Friday 4 March 2011

she sells seashells by the seashore

i adore seashells!

for years i used to collect them every time we went to the beach


actually, i'm surprised i haven't sketched any shells before now


inspired by Alisa Burke's online Sketchbook Delight class, i finally gave some of my shells a place in my sketchbook. this week's class was about using line to shade with pen.

i sketched all these shells using an ink pen only

for me, there's something freeing about putting pen directly to paper rather than using pencil first

i used a uniball white pen for some of the highlighted areas which gave an interesting cast over the black pen

"I do not know what I may appear to the world but, to myself, I seem to have been only like a boy, playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or prettier seashell than ordinary, while the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me." - - Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727)

 ~ love, light and peace ~

26 comments:

  1. I love that quote by Sir Issac Newton, beautiful. Speaking of beautiful, just awesome sketching. You are such an artist, we need to see more of your work. Great work Serena. Hope all is okay and I wonder about the items that were found after the quake, some sort of timeline of events? Reminds me that when we redid this house, I stashed aways a lot of items in the walls. Put everything in a plastic back and then another plastic bag and someday someone is going to read all about who lived here.:)) Take care and have a great Friday, but I think you are in Friday already?:D

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  2. Oh just checking to see if this goes through. Last comment I sent may not have gone through.

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  3. You drew the shells fantastic. They look like they are sitting on the paper.

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  4. What a beautiful page Serena! I love shells too (and rocks, and crystals!) and funnily enough, I had been thinking of doing a seashell journal page recently.

    I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but I really like your banner too.

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  5. Those shells are lovely, and so are your drawings Serena.

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  6. Great drawings Serena.

    www.facebook.com/SuePownallArtist

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  7. Love these sketches Serena--and in pen too!!! I'm taking Alisa's class too--I was just watching this video last night. I don't know if I could do this in pen!! I'm not the greatest sketcher, but I'm sketching, and I actually enjoy it.

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  8. Hi Serena, your shell drawings are fantastic. I wish I could draw so beautifully. I tried to draw while in Sri Lanka but they are like that of a kindergartner. I should have kept up with art lessons all those years ago. I love your ripple blanket too. I've not tried one of those yet but have a friend who is working on one at the moment. I'll have to check out the pattern on Lucy's blog (which is where I got the granny ripple pattern). Doesn't rolling your yarn into balls make it so much easier to work with. :) Glad to hear that you were rescued from the park when the car keys got water logged. That would be a scary moment not knowing how you would get through to anyone. Hope you are doing well. Take care! Thanks for all your visits. Best wishes, Tammy

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  9. Wow I want to take that class now! How gorgeous. Your work looks just like her sketch book too. I've never worked with a pen first. Interesting. Love it!

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  10. Beautiful shells and beautiful sketch.

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  11. It feels so brave to draw directly with pen, but I seldom do it--hehe! Love your seashells!! Great idea to use the white pen for highlights, too. Lovely page. And thoughtful quote. I did the same thing when I was a kid and saw the ocean--looked in the sand for seashells and not way out into the ocean. I do remember being mesmerized by the waves, tho. :):)

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  12. I'm a huge fan of Alisa Burke. I think you may have surpassed her sketchbook with these shells! They look fantastic....and so realistic. Now I'm thinking I should have taken that class to improve my sketching.

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  13. these are so well done! the textures are great on them all :D

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  14. It's probably a good thing I don't live near an ocean. I'd spend all of my time on the beach searching;-)

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  15. Beautiful sketching. Feels like they are coming off the page.

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  16. I agree with Michelle...it does seem like they are coming off the page! I also agree with you regarding using a pen straight away...a very free feeling!!!

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  17. Thanks for all the great comments, everyone! :)

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  18. Your shells are so 3-dimensional looking that they look as though they might float right off of the page!

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  19. These are wonderful, Serena!!! Isn't it fun just 'jumping in' and seeing where your pen takes you?

    Wishing you a happy weekend,
    Zuzu

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  20. What an amazing work, Serena!
    Keep making more of these, they are perfect!
    Have a great weekend!

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  21. These shells are just lovely! So different without any color placed on them. A very nice job. I have some shells I have been wanting to draw. Maybe now is the time.

    Kate

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  22. Great shell sketches Serena. You're definitely a terrific ad for Alisa's class - I love her too, and will definitely do that course too, having seen your results!

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  23. I love and collect sea shells too.
    Serena your art blows me away.Your sketches are beautiful!

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  24. Again, another wonderful page..great job.

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  25. This is gorgeous! Hi Serena!

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  26. That class sounds great Serena. Your shells are divine, I love the ocean and collecting shells is one of my favourite pastimes.
    Lee:)

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