Day 1

Hi I'm Carol. I've been too busy for art over the last few months......I know!! I need this lesson sooooo much

I used a milk bottle screw on lid and watercolour paints. I was surprised at how many different marks could be achieved! I'm looking forward to establishing a proper daily art routine.!! Thanks Ria, another brilliant class!

Sketchbook magic - image 1 - student project

Day 2 What to make?

I used the list from the magic bowl method that gave me the word SKY I chose a feather from my pot of things and i used water colour paints.

Apart from loving the word I picked ;) - I think the sky is amazing !!! ...... I really enjoyed the way the feather did its own thing - it wasn't easy to control as it split and it picked up / resisted the paint randomlyâ€‹!! I guess it's part of the waterproofing that birds need that caused this.

It was brilliant for swiping to give a kind of direction to the flow in the sky, a bit like the wind. I tried using the quill end and this gave a more fixed line, but as it's just a feather I collected from the garden, I kept it natural and didn't notch it, so it didn't allow the paint to flow. I will definitely use it again intentionally!

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Day 3 But I don't have time!

Well, I did find time today, but it was tricky!!!

I used the random dice maker online as I couldn't find a dice.So, my number was 5, my random word was turtle my random implement from my pot was a wooden peg! I used watercolour again.

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I thought using a peg would be challenging and rewarding - it was both. I was surprised to find that I could make marks that were effective and I think given more practice, I could produce a reasonable effort! 5 minutes doesn't sound very long , but in fact I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was plenty of time!!!

Day 4. On the train.

I'm not often on the train, so it's not a usual place for me to do art at all! It felt cramped and I was aware that I didn't want to draw attention to the fact that I was sketching.......and then, I just got into it and didn't care!!

It felt good to just be me and sketch!

There are 3 sketches - none are masterpiece, but, it feels good to have done them! I do feel I'm re -establishing a daily art routine : and it felt kind of freeing to sketch on the train!

The sketches are :

Pigeons watching us being watched ; fellow passenger, and wild plantsâ€‹ on the line. I'm not sure why it's loaded sideways!?!

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Day 5

I selected 30 days for continuing this project :).

Today's sketch was fitted in before bed after a very busy day!! It's a quick sketch of a garden visitor using a mix of watercolour paints, brush and ink pen. I'm hoping to have more time tomorrow and to be more adventurous in my choice of implement!

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Myxdayproject 1/30

A quick sketch, using a piece of cardboard, water colour paints and an ink pen - based on a walk in the woods with my daughter and grandson.

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Day 2/30

I chose a piece of golden foil from an Easter egg my grandson had, watercolour paints and ink pen

I enjoyed trying to capture this rose - a gift, that is beautifully scented! It's a shame I can't include it's perfume!! Again, not sure why it's loaded sideways?

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Day 3/30

I used watercolour paints, brush and ink pen to depict my grandson in the garden. He was so full of joy at finding a pole!

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Day 4/30

Today I used brush, watercolour paints and ink pen again. It seems to be my default choice when I'm pushed for time. I will try me vary my choices more in future ......but I know the next few days will be busy too!

My sketch today is of a flower hiding in the foliage, that I spotted in the garden. I loved the shapes that were created by the lighter and dark patches, as well as the beautiful flower!

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Day5/30

Today's word was duck. I chose graphite and used 3 different types, a Lyra graphite crayon dipped in water, a Jackson's mechanical pencil and a Faber Castell HB. I kept the sketches quick and tried to avoid detail. I think the Lyra graphite crayon was the most successful and I think I will stay with using it for the next few sketches.

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Day 6/30

Urban Fox - inspired by a fox that I saw at 8 in the morning- very bold!

I used Lyra graphite crayon, brush and water and unipin fine line ink pen.

The process was interesting. I enjoyed exploring the graphite pen and the actual drawing / 'learning'' the fox shape and I think I can see progression as the sketches move to the final one. I will use these to do a full picture I think.

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Day 7/30

Today, I decided to sketch the view through the window from where I was sitting. I love the different textures and shapes from the foliage and trees, and this is what I was trying to capture. I went wild and used different mediums as I felt. So, this has watercolour paints, Lyra graphite crayon,unipin ink pen and mechanical pencil in it. Learning points: The paper struggled to hold the water; the fixative I used after the graphite acted as a resist giving an interesting effect; unipin pens don't like wet paper! This was a fun sketching experience.

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Day 8/30 Love the ocean.

Today's sketch is inspired by my local beach. Such a beautiful day - I couldn't resist going in for a swim. I tried to keep this sketch sketchy and loose. It feels a bit unbalanced with heavier detail on the right, but I quite like the contrast between this and the watercolour paints, plus the cliffs are liable to rock falls, so it kind of fits.

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Day 9/30.

I have sketched a tomato because these little cherry/ plum tomatoes have been so sweet and delicious! Also, it's been a loooong day and I'm just pleased to have completed my sketch....... even though it needs adjusting and isn't exactly how I want it, I decided to do a seriously quick sketch as my eyes are pretty tired.....so I'm leaving it as it is. Today, its yey me for completing my sketch.

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Day 10/30

A fragmented day.

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Random doodles from my fragmented day - I'm not feeling as positive today as I would like to, and it's reflected in my doodles.

The first is watercolour paints and ink pen on paper and the the second is a sketch on the bottom of a phone bill in biro pen.

Day 11/30

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Totally inspired by this news story of a 14 year old (Ali) Syrian refugee, who turned to surfing to save himself from the trauma of his experiences - now in Lebanon, and he made a surf board so that he could surf. He claims that surfing saved his life, and I'm certain he's right, but his amazing spirit also played a huge part in it, I'm sure. Totally inspiring young man!!

This is a quick sketch in biro on the back of a ' political letter' drawn quickly and in response to his amazing spirit.

Day 12/30

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A rather flat and poor representation of a visitor to my ruler! I found this pretty tricky to draw, as I had elected to use black and white and pencil and ink pen only - no colour to give clues!! I think it highlights my need to improve my tonal drawing ability and general drawing skills. This will be the theme for the next few sketches ( at least!!!) - pencil, ink, black and white, emphasis on drawing and observation and creating 3D, non flat images.

Day 13/30

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I'm continuing with black and white to improve my tonal drawing ability. I had a lovely Riverside walk today and it's the robins I saw hunting for food and diving into their nest in the bank that have inspired today's sketch.

I feel that I have learnt from today's process and will continue with this tonal emphasis for a while longer.

Day 14 and 15/30

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I've been off line, so this is a group upload for the last two days. I enjoyed sketching in our camp and had the ginger cat helping me - laying on my sketch and generally trying to catch my pencil, pen and brush, and a piece of clear plastic wrap that I used to get a mottled effect on the grass.

Day 16/30 Still fascinated by the urban fox.

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Today I decided to use watercolour paints only,.... without any under drawings. It was fun and I like the effect. I'm not sure yet if I will go in with an ink pen to add definition or not. The above picture is the second attempt - below is the first, where I made the body too short.

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I tried to rescue it with ink pen - it didn't really help!!! I can see the benefits of practice!! The second attempt is a huge improvement. I plan to keep practicing :)

Day 17/30

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Today was a grey and rainy day, so I chose a sketch I could see from my window ;). This is drawn in ink unipin pen and I used a little touch of water and Lyra graphite crayon to give the ' grey sky' effect. It seems the birds are not too worried about the rain!!

Day 18/30

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A swallow flew into our garage today! Poor thing was quite scared. It did manage to go out the way it came in .....and provide me with sketch inspiration while it kept the towels company ;)

This sketch was drawn using pencil, watercolour paints and ink pen. It seems I often use this combination.

Day 19/30

Early morning walk view

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Today, I decided to lay down colour first and then define with an ink pen. The paper is not of the quality needed to be able to work with too much after its wet. I think I will have to use better quality than my sketchbook if I want to explore this more, which I do!! The little waterfall nearest the viewer is the most successful, while the one near the big tree is a bit of a fail!! My morning walk today is the inspiration for this sketch. I haven't slavishly drawn the scene, it's fairly close, but more of an interpretation than totally accurate.

Day 20/30

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It's been a loooong day and I didn't quite manage to post this before midnight!! My sketch today is of the beautiful morning sky , using watercolour paints and the sketch book paper, again, didn't allow for much manipulation, so the clouded are not how I wanted them. I think I may need to get a more robust version!!

Days 21 and 22 /30

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Quick pencil and ink pen sketches inspired by beach combing with a friend this weekend. It's been busy with work and life commitments, and tough to find sketching time, so I've kept it simple!

It's great to have fitted in some sketch time and to have been by the sea :()

Day 23/30

I am beyond tired and offer today a scrappy, bad example of a sketch - wild flowers, and breakfast Buddha in green ink and pencil. I will try and do better tomorrow after some sleep!!

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Day 24/30

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Just got in from work - it's been hectic and I've been struggling to find time to sketch for the last week or so.

This is a very quick sketch of my lovely cup of tea - so welcome after a late finish at work. I used a pencil and biro that were lying around.

I'm hoping for some more solid art time tomorrow!!

Day 25/30

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I had a lovely relaxed time by the sea and picked a part of my view from my rock seat to inspire this sketch. It was glorious, sitting in the warm sunshine sketching and listening to the waves. I picked this topic because it gave me lots of different shapes and textures to portray :)

Days 26 /30 and 27/30 combined.

Technically cheating - it was just not possible to sketch yesterday, so I did two today ;) Sketchbook magic - image 31 - student project

Day 28/30

Another day with too much work time and not enough art space!! So, a rather quick and inaccurate sketch of my lovely airplant called Leo and his kilner Jar home. I used a no.8 unipin ink pen.

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Day 29/30.

Almost the end of my 30 day sketchbookmagic daily assignment!!!!

I used a Lyra graphite crayon and water and unipin ink pen to create this sketch.

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The final day 30/30!!!

Today, a friend decided I need to be given something to draw as I was probably picking things I thought I could draw and so not challenging myself.

I found this idea interesting...... Usually I pick something that jumps out at me or inspired me. So, back to my friends choice.... A roll of string. The duck ornaments seemed to me to offer more interest, what lovely shapes!! So I did the duck and string! I also did one duck using my left ( non dominant ) hand.

Many many thanks to Ria for this excellent class and assignment :()

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Carol Phillips

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