New Sketch Book

Many years ago, I got a beautiful hand-tooled leather sketchbook cover.  Somehow, over time, it got pushed aside and replaced by my favorite  "Aquabee Sketchbooks."  I recently re-surfaced it and decided to start using it again.  It is so pretty!  I did a little on-line research and the company, Oberon, is still in business and making these: http://www.oberondesign.com/Journal.php  Mine is in the 6" x 9" size, and I think I got it in the 1980s.   The designs are a little different, and they also do covers for Kindles, iPads and all sorts of things.  Beautiful!

I bought a new refill and now will be using it regularly.  I decided to take the lead from my friend Carrie and do a front page. I'm not posting that page here because I'm not happy with it.  I did it in dim light at O'Connor's Vault in Multnomah Village while watching a band.  I may re-work it, but for now I just need to get the sketching started.

Here's one:  the lead guitar player for the Jack McMahon Band.

I haven't been sketching much and need the practice.  That was a fun way to get it, and I'll do it again.

Sketchbook from Carrie--Gifts from Jeff

My friend Carrie gave me a handmade sketchbook for Christmas.  On the first page of it, I made a little painting of some gifts from my brother Jeff--a red silk box with an ornament in it, a little silver dish, and a little glass fish who loves to sit on the dish.  Then, I thought it would be fun to paint a little picture of the sketchbook with the painting.  So this is it!  It is now a card which I will be giving to Carrie.