Friday 22 February 2013

In my sketchbook: Commuters, flowers, glasses, and lots of pages waiting for colour

I seem to have a bit of a painting low at the moment. I just don't seem to find the time to spend a day, or even half a day at my desk or easel to get the acrylic paints out and do some 'proper' painting. Too much work, too much commuting, and a day trip up a mountain last Saturday sort of got in the way. But I've been keeping up my trainsketches, and even found a spare half hour on some evenings to add some colour. There's always time, even if it's just half an hour here and there.


With my long commute to work, almost 4 hours both ways, I spend a lot of time in trains. Those train journeys can be very relaxing, at times. Most of the days, I quite like my early morning journey. There aren't too many people on the train, so that I usually get a little compartment on my own, and it's usually dead quiet, because everyone's asleep. Outside the window, night changes into day, and I've got time and quiet to do my little sketches. But occasionally, my fellow travellers are just a pain, getting on my nerves big time. And the best outlet for one's frustrations is, of course - one's sketchbook.


I'd like to do a lot more sketching in my lunch break too, but working out in nowhere, in a small team, where everyone eats their lunch at the same time and at same table, I don't feel comfortable enough to do so. But occasionally, there's a day when I'm all on my own, and then I draw and use whatever is lying around on and around my desk, such as my glasses and some stencils we use to label boxes. Although I'm a winter girl, I'm looking forward to some warmer temperatures now, so that I can go outside for some sketching in my breaks.

Nature's one of my biggest sources for inspiration, and I like sketching flowers. Realistic flowers, imaginary flowers, doodle flowers - flowers in every form. These are more realistic, though I'm not sure what exactly they are supposed to be. They could be tulips, I guess. Sometimes, the boundaries between realistic and imaginary isn't that clear.


I've had more time for sketching in the morning than for adding colour to them these past 10 days, so I've now got a whole bunch of sketches that are waiting for colour. And I can't wait for the weekend to begin so that I can get the watercolour paints out. And hopefully there'll even be some time for the acrylics to come out on Sunday.


After having had to give it a miss last week, I'm linking up to the wonderful Paint Party Friday again today. Have a wonderful, creative weekend!


22 comments:

  1. Beautiful waretcolour paintings, I love the one of the travellers, they all look so stressed!
    HPPF

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  2. I love your travelers so much!! All the paintings and sketches are fabulous however your commute is brutal...4 hours.. that is long!! So glad you find joy in sketching because your work sure brings me joy!! Happy ppf!

    Hugs Giggles

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  3. funny looking people made me laugh..great sketches

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  4. These are adorable! A thoroughly enjoyable post :0)

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  5. Your fellow travelers may be a pain but I love love love how they turned out in your sketchbook! The looks on their faces is a riot! I think I have traveled next to one or two of them before!

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  6. Your sketches are lovely, it's great to make do with whatever time is given to create in any way and with whatever means!

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  7. Love your sketches of your fellow travelers!! HPPF!

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  8. what a long commute you have! I used to get the train to work although it was only half an hour each way so not nearly as long but I did prefer the times when the train was empty (usually the morning journey) so I could have peace to read - that's when I did most of my kindle reading. I think it's great you use that time to sketch - I never have the nerve to sketch in public. I love the sketch of the cute/evil folk!! They remind me of Tim Burton characters! The flowers are beautiful - tulips are my favourite.

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  9. Really wonderful sketchings!! That is such a LONG commute and a good chunk out of your days so it's nice that you have the sketch time as a creative outlet. Those monster commuters are too funny!

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  10. I love your commuters!! Each one has their own distinct yet irritating personality1 ;)

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  11. very nice!! i especially like the commuters!!

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  12. I can relate to the commuters... so happy I don't have to deal with that anymore and I love the tulips.... the colours are simply lovely and all those sketches just waiting for some dabs of colour is kind of exciting... and must say i admire that you use your time so productively... I would be tempted to nap...xx

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  13. I'm so glad you were able to be at the paint party today. Your sketches are wonderful. I especially like the flowers. I admire you being able to find time for art in your spare moments. I cannot imagine traveling 2 hours each way to work. Do you get any sleep at all?

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  14. Katja, your work is just beautiful. I am very inspired by the fact that you make the most of your time on the train by sketching. It is wonderful to have such a long expanse of time dedicated to working on your art. I can't wait to see those pages with color on them! Happy PPF! - janice

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  15. Love your commuters - they made me laugh! And your flowers are beautiful.
    I've been sketching on my ipad, but I think I'm going back to to paper soon.
    Rinda

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  16. Very special and very great art work.
    lovely greet and nice weekend
    Marja

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  17. Your commuters are fun. They put a smile on my face. These are great! Thank you.

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  18. Really, really love your style, wonderful works!

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  19. I cannot imagine a commute like yours! We don't drive that long for a weekend vacation trip! Oy!
    Your art, however, rocks! Love the different angles of those glasses you took on! The last b and w looks good without color! HPPF!

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  20. I love your words as much as your art, and everything else, of course:-)

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  21. Dear Katja. Your blog and art are beautiful. it is such a big pleasure to read your words. I will definitely come back to visit your blog again. BiG greetings to you.

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