Moments to sketch

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I sketch in my "dead" moments. Others read, look at their phones or stare through a window. During the school year, these come while having to wait somewhere while they do an activity. Today, while my daughter was in her dance class, I went to the bank, then I sketched one of the musicians playing drums!

The first entry of 2017

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It seems an obvious name for this entry but it really suits it. Because we just started the year and we put the counter to zero and suddenly everything we usually do becomes "the first time". So yes, this is the first time I write in the blog in 2017. The first time I post a drawing. The first time I went back to bring my daughter to her dance class. Also the first time I stayed because I have no time to go back home, do something useful, and come back. For all of these, the first time, but in 2017. Now a real first time: the first time I drew someone in her class!

Today I had a lot of envy to draw. And I passed the day in the mountain and brought my stuff with me. But it was so cold and windy that stopping even for few minutes seemed impossible (I even had my sandwich walking!). So when I brought my daughter to her class and had to wait there, well, it was obvious what to do. I usually don't draw there because my subjects are too far away... but then, this was the first of first so no excuses!

My daughter takes African Dance lessons. And this is one of the drummers playing in her class, so cool! 

Happy New Year to you all! 

A good start of the day 

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Finally a moment very much needed by everyone of us at home: first morning of school autumn holidays!! This year, the rentrée has been quite charged, we were all tired, and we have all taken this moment very easy. Also myself :)

So while my daughter was building something, and my sons were watching TV, I did this sketch of my son while he was mesmerised by Tom And Jerry. So good to start the day sketching with a hot coffee in my hands. 

Saturday night good deal

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Don't you agree this is a good deal I got myself today: my husband does the dishes, and I draw him :) Today, using something different: a colored paper, and color pencils. 

Bikesketchwalk with my daughter

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A wonderful summer day, not so hot, and with a deep and intense blue sky. A daughter who loves sketching. Great quiet places around to get by bike. 

When all these factors get combined together there's only one possible solution: sketches are below!

My first sketch, with my bike in there. I had been before in Villeneuve (see for example: https://imaginecarolinadeluca.blogspot.fr/2016/03/a-beautiful-spring-afternoon-httpwww.html), so I put my bike there to make it a bit different.

My second sketch, my daughter finishing her sketch :)

And my daughter's sketch. I'll have to practise more to catch up with her!

Finally, a picture: Bikes, sketches, my daughter and myself.

What a great and satisfactory afternoon :)

Birthday Watercolor

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Spring, as in autumn, is one of the seasons when I have more watercolor commissions. This one is for a man whose birthday was yesterday, and has a beautiful house in St Jean de Gonville, a little village few villages away from mine. For his birthday, his children wanted to offer him a watercolor of his house and garden, with himself, his wife and their two cats. 

After they first contacted me, one of their neighbor friends walked me through the garden, and we decided the view. Then I went back one sunny day, when the owners weren't around, and did a sketch of the house in my small sketchbook. The final work I did it in my studio, copying carefully the original sketch into a larger size, and inserting the birthday man, his wife and their cats. And yes, details are very important, so even if that small, they are dressed in their clothes, sitting in their chairs, and in that very same spot when they usually drink coffee.

House and Family in St Jean de Gonville, May 2016. Approx. size 40x25cm. Watercolor.

Click in the image to view it larger.

House portraits

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One of the fun things of drawing in the street is that, sometimes, you get to know people. In general, people who see you is shy, and many not dare to even say hello, because they are afraid of disturbing you. But others, they approach, they look, and comment. I like it very much when this unexpected chat happens. Sometimes, some of these brave ones even ask you if you'd do a drawing of their house, so that's even better :) 

Then, once agreed, I go to see the house, we decide things like the size of the drawing, the view, the season, whether it should be sunny or it doesn't matter, and all sorts of stuff like this. When the day arrives, I go to the house with my little foldable stool, my pencils, pens and watercolor box, and make the drawing. 

The drawing below was done for some friends of mine. They wanted a portrait of their house in autumn, if possible in a sunny day. It was kind of tricky this autumn to get a full sunny day before all the leaves had fallen, as autumn mornings are usually really foggy here, and then days become shorter and shorter, leaving less chance for some sun after the fog opens up. 

After waiting and checking the weather forecast for a couple of weeks, finally a sunny day came up! And so I went with all my stuff and my small sketchbook, and did the drawing in small size so I could finish it before the sun light vanished behind the mountains. Then calmy and once at home I did it big size, and this is what this beautiful house in Thoiry looks like!

Who wouldn't want a portrait of a house like this?

The Burkels, family scene portrait

Les Burkels, portrait d'une scène familal

This one is a detail of an illustration I made on command, to be given as a birthday present for the fathers' 40 year birthday. It is a picture of a family scene, and the daily chaos of having three young children, a dog, chickens, rabbits...

Sueños de película

 Sigamos soñando despiertos!
 Let's continue daydreaming!