Sketchbook Challenge: Highly Prized

The Sketchbook Challenge theme for January is "Highly Prized," chosen by Jill K. Berry (whom I was fortunate to take a workshop from in 2009). As part of my quest for inspiration, I'm also signed up for Strathmore's free on-line workshop "Recycled Journal Pages" taught by Pam Carriker, which explores among other things, using art you already have on hand in your journaling. In my on-going struggle to clean my office, I rediscovered a colored pencil sketch I made of my husband several years ago, and I collaged it into my art journal so it wouldn't get lost again!

At the time, I was on a serious colored pencil kick and working with Ann Kullberg's book Colored Pencil Portraits, but I learned I really don't have the patience for the medium. The problem with portraiture is that the facial recognition software in our brains is so precise that one slip of the pencil can turn a family member's face into a stranger's! That's why I tend to fall back on photography and vintage clip art for human imagery in my art. But I'm trying to get some more practice in this year. On those days when I realize around 9 p.m. that I haven't done my art journal entry, I pull out Mark Simon's Facial Expressions and sketch a few faces.

Lyric Kinard posted a tutorial video on drawing faces on the Sketchbook Challenge blog. She's doing 365 Faces this year. Now that's a challenge!