The first phase of the mural project is to prepare the original artwork of the final sketch. This was done with a Sanford Uniball Micro pen, a Sharpie fine point pen and a Pentel sign pen on 140# Arches hot press watercolor paper. The size is 14" x 20". It will be enlarged to fit on a 9' x 11' wall using a projector.
I am working on a wall mural for Rameen's work station that will be a black and white line drawing of downtown Los Angeles as seen from the City Hall observation deck.
Here are some more quick sketches done while waiting. You can practice your skills anywhere at any time.
Here is a series of quick sketches I did yesterday at lunch time of the Athenaeum in Pasadena. They took about five minutes each. My goal was to get the essence of the architecture and the trees and make a quick compositional study. I took some reference photos but I am finding that the images I get from my iPhone, while being incredibly detailed and of a high quality, are of such an extreme wide angle view that the subject is sometimes distorted. A quick field sketch lets me see the proportions correctly. I will use my photos for details later, but use these sketches for the overall view. I am trying to use my sketchbook more, and not rely so much on photography. Besides, I really need the practice.
I originally did this view of a bridge that crosses the Los Angeles River in pen and ink. While I liked it, I wanted a bit more drama so I added a stormy sky and some bright sun light striking the bridge support.
One big advantage of having a sketchbook with you at all times is that you are never bored. I did these two sketches in ten minutes while waiting in the car for my son. Do this every day to develop good eye-hand coordination and to stay in practice.
