His Magical Majesty

Today's sketch is of one of my favorite creatures, Handsome Stranger. I see him daily. He is a definitely a messenger from Spirit. Read the story here.

OK, I see I am inspiring a few people now! Lee Gates sent in two drawings today. She was a little confused but that's OK. She copied my sketch from June 2nd as the first challenge and later sent in her sketch of the current one. THANKS Lee, Good Job!

Sketching Challenge #2

I showed Jerry the photo I chose for the 2nd sketching challenge last night and he said it looked hard. Tonight I did this rough sketch of it in about five minutes. It wasn't as easy as I had thought it would be. Maybe it was because hubby planted the seed in my head that it was hard or maybe it's because it's 10 pm. Anyway, it wasn't that hard! I'll work on this again this week and post my drawing on Sunday. I hope some of you out there in cyberspace will join me. Remember, it's not the end result that is important, it's the process! Drawing is an exercise in discipline, seeing, coordination and technique.

Our First Challenger Checks In!

I was happy to get this sketch and a nice email in my inbox this morning from friend and Cedar Run employee, Judy Scott. She writes; "I took up your challenge. Because I have access to Squam I combined two pictures. This is a sketch of Squam and a fledgling Barred Owl. In 2007 Squam was a foster parent to a young Barred Owl that came into the refuge. Although Squam is a male, he was a great surrogate, teaching the young one to eat and fly. Eventually the fledgling was released back into the wild. Thanks for all your support of Cedar Run."

Wow, Thank you Judy for the lovely sketch and a little backgound on Squamie! I hope your effort will inspire others!

Today I added the second step of my 6 Step System to yesterday's sketch. My motto is KISS - Keep it sensationally Simple!!

Twelve Minute Challenge Sketch

Here's my interpretation of this week's challenge sketch from Cedar Run Refuge that I posted last week in my very first post on June 1st. So far nobody has sent in any drawings, although a few of you DID say you were going to try it. I hope you guys won't chicken out on me. This does not have to be time consuming or difficult! I did this sketch today in my big sketch pad. I was trying for 10 minutes, but it actually took me 12. You'll notice I didn't get past the first step of my drawing technique. The whole drawing was done holding my pencil like a wand and using my whole arm. I squinted a lot while I was drawing and tried to get down the overall big shapes as quickly as possible.



I will still post any drawings you want to submit! Better late than never.

I'm also posting the new photo for this week's challenge. This is a herb garden that my friend Dorrie brought to me yesterday, along with three beautiful patio tomato plants and fertilizer! This little pot shown here has chives, oregano and rosemary in it. It has a wonderful variety of textures, directional thrusts and shapes. Thanks so much Dorrie. My friends are simply the best!


This one is super easy!! You should be able to get the overall shape down on this in under a minute with no problem.

No Time To Sketch, You Say?

I am having guests arrive here this afternoon for a visit and dinner. I've got the roasts in the crock pots, but still have lots to do. That doesn't leave a lot of time for sketching, but you don't need a lot of time!! Today I did these gesture drawings in under 10 minutes. It is such a great drill and I don't do it enough. It's one of my favorite exercises at my workshops. See more of an explanation here .

2009 Sketching Demo Now On Line!

Learn Sandy's 6 Step Technique Here!

A New Home For Angelica

It's been a trying couple of days with the phone and internet. I've had cable guys here yesterday and today. All the issues are not solved yet, but I hope we are getting closer to a solution. I was waiting for the technician to arrive and wondering what to draw for my sketching everyday post, when I got a call from someone who's adopting a cat from our local animal shelter. He got my name from Lisa, the shelter director, who told him I'd do a portrait of his new kitty for a $75. donation to the shelter. I went online and looked at his new girl and did this sketch of #26615 "Angelica" tonight. I plan on doing a little oil painting and take it over to the shelter early next week before Don goes to pick her up. So, that may be a good way to go about this, all you Art For Shelter Animals Artists. Have the shelter tell the new adoptees that you will do a painting of their new addition for a donation to the shelter. Hey, it works for me!

A Little Tigress

Tonight for my sketching everyday post, I decided to do a shelter animal sketch. Now that the Cedar Run Fund Raiser is over, I've been thinking a lot about the "Art For Shelter Animals" Project again. I went online to my local shelter's web site, and saw this little cutie # C-27468. She looks just like my Tiger cat, so I call her Little Tigress. She is a small, healthy, loving, declawed orange tabby who is about 3 years young. If you'd like more information about this kitty feel free to stop by the Burlington County Animal Shelter. If you call them please have the kitty's identification number handy.


Remember, your local shelters and refuges are happy and grateful to accept donations of a variety of items. During the spring and summer there is increased need for kitten milk replacement and kitten food. Toys are welcome for the kittens and younger cats. Newspapers and soft bedding material, such as fleece and towels, help keep the residents comfortable. Call your local shelter or visit their web site to see what other items they might need.

Red Tail Hawk Sketch And Demo

Today I did a Red Tail Hawk portrait from another photo I took this past weekend at Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge. I documented the process and will post a new demo of my " 6 Steps To Sensational Sketches" online soon.

A Great Horned Owl

Today's sketch is another one of Cedar Run's residents. These animals live out their life in captivity because they have either been injured or have been humanized so that they cannot fend for themselves in the wild. Humanization of wildlife, although well intended, is probably one of the most detrimental injuries.

First Sketch For Drawing Everyday 2009

Wow, I can't believe another year has passed since I sketched Every Single Day! I've continued to sketch, mind you, but not as regularly as I have done during the past three summers. I'm really excited about embarking on my drawing everyday adventure once more this year. This is a sketch I did today of a Red Tail Hawk from a photo I took this past weekend at a fund raiser for the Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge. This year, I'm posting a photo at the beginning of the week. If anyone chooses to sketch it and send in your results to sandy@sandysandy.com, I'll post them here on the following Sunday with my interpretation. Here's a photo of Squamie, the Barred Owl at the Cedar Run Refuge.


If you want to receive these daily posts and pictures via email, just contact me at: sandy@sandysandy.com with "Drawing Everyday Subscribe" in your email.

Drawing Everyday Starting Up Again Soon!

My last sketch of the summer ~ Sunday, August 31, 2008.

Only two more weeks until my "Drawing Everyday" project starts up again! This will be my forth year posting a drawing every single day from June through August. A little nervous and excited, like the Thoroughbred in the starting gate, I'm chomping at the bit in anticipation. I truly believe that one must know how to draw well before ever attempting to paint. If any of you artists out there are serious about improving your drawing and would also like to take this challenge, let me know and I'll come up with a plan to get you involved! If you'd like to get my summer blog posts,"Sketching Everyday" in your inbox, just write to me with "Drawing Everyday Subscribe" somewhere in your email and I'll add your name to that google group.

Realize that a drawing is not a copy. It is a construction in very different materials. A drawing is an invention. (Robert Henri)

Learning to draw, before you paint, is like learning to walk before you run. (Don Getz)

You can eliminate color and still have a painting that works, but you must have drawing, value and design. (Matt Smith)

You can only learn to paint by drawing, for drawing is a way of reserving a place for color in advance. (Andre L'Hote)

Every good painting must be based on a good drawing. Drawing is like the bones to the human body. (Diana Kan)