Flow of Ink

Here are three freehand ink scribble portraits based on #Sktchy reference photos from my phone screen. I am sharing these, not because they are great drawings or even good likenesses, but to illustrate my recent focus on the process rather than the result. Yes, I am enjoying scribbling with ink even more than usual lately. …

Four Freight Trains – 32 Staples

I glance at the orange nurse call button several times. I sense the pain killer they injected was wearing off. I had resolved to avoid the dreaded label of “high-maintenance patient,” but the pain is escalating and I was told to stay on top of it to make it easier to manage. The knee incision …

Four Freight Trains – February 4, 2024

The white walls are trimmed with blue corners and maroon doors. Hardwood bumpers line the hallway about hip-high to take the blows of hurried gurneys. The paint is chipped at the same height on nearly every unprotected corner and door. I am wheeled into the triage room and the nurse checks my vitals with an …

Soup for Dinner

Another evening of sketching. Here is the progression of an ink portrait based on a Sktchy muse reference photo. Some artists like to finish each portion of a drawing then move to the next feature (draw hair until done, then draw eyes, then draw beard, etc.). By nature, I tend toward a more holistic, "big …

American Black Bear

I have been a relatively absentee blogger lately, but hope to be more productive in 2024. Black Bear 1 (ink) In the meantime, here is a sketch of an American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) marking a tree (click to enlarge). Their range is throughout North America, covering most of Alaska and Canada, and mountainous regions …

All the Time in the World

Book review of "All the Time in the World" by John Gierach. John Gierach (ink) John Gierach’s “All the Time in the World” was published in March of this year, and I finally read it during some of my recent downtime. Here are a few observations and impressions that stuck with me after reading this, …

Rock Wren Hot Sauce

If you enjoy mild or medium "hot sauce" to add exciting flavor to eggs, fish, meat, veggies (almost any foods), you will want to try this homemade, fermented, and colorful delight. Gather and rinse about 1.5 pounds of peppers, hot, medium, and mild. These can include Bell, Lunchbox, Jimmy Nardello, or other sweet peppers. Anaheim …

Sketches from the Patio (part 2)

Here are seven more ink drawings from the patio of Montezuma Rainforest Ecolodge on the edge of Parque Nacional Natural Tatamá, Risaralda, Colombia. Click to enlarge, and arrow through the gallery if you like.

Sketches from the Patio (part 1)

Due to my current infirmity (see previous post, Don David), I have been mostly relegated to the patio at the Montezuma Rainforest Ecolodge here on the edge of Parque Nacional Natural Tatamá, Risaralda, Colombia. If one were to be confined, this location would be an excellent choice. This spacious covered patio is surrounded by lush …

Don David

Some sobering thoughts as I turn 64 years old and deal with my aging process.

Thirteen Scribbles

Turbine overhauls out of town, as well as a week-long conference in Atlanta, have kept me quite busy this spring, and subsequently, I have not done much writing or drawing. I did manage to get the radishes, tomatoes, peppers, and kale into the ground, but have neglected many other important tasks. However, between the busy-ness …

Suave

I have an older brother named George. Ever since Jr. High School in the early 1970s, family and childhood friends have called him Suave... "The Slippery Suave." He became an accomplished and highly sought-after chiropractor who practiced his art until his hands could no longer painlessly crack spines and skillfully manipulate a number of other …

Recent portrait drawings

Here are some of my recent ink portrait drawings. These are all based on reference photos from the Museum/Sktchy app where fellow artists (people I don’t really know) post photos for other portrait artists to draw. This incorporates little pressure to produce a perfect portrait. However, rumor has it that I will start drawing and …

Colombia 2022 – Filandia

Our recent visit to Colombia included a few days in the quaint town of Filandia, Quindio, near Armenia. This colorful "coffee-culture" pueblo is a popular destination for vacationing Colombians. One of the attractions is a large tower on the edge of town from which, on a clear day, one can see both cities of Armenia …

Three Portraits from Colombia

…scribbled with ink dip pen. Abuela Dilan Edwainis

Colombia 2022 – Los Insectos

This is a photo gallery of some of the many beautiful insects seen around the tiny village of Montebello in the Western Andes of Colombia where the Montezuma Rainforest Ecologe is located on the edge of Tatamá National Park. My favorite is the preying mantis toward the bottom that is decked out with an incredible …

Four Sketches from Colombia

We are visiting Colombia for a few weeks. Here are a few of my sketches from the Montezuma Rainforest Ecolodge near Pueblo Rico, Risaralda in the Western Andes. Bamboo is seen growing like a weed throughout Colombia. It helps prevent erosion on hillsides and its strong tubular stems (culms) provide useful building material. The Flame-rumped …

November Aspen

The appearance of an aspen forest in November is much different than its summer green and autumn gold versions, yet its beauty is undiminished. Below the surface, these trees faithfully store energy throughout the bitter winter hoping to send the sap upward from the roots to the branches with the warming spring to come. Click …

Jayber Crow

I generally do not read fiction. My reading preference has historically been nonfiction. A thought-provoking and well-crafted essay appeals to me like nothing else. Years ago, I discovered the essays of a man named Wendell Berry who wrote agrarian pieces about the importance of sustainable farm practices, treating the land with care and conscience. See …

Kelly

We said goodbye to our beloved Kelly last weekend. She lived a good long life - playing with our sons, displaying entertaining streaks of mischief, and generally being too smart for her own good. Her job was a therapy dog at Longmont United Hospital where she served along side Renée for 14 years (from the …