Water Pump

A pencil sketch of a water pump is today's posting.  I have done this over the past two nights as part of the nightly recovery from the work day.  This is part of the 10,00 hours of practice necessary to reach mastery of a skill.  Much work is still needed but it is definitely on the way.

American Dipper

This is a colored pencil sketch of an American Dipper.  They are probably one of the weirdest birds in the United States.  They dive into streams and walk on the bottom of the stream and eat insects off the rocks.  I had heard of them long ago, I finally saw them on the Arkansas River in the Royal Gorge area of Colorado.  We probably saw ten or twelve of them resting on the shoreline and the ice.  They are little and immune to the water and the cold.  They have strong claws to grasp the rocks under the water as it rushes by.

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.