The End Has Come!

It is the last day of August and Sketching Everyday 2009 has officially come to an end. Today I'm posting a buffalo drawing from one of the photos I posted yesterday for our last challenge. This is my 92nd post to this summer's Drawing Everyday Project. Thanks to all of you who participated and sent feedback. It is always appreciated! I got some questions about sending in challenge drawings to me later on down the road. Of course, please do! Actually, I'm thinking that I'm this close to 100 straight days of drawing everyday, so I might just keep it up. We'll see how inspired I feel about it tomorrow. Either way, I know I will continue posting here from time to time, so please all stay in touch! Wishing You All Abundance, Always, Sandy

Pineapple Drawing

This beautiful Costa Rican super sweet pineapple is sitting on my kitchen table as a center piece at the moment. It looks so nice there, I almost hate to cut it. I thought I had a week or so to allow it to ripen more, but I just read the tag and it says on this particular type, the sugar pine, color does not indicate ripeness. The tag states that once the pineapple is harvested, they no longer mature and it should be consumed as soon as possible. Well, at least I got a pineapple sketch and it was pretty while it lasted!

I also got another challenge sketch this morning from Shaun Dore. He writes; "Here is my contribution to your challenge. I have not been sketching for long so I have a lot to learn. However, I really enjoyed preparing this today." Thanks Shaun. I see you were holding your pencil like a wand too. Good job!

Here today are the photos for this year's final sketching challenge.

Old Barn Drawing

Here's my old barn sketch for the current challenge. I'm also posting a sketch sent in by Lee Gates. Tomorrow I'll post the final challenge photo for 2009.

On a side note, Debbie Simpkins guessed 43 hidden images from the Cranberry festival drawing. She sent me a list and found things that I didn't even know were there! What fun! There are still a couple that you missed though Deb. You definitely get an A+ for effort!!

Another Drawing From The Chevy Dealers'

Another drawing from car salesman Al Miller's desk today. A little toy he keeps on his old fashioned (washing machine style) computer monitor. I still have one too. You can sure fit a lot of beanie babies up there! :-D We got the new van today and then both drove home in the pouring rain. I was driving the PTCruiser which I don't drive that much, so I tried something I had heard about online...I put my sunglasses on. It really helped to see. It definitely gave things more contrast.

Waiting Time is Drawing Time

This was drawn from a rubber duckie on Chevy car salesman, Al Miller's desk (856-461-4800) at Barlow Chevrolet in Delran, NJ today. I did it while I was waiting with Jerry as he sealed the deal on a brand spankin' new gorgeous Chevy van. I wanted to do the wash there too and had my trusty traveling sketching box, but didn't see a water source close by. I finished this in a couple of minutes when I got back to the studio.

2009 Cranberry Festival Hidden Images Artwork

There are over 40 hidden pictures in this drawing. How many can you find?

2009 Cranberry Festival Artwork

These pencil drawings of the Jersey Devil and the White Horse Inn were traced onto watercolor paper and are ready for color. Every year I do one large piece and two or three smaller watercolor originals. These are most likely already sold to my eager Jersey Devil art collectors.

Jersey Devil and The White Horse Inn

Every year for the past seven, I have created a Jersey Devil cover art for the Chatsworth Cranberry Festival. The summer has flown by and now it's time to start thinking of the fall and the good ole' JD. I like to get things done for the festival by Sept. 1st, so this week it will be my priority. Last summer, I also did a "hidden pictures " contest based on the cover art that was a big hit. Keep tuned for progress on this project throughout the week. Here is my preliminary "concept drawing". It's not very pretty, technically speaking, but I am very excited about this theme because the festival's proceeds go to restoring this Pine Barren town's icon, "The White Horse Inn".

Maple Sugar Shack Drawing

Here's my sketch for today of an old maple sugar shack up in Vermont. I'm also posting three photos from Vermont for this week's drawing challenge. I hope someone will give it a try!

Another Finished Hummingbird Sketch

It's Raining Hummingbirds!

We've got a storm brewing here and the hummers are going wacky! Here's the first two steps of my six step technique done tonight from my favorite telephoto hummingbird shot.

Kokopelli Challenge Sketch

Challenge Sketches

Here's the start of the new Kokopelli challenge drawing. I'm trying to keep my drawings as simple as possible (KISS) so some of you will give it a try too! On this sketch I looked at the negative shapes while drawing, just as much as I looked at the positive ones.


I also just got this wonderful hummingbird sketch (with watercolor wash applied) from Judy Scott. She writes; "Finally got another challenge done. I really enjoyed your pictures and your updates on the birds. I hear people say 'I have a couple of hummingbirds' and I tell them they need to check your website to see all your hummers. You sure do something right. I can't believe summer is almost over. I look forward to seeing your emails each day. "
What a great drawing and nice note Judy. Thanks so much!


Yes "Drawing Everyday is coming to an end for another year. It is hard to believe that fall is just around the corner.

KISS A BEAR

Keep it sensationally simple! This bear sketch is about as simple as they get.

WAITING Can Be Such Wasted Time

This quick bear sketch was done from across the room of a lamp I have in my studio while I was waiting for something to download on my computer. In just a minute or two, you too can sketch while you are "waiting". Like I've said before, "If you get into the habit of sketching, you'll never be bored!"

Final Hummingbird Sketch

You can now license a high resolution version of this image here.

Here's the finish of yesterday's drawing and a composite image I did of three of the hummers from this week's sketching challenge series. I'm posting a photo of a simple Kokopelli garden ornament for this week's challenge. Why don't you give it a try?

Hummingbird Drawing - Another 2 Minute Gesture

Another sketch from this week's challenge. Tomorrow I'll finish this up and post the next challenge photo.

A Fun Challenge

You can now license a high resolution version of this image here.

I'm really having a good time with the current sketching challenge. Here's my finished hummingbird drawing that I started yesterday from the photos I posted.

Hummingbird Crazy

Here's a sketch from my challenge photos. Crazy, yes I'm crazy for my little cuties.

Happy Hummingbird Drawing

See the photo I did this from here on sandysandysweblog.

A Hummingbird Everyday

Ok, I know this isn't "A Hummingbird Everyday", but they are a big part of my daily life these days. This 2 min. sketch is from one of the many photos I took today. She kinda reminds me of a Flamenco dancer.

Hundreds Of Hummingbirds

I got a hummingbird sketch from Christine Braziel out in Fresno, CA, yesterday. She writes;"I finally took you up on your challenge. I am not good at drawing (probably because I didn't follow along with you all summer) but I have so enjoyed your drawings and your commitment that I thought I would send along my little hummingbird. Thanks for sending all the fantastic drawings.~ Christine"
Thank you Christine. I love your drawing! Now all you have to do is add the wash! :-D

Christine, you also got me inspired to do a hummingbird sketch from my hummer photos today! Thanks again.

Cardinal Drawing and Hummingbird Sketching Challenge

The summer is speeding by! It's raining cats and dogs here and I can hear the hummingbirds outside my studio, just having a ball in it. There's only a few more weeks of Drawing Everyday, so if you plan on submitting a challenge sketch, here's your chance! See two new photos posted here. Choose one pose or a few. The choice is yours.

Cardinal Sketch - Steps 1 & 2

Here's the first two steps of the current challenge drawing. I drew from the
actual object as I like to draw from life as much as possible.

So Many Youngins!

What a crop of hummingbirds we have here this year! I'm really getting excited because I'm renting two telephoto lenses next week so I can shoot my little treasures. What a challenge it will be and what fun! Here's tonight's sketch of one of the many youngsters we have here at the Sandarosa. All you local peps are welcome to come by and see for yourselves. Just give me a call. Don't delay, because they'll only be around for few more weeks.

Another Hummer

Ok, I admit it, I'm obsessed, OK?

Stick Your Neck Out!

Ok, I didn't mean to put anyone on a guilt trip about submitting sketches. Please only do it if you want to, people! Do it for yourself, not for me. I got this email and sketch yesterday from Debbie Simpkins, "I felt terrible that I haven't taken the time to submit a sketch..... been so busy; but who isn't these days? Anyway, here is my 5-minute scribble ." Thanks Debbie. It's a great drawing for only 5 minutes!

Cat Drawing and New Challenge - Cardinal Sketch

I have not been getting much feedback here or people sending in challenge sketches, so the next photo for our current challenge is REALLY SIMPLE! I hope a few of you will try it. Here is my finished cat drawing from last week's challenge photo.

Cat Sketch

Here's the first step of our second current sketching challenge. It took me about 5 minutes. I held the pencil like a wand and tried to block in all the major shapes. Notice I did lightly sketch in those bars as guides. I'll post the finish tomorrow with the next photo for this week's challenge.

Tractor Sketch - Drawing Challenge - August 1 & 2

Yesterday I had a long day. I was on the road to and from Maryland and in a workshop all day and did not sketch. Today I'm making up for it. Here is my drawing for Saturday and Sunday.

This first shot shows steps 1 & 2 of my 6 Step technique.

Here's the tractor drawing with the wash applied. I'll add some splatters of white paint for snow on this drawing later to really finish it.