366 Daily Sketch challenge - more portraits

What a week! 

It's been unbearably hot and humid 

which makes me feel like a badly wilted flower. 

We don't have air-con so we make do with ceiling fans. 

Weather aside, I have continued to sketch daily.

To pick up where I left off, 

here is the lovely daughter of a Facebook art friend. 

Reference photo used with permission.  

24/366 daily sketch

Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 

Graphite and watercolours 

Highlights are done with Art Spectrum gouache

A couple of process images 

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Next up is Sktchy artist/user, Katya Khodyacheva. 

In the original image, Katya had a scarf wrapped around her head and face 

but I instantly saw long hair billowing in the wind. 

25/366 daily sketch

Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 

Graphite, watercolours, and Lamy water-soluble ink. 

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For the following portrait, 

I used another of Ashley Goeltz's images.
I have done a few of sketches of Ashley via Sktchy.
She has a unique style which makes for an interesting model.

To start with, a simple graphite sketch
and a splash of watercolour.

More watercolour

a couple more layers and the final result

26/366 daily sketch
Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 
Graphite, watercolours, acrylic gouache, and Lamy water-soluble ink. 

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Day 27 and another Sktchy subject - iam ALVA. 

The image speaks of love and trust to me.

It was adorable so I just had to sketch it.
It makes me think of the relationship
I have with my own fur-kid, Cody.

Early stage 

and finished 

27/366 daily sketch

Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 

Graphite, watercolours, acrylic gouache, and Lamy water-soluble ink. 

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I only had time for a very quick pen sketch on Thursday. 

You guessed it...another Sktchy artist/user. 

This one is Jonathan Kalema. 

28/366 daily sketch

Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 

BIC ballpoint pen in black

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And last one for today's post anyways... 

Sktchy artist/user - Jessica Aguirre 

29/366 daily sketch

Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 

graphite and watercolours

I'm linking up with Sunday Sketches again this week. 

You can check out the other participants HERE.

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Apparently, there will be no relief from the heat
over the next few days.
Instead, it's going to get even hotter....NICE!
As if I'm not melting enough already.
Winter can't come soon enough for me.
I'm definitely a cold weather gal.

Happy Sunday, everyone!

366 Daily Sketch challenge - more portraits

It's nearly 5am on Monday morning 

which is my usual time for waking up  

and I realised I'd forgotten to do my Sunday post. YIKES!!!

Better late than never, I guess.

My sketches so far....

For the record, I normally sketch directly with pen/ink 

unless I want soft edges in a particular piece. 

I will then use a graphite pencil. 

Week 3 - male portraits

I'd like to thank all the Skchy artist/users 

who put up images via the app for us to sketch.

First for this post is Sktchy artist/user - Thyago PLAY 

18/366 daily sketch

Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 

Sketched with Platinum Carbon pen and watercolours. 

White highlights are done with Art Spectrum gouache.

The following one was a little embarrassing/confusing for me. 

The Sktchy user is Esther Michelle and 

I thought this was a case of her putting a pic 

of a boyfriend or male relative up on Sktchy. 

I did the sketch but,
after reading a comment by another artist, 

who also sketched the same image,

I am now thinking that this 

could possibly be a female subject 

...sporting a very short hairstyle.
The suit threw me off a little too.

If that is the case, my sincerest apologies to Esther Michelle 

for her ending up in my 'male' portrait week.

19/366 daily sketch

Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 

Sketched with Platinum Carbon pen and Lamy water-soluble ink. 

I then used white acrylic gouache to tone down the ink which I had gone 

a little heavy with on the face.

Next up is Sktchy artist/user, Martin Rodriguez. 

20/366 daily sketch

Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 

Sketched with graphite, Prismacolours, 
and BIC Cristal Pocket Scents ballpoints pens. 
Highlights are done with Art Spectrum white gouache.

Next up is Sktchy artist/user, Eden Suoth. 

21/366 daily sketch

Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 

Sketched with a ZIG Millennium 005 ink pen 
and Faber-Castell PITT pens for the solid blacks.

And so ends the seven days of male portraits.
The next seven days will be a mix.

The following sketch is Sktchy artist/user, Fancy DRAW.
Sorry for the poor lighting in this one. 

I love dreadlocks so just had to try my hand at sketching them. 

Boy, were they tricky! 

22/366 daily sketch

Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 

Sketched with a ZIG Millennium 005 ink pen and LAMY water-soluble ink.

Last up is a dear artist friend from Facebook, Chelle Mayer

who gave me permission to sketch one of her photos. 

First layer of watercolour

Final layer

23/366 daily sketch

Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 

Graphite and watercolours 

Highlights are done with Art Spectrum gouache

I'm a little late with Sunday Sketches but thanks to time-zones 

I can sneak in the back door before anyone notices. hehe 

You can check out this week's participants HERE.

I'll be back with more soon....

I hope you all had a beautiful Sunday!

Catching the sunrise at The Spit, Main Beach

We woke at 1:30 in the morning, got ready, and

 left home at 2:50am to head to The Spit at Main Beach, 

determined to catch the sunrise. 

I LOVE the beach 

and the last time I was at the Gold Coast 

was way back in 2007! 

Far too long and, after our visit this morning, 

we plan to do it more often.

The Spit was still in darkness when we arrived around 4am.
Note the star in the sky

The sun started to rise around 4:50am

The clouds on the horizon meant we had 

to wait a little longer to see the sun fully. 

And it didn't disappoint...

Bradley is on the left; Aaron and Eliana on the right.

It was amazing to see the rich colours 

It was so beautiful and almost blinding...

I was in awe....

Getting sand between my toes...hehe  

There were lots of seagulls about. 

We had a great time! 

It's now 4 o'clock in the afternoon 

and I'm feeling quite tired after our early morning start. 

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I have been sketching but haven't taken photos yet...

I hope to be back tomorrow to show you them. 

366 Daily Sketch Challenge - male portraits and a special event

The portraits continue...

This week, I thought I'd sketch 'males'. 

I don't know this guy's name as 

I'm assuming his girlfriend, Megan George,
put up his photo on Sktchy.
My apologies for the poor photo quality.
I took this under artificial lighting at night.

15/366 daily sketch
Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 
Sketched with Platinum Carbon pen, then painted with Lamy water-soluble ink. 
White highlights are done with Art Spectrum gouache.


I liked the following guy's hair and beard.
He is Jül Züs from Sktchy.

16/366 daily sketch
Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 
Sketched with brown Faber-castell PITT pen, 
then painted with Schmincke sepia watercolour. 
White highlights are done with Art Sprectrum gouache.


Another Sktchy user, Ashkan shyrzady. 

17/366 daily sketch
Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 
Graphite and watercolours; 
White highlights are done with Art Sprectrum gouache.

I'm participating in Sunday Sketches again.
You can check out this week's participants HERE.

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Today, was a special worldwide event.
Vegans united in a global day of activism.
We committed to a 24 hour vow of silence
to raise awareness for animals
and to promote peace over violence.

I wore my printed T-shirt
and Bradley and I headed to the local shopping centre for the morning,
hopefully, a few a people took note.
One lady came up to me and said she loved the T-shirt
so I'm guessing she knows of James Aspey, the event creator.

Bradley and Aaron got a kick out of my charades all day
because I couldn't speak to them.
I discovered that Aaron is darned good at lip-reading.
For Bradley, we communicated mainly by text messages.

I did so well at not speaking in the morning
but I did slip up a few times
in the late afternoon, early evening.
All in all, I felt honoured to be a part of such an important event.

I'll be back with more sketches in a couple of days.

366 Daily Sketch challenge - more portraits

I am happy to say that I have been sketching daily 

since my last post so let me get you caught up. 

Up first is the lovely Makenna Stardust, a Sktchy user. 

I used BIC ballpoint pens, 

the Cristal Pocket Scents range to be exact.

For the blacks, I used Faber-castell PITT pens for the blouse and glasses,

and a mixed black in watercolours for her hair. 

11/366 daily sketch
Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 
BIC ballpoint pens, blacks are Faber-castell PITT pens and a mixed watercolour.
© Serena Lewis

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Next up is Nicola Fletcher, from Sktchy too.

Here is the initial pen sketch,
fast and loose.

I decided to use the BIC Cristal Scents ballpoint pens for adding colour to this one too.
The blacks are Faber-Castell PITT artist pens.

12/366 daily sketch
Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 
BIC Cristal Scents ballpoint pens and the blacks were done with Faber-castell PITT pens.
© Serena Lewis

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Next up is a sketch of Alexandria Bryant, another Sktchy user.

After the initial line sketch in pen,
I decided to play with some Lamy water-soluble ink.
Below is the first layer.

And the final results

13/366 daily sketch
Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 
Sketched using BIC ballpoint pen and Platinum Carbon pen, 
then brush-painted with LAMY water-soluble ink in black.
© Serena Lewis

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I had so much fun with the water-soluble ink,
I tried it again with today's sketch.
Subject is Susana Norzagaray from Sktchy.

First, the line drawing in pen

Then the first and second layers of water-soluble ink

Then the final results.
I really liked the painterly feel to this one.

14/366 daily sketch
Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 
Sketched using BIC ballpoint pen and Platinum Carbon pen, 
then brush-painted with LAMY water-soluble ink in black.
© Serena Lewis

I really do enjoy working with the water-soluble inks
despite having two mishaps in the studio today.

One - I actually had a different sketch under way this morning
until I pulled the lid off my Platinum Carbon fountain pen
and it splattered ink splotches all over my sketch. YIKES!
I should have been more careful as I've noticed
this particular pen seems to leak inside the lid,
not sure why??

Two - I had an ink spill while working on the sketch above.
I had reached across the table and
accidentally knocked my water tub over
which then spilled water into the ink reservoir
and it overflowed onto the table. SCREAM!!
Luckily, I have paper towels at the ready
so was able to quickly mop it all up before it poured over
 the edge of the table and onto the carpet. PHEW!
That was a VERY close call!

Black ink can be a scary medium to work with.
That said, I am loving the syringes for ink transfers though.
I learned about them from my pen guru, Rita McGregor.
I highly recommend them.
Easy to use and no mess!

So, that's about it for now.

I'll be back to share more daily sketches soon...

More daily portraits for the 366 Daily Sketch Challenge

After seven days of sketching my own face, 

I was a little over it so decided to move onto 

sketching other females. 

I'm thinking that I've already done seven days of me, 

I'll now do seven days of female portraits, 

seven days of male portraits, 

and perhaps seven days of children's portraits
in the last week of the month,

or maybe just a mish-mash.

There is a mobile app called Sktchy 

especially for artists who can upload photos 

of themselves to inspire other artists
to sketch or paint them.
It's such a great idea!

The app is only available for Apple products, iOS 8 or later.

I have it on my iPad and I love it! 

So, on Friday I was inspired to sketch Ashley Goeltz, 

a Sktchy artist/member. 

I love her uniqueness! 

I've always admired people who 

march to the beat of their own drum.

8/366 daily sketch

Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 

graphite and watercolours

© Serena Lewis

Yesterday (Saturday), my chosen subject was 

Susana Norzagaray via Sktchy. 

Another unique young lady.

9/366 daily sketch

Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 

graphite, Platinum carbon pen, and watercolours

© Serena Lewis

Today, I didn't have much time available 

so it was just a quick pen sketch of another Sktchy member,
the lovely Valerie Torres.

10/366 daily sketch
Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 
Platinum carbon pen, Faber-Castell PITT pens, and watercolours
© Serena Lewis

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I'm back to participating in the Sunday Sketches group.
You can check out this week's participants HERE.

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Bradley (son) and I have been watching the Star Wars movies
to get caught up before we see the latest one.
I've never watched Star Wars before,
except for The Phantom Menace around 14 years ago,
but Aaron, my youngest, went to see the latest one
and just had to watch all the rest. hehe
We're enjoying them so far.

I'm managing the daily sketches just fine at the moment
but the daily blogging was making me feel pressured so,
from here on, I will be posting two to three times per week.

Stay tuned....

Day 7 of the 366 Daily Sketch Challenge

Funny story -

I sketched this self portrait 

while looking in the mirror. 

Here is my simple line sketch 

Then I added watercolours
without looking at the mirror and,

like magic, 

this sultry vixen appeared instead of me! 

So much for the self portrait. hehe

I do like how she turned out though. 

I'd like to think that there is a hint of me in there somewhere.
The ear, perhaps? hehe

7/366 daily sketch

Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 

Platinum Carbon fountain pen,  watercolours

© Serena Lewis 

So that's it for today's portrait.

Day 6 of the 366 Daily Sketch Challenge

Thankfully, I managed to stave off the migraine last night 

although I did need to take medication for it.

Needless to say, I was a little foggy-brained today.

I believe it's due to tension from a stiff neck 

which I'm still dealing with.
Not sure of the cause.

Anyway, a simple black and white sketch for today. 

Not a great photo because I took it under artificial light. 

6/366 daily sketch

Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 

Platinum Carbon fountain pen,  Pentel pocket brush pen, 

and Faber-Castell PITT pens in greys.

© Serena Lewis 

It was quite a warm day today. 

Michelle popped over with the girls for a visit.

We watched 'Homeward Bound'
which is such a sweet movie.
The girls did some painting too...what fun we had!

That's all for today
...stay tuned.

Day 5 of 366 Daily Sketch Challenge

Just a quick post and run tonight. 

I have a migraine trying to get a grip on me.
Another self-portrait.

Just close your eyes and relax....

5/366 daily sketch

Hahnemuhle D & S sketch journal - A5 size, 140gsm, landscape format 

Platinum Carbon fountain pen,  

Watercolours, LAMY black ink, and white gouache.

© Serena Lewis 

Just to give you an idea on how I work, 

below is the loose pen sketch I did 

before applying the watercolours and detailing. 

Now I'm off to bed to hopefully
get rid of this looming migraine
before it gets a hold on me.