Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Sketchbook Wednesday

graphite on bristol

     My sketchbook posts are mostly just for practice and my own enjoyment. The photo references I use sometimes come from magazines and books for no other reason than I was drawn to that particular image. This sketch comes from the cover of a horse magazine I got when I was about twelve. Yes I have kept it for seventeen years.  At least the cover, I ripped it off and stuck it in a folder to use as a reference one day. And today is that day.

     The appeal for me here is the horse's face. It's beautiful and I like beautiful things. :) I love the delicate curves in her jaw and her big dark eyes. And maybe part of the appeal comes from the fact that horses were a huge part of my life when I was twelve and I'm feeling a little bit nostalgic about this photo, and the memories it triggers for me of all the hours I spent pouring over every single bit of horse related knowledge I could find.

     *sigh* Life was a lot more simple back then.

     But now I'm curious about the rest of you. What was your childhood passion? And do you use that in any of your art today?

     Books and horses. Those were mine. Put them together and I was in heaven. For real. :)

     See you guys later. I hope you're all having a fantastic day and staying out of your kids Halloween candy stash. I am proud to say that this year I have. But only because I bought my own stash the day before Halloween. Mwahaha!!

19 comments:

  1. I used to read a lot of comic books. A lot of that shows up in art or stories that I work on.

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  2. Gorgeous sketch, Crystal. Now that I think back I can remember using this thing call the "Give A Show Projector" to copy the photos of the group Paul Revere and the Raiders from a magazine. But, I never really wanted to be an artist and I've just fallen into it in my old age, I guess.
    Wishing you and yours a beautiful evening.

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  3. Oh how I've missed you :) you know my passion was dance, particularly ballet. I don't do much shooting of ballet subjects, but my 3rd position really helps to steady me with my shots. I act as my own tripod. My Alissa pointed this out to me.:):):)

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  4. Hey Chris, comic books are COOL! My boys are crazy about comic books. I can see that in your drawings you've posted. :)

    Thanks Carol! That is seriously interesting, and how great that you happened to find something that brings you so much joy now! Have a great night!

    Hi Jenny :) Missed you too!! That is THE coolest way to use 3rd position ballet that I've ever heard. You know. . . I'm going to have to ask Alissa if I can come take pictures of her at dance, that would make a great painting!

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  5. Hi Crystal,

    I think that your sketch is more of a finished drawing:) It's beautiful!!!! Art has always been a passion of mine, at least from 3rd grade on. I used to get Cat Fancy in Jr. high and high school, did a lot of kitty pictures. I used to love doing collages, haven't done that since high school. Oh and I used to play a lot of poker, I was the only girl at an all guys poker night for years. Hope you have a great week:)

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  6. I want to brush off the hair from the horse's eye :) - beautiful sketch!

    Books Books and Books --I always had my nose in a book :)

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  7. Great sketch. In grade school horses were my passion and loved to ride with my girlfriends in the summer. In the winters I would draw horses all the time and sometimes paint them.

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  8. I love the energy and interest in the horses eyes. Beautiful sketch Crystal. Horses were always a passion growing up for me as well! I remember spending hours at the barn growing up and when I was not at the barn I was playing with breyer horses or reading books about horses (or one of the many children's series that had horses in them).

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  9. Pretty darn nice, Miss Crystal. It's a beautiful head study!!

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  10. Beautiful horse!
    DO you find bristol better for sketching than cartridge?

    For me as a youngster, books and drawing. Not much is different now, apart from adding in a hubby and a dog!

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  11. Beautiful work, Crystal, and such good practice.

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  12. Horses were and still are a passion of mine. I'm sure you can relate to my post "Belgian Paint or Paint a Belgian". I too miss those days being a kid and walking to the barn to feed, ride, and care for my horses. I do not own one now, but plan to again sometime in the future. I really enjoy painting them, especially when there is a story behind the horse. And I agree with one of the other comments....that's not a sketch, it's a piece of art!

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  13. Missed your posts friend! Holiday or life getting crazy? Beautiful drawing. My favourite bit are the ears ; )

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  14. Gosh, you attention to detail in this sketch is marvelous Crystal. I have some graphite pencils, but never understood the difference between them and ordinary lead pencils.

    The very first memory I have of creating a piece of artwork was way back in primary school, where we were taken out of the school grounds and into the meadow opposite on a nature walk (remember those?). Well, we all had to pick a flower to draw when we got back, and I chose a bluebell. I can still remember the thrill I got of drawing it in pastels and the gorgeous blue colour that I used for the flower bells, and then seeing my work picked out to be posted upon the classroom wall.

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  15. I have told this already.. But still I'll say it again. You are as good a writer as you are as an artist. Your posts are always so interesting to read..

    The horse is beautiful.. The tones are just so good.

    I dont remember what I was fascinated by when I was a kid. Well I think giant robot was one of my passions. :)

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  16. Wonderful drawing! Your love of horses is evident in your work! So lovingly rendered.

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  17. Your sketch of the horse is wonderful. As usual, I enjoy your posts and today you made me think! I can only remember going through magazines and copying faces...tracing sometimes just to get that face the right size..and of course, enjoying Art in class. I'm looking forward to your next portrait, Crystal..

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  18. What a beautiful drawing :0) I just can't believe you could call it a sketch because the attention to detail is amazing!
    My passion was dancing. I would love to draw a ballerina or a pair of ballet shoes - one day I will do just that!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment they really do mean so much to me! Because not all bloggers have their email enabled so I can reply directly through email I will try to reply here in the comments. If I don't please forgive me, life must have been hectic that day! :)) Huzzah!!

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