Fishing boat sketch

I painted some today with oil and I finished up the evening relaxing with this practice sketch with pencil of a fishing boat.  I added the name of my daughter Tiffany D. to the boat for fun.  I am not sure what she would think of that, but I am sure I will know soon enough.

Sketching during the short waits

I greatly admire the artist James Gurney, his blog site is Gurney's Journey which has been going since 2007.  One of the things he does is carry a sketchbook with him and he is constantly sketching.  I try to do something similar.  Above are two examples, one is the condiments from Famous Dave's restaurant and the bottom is a water cooler in a Doctor's office.  Both are pretty small but were enjoyable and a good way to spend the waiting time for food and the Doc.

Bird Brain doodles

In honor of the validation of doodling as a meeting survival and memory tool, I present you,  two silly ball-point pen sketches of a parrot and a pair of penguins done in meetings.  We can make a contest of it if you would like to send me your best idea for comments from the parrot and between the penguins.  Go down to the grey tool bar and click on comments and you can send me something.  I will screen and publish them.  I will give a small prize the best one as voted by the boss of the house, my wife.

More Doodling research - I am justified

http://online.wsj.com/articles/the-power-of-the-doodle-improve-your-focus-and-memory-1406675744?mod=trending_now_4

Above is a link to a Wall Street Journal article on the power of Doodling to help with memory and retention.  The gist being the act of doodling helps one retain information being presented in classes and lectures.  It seems to occupy different parts of the brain.  I like to doodle because it helps me stay awake in meetings.  I actually have been called out for not paying attention but I have been able to regergitate  the details of the meeting or lecture back to my challengers.   So take that Ms. Smith, which is actually the last name of my last accuser but is anonymous enough I can actually name her.  So enjoy some examples of my meeting doodles.

Wood Duck

This is colored sketch of one of the most colorful ducks you will run across in the wild.  The male, as depicted above has very distinct plumage.  I captured these in colored pencil.

Another Tugboat sketch

Tonite's sketch is one I worked on last nite.  It is more of a practice sketch to meditate while I relax.  I added the JM initials on the stack for my late son, James Matthews.  He would have liked to have worked on one of these, during the day anyway.

Angel's Trumpet

This is part of what I worked on today.  This is a practice oil sketch of an Angel's Trumpet Flower.  I will tweak a few things to improve it but it will rest for the night.