Sketchbook #115: My Life Drawing Class.

On all of these pages I used a very thin ballpoint pen (skb ballpoint pen) which is full of character and, as all things with character, it's not so easy to control. I can create many shades of gray with it and can draw and write in the most impossibly-small handwriting - which helps sometimes to get things off my chest or add some special details that only I will notice. The only issue I have is that the pen gets a bit of a blob of ink on it's tip pretty often and they smudge - but there is certain charm in that too :) And dirty fingers.

Sketchbook #112: Reading Time

I have to admit that one of the most reliable and versatile tools I know is a humble ballpoint pen. Even though I enjoy all sorts of crazy and cool fountain pens, spend hours finicking them into perfection only to start all over on the next day, still, if you ask me what one drawing tool will be with me on the desert island - my answer will probably be a ballpoint pen :) Though there are some ballpoint pens I like more than others ;)

Sketchbook #105 - Swimming

Sketchbook #104

Sometimes I get to draw and / or paint. Sometimes I get to sketch.
And sometimes all I have is just a minute or two - here is a result of such a hike :)

Sketchbook #102: Reading Time

Sketchbook #99: Parents

Sketchbook #99: Reading Time

Sketchbook #98: Daily Life

Sketchbook #97: Prague

Ballpoint pen is the most versatile tool in my arsenal. If I have time to get to watercolors - great - if the tram comes sooner rather than later all I get to do is outline and if everyone's feet need a little more rest I might add some shading. Usually the simplest ballpoint works for me (and is always somewhere in one of my many "pocketses"). But it's not always working when you try to add line over wet watercolor - which is something I've been experimenting with lately. So I got myself a "waterproof" ballpoint (Powertank from Uni) and it's singing with the watercolors and gliding well even in very wet conditions. Including under the rain on on the water :) A keeper :)

Sketchbook #93: Waiting Room People

This waiting room was filled with people who could not see well and with some who just got back the use of their eye. Some of my subjects were oblivious to me drawing and some were more than interested! So I decided to use my pocket sketchbook to be as inconspicuous as possible and later taped best sketches in my main ( 8.5 x 11") sketchbook.

Keeping my sketching in chronological order is very important for my motivation - I tried drawing in several books at the same time - organized by size at one time or by a subject at another time and it always ended up with overall drawing time going down.

Sketchbook #92: Everyday Life

Sketchbook #92: Treasures

Sketchbook #90: Quick Moments

This post is filled with very fast drawings done here and there. Ballpoint pen.

Treasures

Jacaranda Tree

Treasures that need coloring (which never happened :)

Another Peony Bush

Ballpoint Pen:



Highlighters:

Reading Time, Waiting Time and Treasures

Morning Walk

Process:
 
And final:
 

Watercolor Paper and Ball Point Pen

My last couple of sketchbooks were a little odd - craft paper or thin dry media paper (though I gave it quite a lot of watercolor and gouache coverings:) And I longed for a good old white sturdy watercolor surface to work with. When the time came quick review of the "reserve" box showed that I have this watercolor "Pen and Ink" horizontal book stored - COOL! I splashed some color right on the first spread!
However most of the pens in my "usual rotation" were bleeding, scratching, and overall misbehaving. While running some tests I picked up bic ball point and... what can I say - 1/3 of the book is filled now and most of it is black and white, done with the same bic ballpoint... see below :)