Sketching while being read aloud to

The first sketch is of our rented outdoor ground level patio. It is a view of the wall with the wide variety of planted pots and vines, While Brian was reading aloud "How Hammershod Got His Name" I sketched and Rylla coloured in her bird colouring book. It is amazing how well you can pay attention when your hands are busy.

The next morning Gord and I went to pickleball. In between games I sketched some of the moving players. It was interested as they were continuously moving. I don't think any of them would recognize themselves.

Holiday sketches

I did not realize that I had not posted this one, it went into the "Draft", so I am going a little back in time with this one.

We are now in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico and enjoying all the art and culture as well as a very physical walking holiday. Our friends from Portland Oregon (Rylla and Brian) have joined us. Brian has written and wonderful book called "How Hammershod Got His Name" and is orally reading 3 chapters a day (more if we can convince him to). I am really enjoying this story that he wrote for his nephews and nieces. It reminds me of reading the Harry Potter series to my kids.

While Brian is reading, I have been sketching in my book of what is in front of me (no thinking required while I am listening). The very bottom sketch was done of the glass coffee table in front of me while Brian read aloud. The top two sketches were done on site (1. Guanajuato and 2. my suitcase while we waiting to board the bus from Guanajuato to San Miguel de Allende).

Holiday sketches 2

These sketches were done while sitting and looking down below off the deck, from the front room into the kitchen and of flowers found around town (idea wise, not visually). I am trying to do a sketch a day (or zentangle) while we are on holidays. This sketch book is just regular paper so I can't mix, blend or bleed out my water colours on the paper. The coloured areas feel more like a colouring book than actually painting. The bottom two were done while Brian was reading aloud 3 more chapters of the children's book "How Hammershod Got His Name" that he wrote.

Rest of Melaque Mexico sketchbooks photos

This is the wonderful homemade sketch book I received from Debbie. I kept it unused as it was to pretty and precious. It was time to enjoy the beautiful 5" x 5 1/2" blank pages of water colour paper on Gord and my Melaque, Mexico holiday...1 page for each day. This is the rest of the sketch paintings in water colour. I have enough unpainted pages left for another holiday!

More water colour sketches around Melaque, Mexico

 

These sketches were done in the gift of a 5" x 5 1/2" handmade sketch book from my friend Deb. This wild door made me think of the Tree of Life. I loved the ornate metal and the wild wall colours. Don't you just want to go in and explore more?

As it was not prime season yet, the umbrella vendors had spare ones set up without the chairs and I loved their dancing reflections.

Water colour sketches around Melaque, Mexico

 This summer Deb had made me a small travel water colour sketch book (5" x 5 1/2"). I had been taking it with me through out the summer, but thought it was to beautiful to use. I finally started on the first page and really enjoyed painting in it on this trip. I tried to paint a page a day but will use photos to finish the last couple. There is still enough pages for 1 more trip (thanks again Deb).

The first sunset was spectacular and the colours were vivid...perfect for my tastes! It was interesting painting in such a moist climate.

This beach was tucked away, we pretty much had it to ourselves. The water felt calm and serene.