Sketch Diary: Portrait quick studies

I used quickposes.com for these but didn't use the timer function (or used a very long timer). I wanted to focus on flushing out the lines a bit more and I like how they turned out. Doing fast, 60 sec portraits seems way harder to me than normal  figure gesture sketches.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Speedy face studies

Usually, when I sit down to do realistic faces (usually using a reference), it takes a while. Like I sit down and don't get up again for at least 45 mins even if it's just a sketch. Mainly I think that's because I don't lay down solid gesture lines for the face. But every face has those important features, those few lines that really make it. So practicing this quick faces (usually 30-60 seconds) forces me to really focus on what's most important. Cuz otherwise I just get lost in the details way too early on in the drawing process.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Random cat face studies

Well this was a bit of a dud. I was uncomfortable while drawing this and just had a really tough time trying to relax enough to really 'see' what I was looking at... in this case, some cats. Oh well. Next please.

with love - M

P.S.

Here's one of the babies. Her name is Sasha and she thinks she's people and sits at the table while we eat.

Sketch Diary: Masculine profile studies x9

Started this in June... finished the last row this week (July). I'm just glad I got back to it all. I still love middle row, first column. That nose just melts me. But I'm having some feels for bottom row, third column. These iterative drawing practice pages always produce interesting results, either on the current page, or on whatever the next drawing ends up being. It helps me focus on those minute details so I don't feel like I'm falling into 'same-face' traps.

with love - M

Sketch Diary: Figure studies, walk and a swing

I started 'hiding' little mini sketch books around the house... because my house is too big... and I'm terribly lazy. SHHHHHHH my methods are working.  I feel less pressure whilst doodling when I can just grab the nearest paper product and scratch at it for a bit. The alternative is to keep carrying a single sketchbook around the house with me.

with love - M