as are the trees-not to mention your car. Keep these coming. It is inspiring to me. Will also paint our tree if I ever get it up.
I have a question as your lettering is so good. Do you use a brush or a pen?
Judy, I used a waterbrush for the larger lettering and a fibre tip Pitt artists pen for the other. Small lettering is done with a fountain pen.
Have you had special training in lettering? One of the first paintings I saw of yours was about chocolate with writing. Loved it.
I did taught brush lettering in my decorative art days but these days I just Google “lettering fonts” to find one I like. I have a small journal that I practise these in and that way I always have a reference.
Thanks. Your lettering adds a lot .
I loved Snoopy and your Christmas trees the best. I won’t get my tinsel in a twist. cute.
Love your new green car.
Thanks Mary. I appreciate you dropping in and commenting.