Last post, I mentioned J.B., who mysteriously gave me a boost I needed. Today, I'm going to send J.B. some fan mail. Since I'm sketching, I thought I could use this piece for today's JSVB post as well.
Here's the finished sketch, which really only took a few minutes and is the size of a large postage stamp:
Since it's on a greeting card, I had one shot to get it decent. Frequently, I will do a "thumbnail" sketch to see how to solve the problem of creating the final picture. It's like a little stage rehearsal.
This is the thumbnail. I think I got the expression right, but the proportions and details are not there.
J.B. is very musical. She says that music is her companion. That's probably why I am jealous of musicians. They can pick up their glockenspiel or their ukelele at a party, strike up "Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da", and then they become the warm and fuzzy center of attention.
Drawing isn't my companion, it's more like house arrest. Don't get me wrong, I love to draw, and it's a big part of me, but truth be told, it's stressful as anything I've ever done. If I start to sketch at a party (unlikely!), people quickly learn to leave me alone. At the best, I make all kinds of bizarre facial expressions as I work. At the worst, I get downright snappish. No warm and fuzzies for the visual artist.
Well, I do appreciate J.B.'s philosphy, I could learn from that. I wish her all the best!